Reiki for Headaches: Effective Treatment and Relief

Headaches are one of the most common medical complaints, affecting people of all ages worldwide. From mild annoyances to severe migraines, headaches can disrupt your work, sleep, and overall quality of life. While pain medications are frequently used for headache relief, they can cause side effects and may not address the root causes.

Reiki offers a drug-free, holistic approach to easing headache symptoms and discomfort. Reiki is a Japanese healing practice that involves a practitioner placing their hands just above or lightly on the body. It is based on the concept of a universal life force energy that flows through all living things. The goal of reiki is to promote relaxation and restore balance to the body’s energy.

Though clinical evidence is still limited, reiki is increasingly used as a complementary therapy for various types of headaches. It has been shown to decrease pain, lessen stress and anxiety, and improve overall well-being. Reiki sessions involve very little risk and can easily be incorporated into a comprehensive headache management plan.

Understanding the Causes of Headaches

• Stress – Headaches triggered by mental, emotional, or physical stress as muscles tense up. Chronic stress can make you prone to headaches.
• Hormonal changes – Headaches related to fluctuating hormones, especially in women due to menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause.
• Dehydration – Lack of water intake causes headache pain. Dehydration reduces blood volume, shrinking brain tissue.
• Eye strain – Overusing eyes to focus on screens, reading, and work causes headaches. Eyestrain tires eye muscles.
• Sinus pressure – Swelling of sinus cavities exerts pressure inside the head causing sinus headache pain.
• Poor posture – Slouching, hunching over desks strains neck and shoulder muscles leading to tension headaches.
• Sleep issues – Headaches from lack of sleep, sleep apnea, teeth grinding from sleep bruxism. Disrupts pain signaling.
• Medication overuse – Frequent use of painkillers for headache relief can cause rebound headaches.
• Diet – Certain foods like aged cheese, processed meats, MSG, alcohol trigger headaches. Fasting can too.
• Trauma – Head injuries, like concussions, can cause post-traumatic headaches immediately or later on.

How Reiki Helps Relieve Headache Pain

1. Promotes Relaxation 

One of the main goals of reiki is to induce deep relaxation throughout the body and mind. This relaxed state can help relieve muscle tension and stress, which are common headache triggers and sources of pain. Reiki encourages the release of mental and physical tension as the recipient focuses on their breathing and the sensations of the energy flowing through them. This mindfulness element combined with the light touch helps calm the body and nervous system.

2. Restores Energy Flow 

In reiki philosophy, illness and pain are caused by disruptions or blockages in the body’s vital energy flow. Practitioners believe headaches happen when there are obstructions preventing the even flow of qi or life force energy. Reiki helps clear any congestion and restore balance and harmony to the energy pathways. The hands-on healing brings energy and blood flow to tense areas to break up energy blocks and reduce inflammation.

3. Lowers Pain Response 

Reiki has been shown to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for rest, relaxation, and digestion. This reduces the activity of the sympathetic nervous system and the body’s pain responses. Research indicates reiki can increase endorphins and other natural painkilling chemicals in the brain. The calming sensation of reiki can essentially signal the body to lower its pain reactions, effectively dulling headache discomfort.

4. Boosts Wellbeing

The relaxation and pain relief provided by reiki promotes an overall sense of wellbeing. Reducing the strain of headaches enables people to feel better mentally and emotionally. Reiki also aims to treat the whole person by encouraging harmony of mind, body, and spirit. This holistic approach can help minimize stress and improve one’s mindset for coping with chronic headaches.

Reiki Hand Positions for Headaches

• Crown chakra: This chakra is located at the top of the head and is associated with spirituality and higher consciousness. Placing your hands on the crown chakra can help to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and balance the energy in the body and mind.
• Third eye chakra: This chakra is located between the eyebrows and is associated with intuition and psychic abilities. Placing your hands on the third eye chakra can help to relieve headaches and migraines, as well as improve sleep and reduce anxiety.
• Throat chakra: This chakra is located in the throat area and is associated with communication and self-expression. Placing your hands on the throat chakra can help to relieve tension in the neck and shoulders, as well as improve communication and reduce stress.
• Heart chakra: This chakra is located in the center of the chest and is associated with love, compassion, and forgiveness. Placing your hands on the heart chakra can help to reduce stress, promote relaxation, and promote healing on all levels.
• Solar plexus chakra: This chakra is located in the upper abdomen and is associated with self-confidence, willpower, and digestion. Placing your hands on the solar plexus chakra can help to relieve stress, improve digestion, and boost the immune system.
• Sacral chakra: This chakra is located in the lower abdomen and is associated with creativity, sexuality, and reproduction. Placing your hands on the sacral chakra can help to relieve stress, improve creativity, and reduce pain.
• Root chakra: This chakra is located at the base of the spine and is associated with grounding, security, and survival. Placing your hands on the root chakra can help to reduce stress, improve sleep, and promote a sense of well-being.

You can use any of these hand positions during a reiki session for headaches. You can also use a combination of hand positions. It is important to listen to your intuition and place your hands where they are drawn.

Here is a simple reiki treatment for headaches:

1. Find a comfortable position to lie down or sit in.
2. Place your hands on the crown chakra.
3. Close your eyes and relax.
4. Take a few deep breaths.
5. Visualize white light flowing from your hands into the crown chakra.
6. Hold this position for 5-10 minutes.
7. Next, place your hands on the third eye chakra.
8. Repeat steps 4-6.
9. Continue placing your hands on the throat chakra, heart chakra, solar plexus chakra, sacral chakra, and root chakra, repeating steps 4-6 for each chakra.
10. When you are finished, place your hands on the heart chakra and hold them there for a few minutes.
11. Slowly open your eyes and sit up or stand up.

Reiki Points for Headaches

The following are some of the most common reiki points for headaches:

• GV20 (Baihui): This point is located at the top of the head and is known as the “Hundred Meetings” point. It is a powerful point for balancing the energy in the body and mind.
• GB20 (Fengchi): This point is located at the base of the skull and is known as the “Wind Pool” point. It is a good point for relieving headaches and migraines.
• LI4 (Hegu): This point is located on the back of the hand between the thumb and index finger. It is a powerful point for relieving pain and inflammation.
• SP6 (Sanyinjiao): This point is located on the inner ankle and is known as the “Three Yin Intersection” point. It is a good point for relieving stress and anxiety, which can be triggers for headaches.
• BL60 (Kunlun): This point is located on the outside of the heel and is known as the “Heavenly Pivot” point. It is a good point for relieving tension in the head and neck.

To use reiki points for headaches, simply place your fingers or palms on the points and hold them for a few minutes. You can also use a reiki wand or other healing tool.

Here is a simple reiki treatment for headaches using points:

1. Find a comfortable position to lie down or sit in.
2. Place your fingers or palms on the GV20 point.
3. Close your eyes and relax.
4. Take a few deep breaths.
5. Visualize white light flowing from your fingers or palms into the GV20 point.
6. Hold this position for 5-10 minutes.
7. Next, place your fingers or palms on the GB20 point.
8. Repeat steps 4-6.
9. Continue placing your fingers or palms on the LI4, SP6, and BL60 points, repeating steps 4-6 for each point.
10. When you are finished, place your fingers or palms on the GV20 point again and hold them there for a few minutes.
11. Slowly open your eyes and sit up or stand up.

Reiki Distance Healing for Headaches

Reiki distance healing is a way to send reiki energy to someone who is not physically present. It is just as effective as in-person reiki healing, and it can be a convenient option for people who live in remote areas or who are unable to travel to a reiki practitioner.

To receive reiki distance healing for headaches, you will need to find a qualified and experienced practitioner. You can ask your doctor for a referral or search online for reiki practitioners who offer distance healing.

Once you have found a practitioner, you will need to schedule a session. During the session, the practitioner will ask you for your name and date of birth. They may also ask you some questions about your headaches, such as how often you get them and what triggers them.

The practitioner will then begin to send reiki energy to you. You may feel warmth, tingling, or relaxation. Some people may also experience visions or hear messages during the treatment.

Most people find reiki distance healing to be a very relaxing and calming experience. There are no known side effects of reiki.

Here are some tips for receiving reiki distance healing for headaches:

• Find a qualified and experienced practitioner.
• Schedule a session at a time when you will be undisturbed.
• Get comfortable in a quiet place where you will not be interrupted.
• Close your eyes and relax.
• Take deep breaths.
• Focus on your breath and on receiving the reiki energy.
• If you have any questions or concerns, ask your practitioner.

Reiki Symbols for Headaches

The following are some of the most common reiki symbols for headaches:

• Cho Ku Rei: This symbol is known as the “Power” symbol and can be used to amplify the healing energy of reiki.
• Sei Hei Ki: This symbol is known as the “Emotional Healing” symbol and can be used to relieve stress, anxiety, and other emotional triggers for headaches.
• Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen: This symbol is known as the “Distance Healing” symbol and can be used to send reiki healing energy to someone who is not physically present.

To use reiki symbols for headaches, you can draw them on your body or in the air. You can also visualize them in your mind.

Here is a simple reiki treatment for headaches using symbols:

1. Find a comfortable position to lie down or sit in.
2. Draw the Cho Ku Rei symbol on your crown chakra.
3. Close your eyes and relax.
4. Take a few deep breaths.
5. Visualize white light flowing from the Cho Ku Rei symbol into your crown chakra.
6. Hold this position for 5-10 minutes.
7. Next, draw the Sei Hei Ki symbol on your third eye chakra.
8. Repeat steps 4-6.
9. Continue drawing the Sei Hei Ki symbol on your chakras, moving down from the third eye chakra to the throat chakra, heart chakra, solar plexus chakra, sacral chakra, and root chakra.
10. When you are finished, draw the Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen symbol on your hands.
11. Place your hands on your head and visualize reiki energy flowing from your hands into your head and neck.
12. Hold this position for 5-10 minutes.
13. Slowly open your eyes and sit up or stand up.

Reiki for Migraines

Reiki can be very effective for migraines. To use reiki for migraines, follow the same steps as for a reiki self-treatment for headaches, but pay special attention to the third eye chakra and the crown chakra. You may also want to place your hands on the back of your neck and on your shoulders.

Here are some additional tips for using reiki for migraines:

• Start your reiki treatment as soon as you feel a migraine coming on. 
• Use reiki as often as you need to relieve migraine pain. 
• You can also use reiki to prevent migraines from occurring in the first place. 
• If you are new to reiki, it is important to find a qualified and experienced practitioner to teach you how to use reiki for migraines.

Reiki for Tension Headaches & Cluster Headaches

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. They are caused by muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, and head. Reiki can be very effective for relieving tension headaches.

Cluster headaches are a rare type of headache that is characterized by sudden, severe pain on one side of the head. Cluster headaches can be very debilitating and difficult to treat.

To use reiki for tension headaches, follow the same steps as for a reiki self-treatment for headaches, but pay special attention to the muscles in the neck, shoulders, and head. You may also want to place your hands on the temples and on the back of the head.

Reiki can be helpful for relieving cluster headaches. To use reiki for cluster headaches, follow the same steps as for a reiki self-treatment for headaches, but pay special attention to the side of the head where the pain is located. You may also want to place your hands on the temples and on the back of the head.

Conclusion

Headaches can severely impact your daily life, making it difficult to work, socialize, and complete your responsibilities. While pain medicine may offer temporary relief, it doesn’t provide a long-term solution. Reiki offers a safe, drug-free way to address headaches naturally by reducing pain signals, relaxing muscles, and calming the mind.

Studies confirm reiki decreases headache intensity, duration, and frequency for both tension and migraine headaches. Patients report needing less medication for pain management after receiving reiki treatments. The benefits increase with multiple reiki sessions, so consider booking packages of 4-6 sessions for the best headache relief.

If you are skeptical, start with a single reiki session and assess the results. Many clients experience significant reductions in pain and anxiety even after initial treatments. Reiki can be combined with other alternative modalities like acupuncture, massage therapy, and dietary changes for a comprehensive approach.

Keep a headache diary to identify triggers and track your symptoms before and after reiki sessions. This will help determine if reiki should be part of your ongoing headache treatment plan. Be patient, as reiki works by steadily restoring the body’s natural balance. With routine energy healing, reiki can offer a drug-free path to relieving your headache pain for good.

FAQs about Reiki for Headaches