Reiki, a Japanese healing therapy that uses gentle touch to transfer energy, may help reduce pain following wisdom tooth extraction, according to a study published September 10 in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. However, the therapy does not appear to ease anxiety before surgery.
The research, led by Meltem Ozden Yuce, PhD, an associate professor in oral and maxillofacial surgery at Ege University in Turkey, analyzed the effects of Reiki on patients undergoing third-molar surgery. “Reiki therapy did not reduce preoperative anxiety but was associated with lower postoperative pain,” the authors wrote.
Reiki is widely used to promote relaxation and overall well-being. While scientific evidence remains limited, some practitioners believe it helps stabilize energy flow and supports the body’s natural healing. Its effectiveness in dentistry, however, is still uncertain.
The study was a single-blind, randomized controlled trial at Ege University. It included 180 healthy participants with lower jaw class II-B impaction, none of whom had prior experience with wisdom tooth extraction or Reiki. Participants were randomly assigned to receive Reiki, sham Reiki, or no intervention.
Researchers measured outcomes using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory I and II, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and a visual analog scale over seven days. Results showed that patients who received Reiki reported significantly lower postoperative pain scores (mean STAI-I: 2.7 ± 1.8) compared with those in the sham Reiki group (3.0 ± 1.7) and the no-intervention group (3.5 ± 1.9, p = 0.045). Preoperative anxiety, however, did not differ significantly among the groups (mean: 36.6 ± 10.0 for Reiki, 40.1 ± 10.1 for sham Reiki, 40.8 ± 10.8 for no intervention; p = 0.079).
The study’s authors noted certain limitations. In Turkey, intravenous (IV) sedation is not commonly used for wisdom tooth surgery, whereas it is standard practice in the U.S. This difference may affect how applicable Reiki therapy is in different countries.
Despite these limitations, the researchers suggested that Reiki could serve as a valuable adjunct in oral surgery. “Reiki may represent a useful tool to enhance patient comfort without interfering with conventional treatment protocols,” Yuce and colleagues wrote.
While additional trials are needed to fully understand its role, Reiki may offer a non-invasive method to reduce postoperative discomfort after dental surgery.