Reiki being offered to oncology patients at Speare Memorial Hospital

PLYMOUTH — Speare Memorial Hospital is offering Reiki treatments to its oncology patients.

For many people suffering from chronic pain, medication alone is not always enough to alleviate their symptoms. For this reason, they turn to alternative forms of healing. One such form is the energy therapy known as Reiki (pronounced RAY-key), a Japanese word meaning “universal life energy.”

“Reiki can be a positive adjunct to patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment,” said Oncology and ICU Nursing Director Donna Toohey. “For this reason along with the smaller patient base, we believe Oncology is a great place to begin offering Reiki at Speare. When a patient informs the staff they are interested in receiving a treatment, we will match the volunteer's schedule to a time that is convenient and fits in with the patient's plan of care.”

A patient will receive Reiki while in a comfortable position, usually in bed. They remain dressed while the volunteer gently places his or her hands in several positions on or above the patient’s body, usually the head, shoulders, and feet. The volunteer will hold the positions for several minutes while the energy is guided by the body’s own natural wisdom, treating the whole person as it works to correct physical, emotional, mental, and/or spiritual imbalances. The receiver of Reiki is always in charge and the Reiki treatment may last from a few minutes to a half hour or more. The therapy is provided free of charge to inpatients.

“Within a few months, we are hoping to begin offering Reiki to our surgical patients and then to the rest of the hospital,” stated Toohey. People respond individually to Reiki, although most feel a sense of calmness, warmth, peace, comfort, and relaxation. Reiki can accelerate the healing process for those who are ill, under medical treatment, and/or in the recovery stages. Toohey explained, “It may not cure your ailment; however, it can be a powerful healing system in conjunction with medications patients are currently using.”

Reiki at Speare Memorial Hospital is being provided by volunteers who have been trained and evaluated by Speare’s Reiki Master Eleanor Wright, RN, in ICU/CCU. “We believe that Reiki offers many benefits including relaxation, a decrease in discomfort and enhanced feelings of peace and wellbeing,” Wright stated. “This will often lead to a decrease in the need for pain medication, a shorter hospital stay, and an increase in the patient’s satisfaction with the services provided here at Speare. We have almost a half dozen Reiki volunteers already onboard, but will be looking for more as we expand throughout the hospital.”

For more information about becoming a volunteer at Speare Memorial Hospital, contact Jennifer Oldenburg at 238-6460 visit www.spearehospital.com.