During a Reiki treatment the practitioner places his / her hands in a series of various positions on the patient's body. This hand placement is simply to allow the exchange of energy between the individuals. Starting at either the head or the feet, a Reiki practitioner will first "sweep" above the body looking for particularly distressed areas. This generalized sweeping - practitioner passes his / her hands in, through, and around the patient's energy field - can be used diagnostically to detect areas of energy imbalance or blockage (Curtin). After finding these areas of distress, the Reiki practitioner will then conduct the body's healing energy to specific locations, thereby accelerating the healing of that area. It is important to know that one does not have to believe in the powers of Reiki for it to be effective. "Reiki is not a religion or a belief system" (Pope).
Alternative Medicine - Reiki Home - References
The History of Reiki - Reiki Levels - Research - Reiki in the Hospital