Traditional Japanese Healing Techniques to Support Healing Crisis

We are all familiar with having to cope and deal with healing crisis in the aftermath of a Reiki healing treatment. It is also not uncommon for clients to suffer from the detoxification reactions and symptoms when they begin a program of natural healing such as Reiki.

When we have accumulated energy blockages, these blockages release rapidly through our work with Reiki healing. As we release body-mind-spirit blockages our physical body needs to rebalance itself by letting go of the old energies that caused these blockages and have become toxic. Sometimes the release of these blockages and toxins is quite rapid which could be uncomfortable or even somewhat distressing. This is classically referred to as the healing crisis and occurs when the shift in energy as a result of Reiki healing (or any other method of energy/spiritual healing) triggers the body to expel toxins from the different systems of the body. The healing crisis is a normal process that most individuals will encounter at some level or another on their path to healing and getting well.

These energy blockages are stored in various ways in our energy systems and the ways in which we experience the release of these blockages and toxins can vary from person to person and from situation to situation. Not everyone will experience their healing crisis same way, and some may not even experience any form of a healing crisis. We may not experience a healing crisis every time after a healing treatment, the intensity and duration may vary, and the symptoms we suffer may differ.

The most common symptoms of the healing crisis may include:

• Fatigue
• Headache
• Flu-like symptoms
• Diarrhea
• Aches and soreness
• Low-grade fever
• Anxiety
• Mood swings
• Nausea
• Skin irritations
• Stuffy nose
• Congestion
• Being emotional for no apparent reason
• Low blood pressure

There are many well-documents ways in which to do self-care to alleviate a healing crisis which can, in my opinion, be summarized as… with awareness and gentleness, to do REAL self-care of body, mind and spirit.

There is, however, a traditional Japanese healing technique, Ketsueki Kokan-ho, that I have found highly beneficial in supporting the healing crisis. I use Ketsueki Kokan-ho at the end of all my healing treatments to support my clients by alleviating the intensity of any potential healing crisis with this technique. Ketsueki Kokan-ho was given to me as part of my Gendai Reiki-ho training and involves two techniques which purify the blood of negative energy and gradually replace the old blood with new blood by using Reiki energy. The two techniques and the way they are performed are:

Hanshin Koketsu-ho (Half Body Blood Cleansing)

For this technique, your client would need to be standing up straight (make sure you can reach their neck) or sitting up on a bed or backless chair, or laying on their stomach on your treatment bed.

• Starting at the back of the neck, using your palms, sweep from the spinal column outwards to the left and the right. Move your palms slightly down along the centre of the back and sweep again outwards from the spine to the left and the right. Repeat this back sweep (from the spin outward to the left and right) along the entire length of the spine down lumber area. Repeat the neck-to-lumber are back sweep for 10-15 times.
• Next, hold your index and middle fingers of both hands together and place them at the base of the neck on both sides of the spine. Sweep down the spine from the neck to the bottom of the spine. Repeat this 10-15 times.
• With one hand on the neck and the other on the lower back, send Reiki to the spine for a minute or so.

I have also found this technique beneficial when treating clients suffering from backache – we often carry stress and strain in our spines and in our backs and the Hanshin Koketsu-ho is a wonderful technique to bring relief and release to tension held in the back.

Zenshin Koketsu-ho (Full Body Blood Cleansing)

For this technique it is best if the client is laying on their back on your treatment bed. I usually use the Zenshin Koketsu-ho as part of my closing of a Reiki healing session just before sealing the aura, giving gratitude and waking the client.

• Give Reiki with your hands to the head – front and back, both sides, forehead and bottom of the neck. Then also Reiki the areas around the lungs, heart, stomach and abdomen (intestines). This step is optional if you have already completed a full Reiki treatment.
• Starting with the client’s right arm, with your hands together or alternating, sweep the arm from the shoulder to the fingertips several times (12 – 15 times). Do the same with the left arm.
• Then, using both hands, sweep the client from the chest to the hips, also 12 – 15 times
• Finally, starting with the left leg, with your hands together or alternating, sweep the client’s legs from thigh to the tips of the toes.
• With each sweep, collect all negative energy with your hands and flick away at the end when you get to the fingertips and tips of the toes – I usually flick all the heaviness that I have collected in the process of using the Zenshin Koketsu-ho into a candle flame to be transmutes, cleared and released.

Feedback from clients is quite positive and most report that the severity of experiencing a healing crisis has been greatly reduced. Both techniques may result in a little lightheadedness, so make sure that clients are well grounded before getting up and continuing with life.

Article by Thea van der Merwe, Ph.D.

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Thea van der Merwe, Ph. D. is a nationally and internationally trained holistic energy, certified and experienced Master Reiki Practitioner, qualified in Usui Reiki, Reijukido, Karuna® Reiki, Karuna Ki Reiki, Crystal Reiki, and Gendai Reiki. She obtained the title of Shihan (full master/teacher), the highest level in Gendai Reiki Ho. Besides her greatest passion which is Reiki, Thea is also a spiritual shaman, healer, and teacher, offering readings as a way of accessing spiritual guidance. Her journey of personal discovery, growth, and healing started back in 2005 when she was personally in need of healing and searching for something more than what conventional medicine and therapy could provide. Thea is currently nationally and internationally registered with the South African Reiki Masters Association and The Reiki Healing Association respectively – both professional associations for the local and global Reiki communities, working to promote the wide-reaching practice and healing effects of Reiki throughout the world and where the primary philosophy is that together, we can do so much more. You can get into contact with Thea van der Merwe at viterra.co.za, which is her website, and at facebook.com/viterrahealing on Facebook.