In my own research, I was investigating the beahvioural effects of energy healing on dogs in a shelter environment as part of my dissertation project and found a significant increase towards relaxation when receiving energy healing compared to placebo and control groups. (Nagy, 2019).
Mitsui (2011) demonstrated the release of oxytocin hormone in dogs when hands on therapies such as massage and energy healing were given to dogs. The hormones excreted in urine, peak after an hour, as the system has been flooded with them up to that time. The physical signals of soft body posture, dilated pupils and male dogs exposing themselves, are all familiar signs during healing sessions. Oxytocin increases trust and socialisation which brings about important behavioural changes in dogs and their humans.
Andics et al in the Family Dog Project at the Hungarian Institute of Science (2016) found dogs had a greater understanding of human speech than previously realised, using similar mechanisms of analysing words and tone used by humans. Their proven intelligence may explain greater willingness for dogs to co-operate in healing sessions, as they recognise it is intended to help them. They quickly learn that healing is an enjoyable and comforting sensation.
Chronic stress experienced by cats and dogs in rescue centres affects their re-homing potential on a negative way (Nagy, 2019). Lisa Benn, UK based animal behaviourist also found a significant reduction in stress levels immediately following healing that was still evident 2½ hours later when she was studying cats at an RSPCA rescue centre.
Important to note that energy healing has no side effect, does not cause any harm to the organism treated, therefore is very safe to use, and adverse effect of the treatment has not been reported (Dogan, 2018) (Rubik et al., 2006).
In a study by Baldwin et al. (2008) Sprague-Dawley rats had been implanted with radio telemetry transmitters to measure their cardiovascular responses noninvasively. The animals were noise-polluted, and their blood pressure and heart rates were monitored during an eight days study. The rats received Reiki therapy before and during noise exposure, and the research was repeated on the same animals using Placebo Reiki. It has been found that Reiki significantly reduced heart rate compared to initial values, while Placebo Reiki was not showing a significant difference. However, blood pressure seemed unaffected neither by Reiki nor Placebo Reiki. The authors concluded that Reiki might be useful in modulating heart rate in stressed rats (Baldwin et al., 2008).
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