Reiki has its origins in Japanese Buddhism and is a way of concentrating energy to encourage physical, mental and emotional healing. The Reiki practitioner is trained to use their hands to focus energy. This allows the body to return to its balanced state and heal.

Reiki can be used in both humans and animals to relieve pain, aid healing and promote relaxation. It stimulates the body’s innate healing processes to normalise function and restore balance. Reiki has been successfully used to calm anxious pets and improve recovery from illness or injury.

Reiki can be performed either with the hands gently resting on the animal, with the hands hovering away from the skin or a combination of the two. This can be very useful when treating an animal which may be in a lot of pain or resistant to being handled.

Reiki is completely non-invasive and does not even require direct contact between therapist and patient. It can therefore be used in situations where acupuncture might not be possible.