Reiki Fails to Calm Dental Anxiety, But Hints at Pain Relief in Study

ROSEMONT, Ill. – March 06, 2026 – For the millions of people who face wisdom tooth extraction with trepidation, the search for non-pharmacological ways to ease anxiety and pain is a constant pursuit. A new study, however, delivers a mixed verdict on one popular complementary therapy: Reiki. The research, published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (JOMS), found that the touch-based 'energy healing' technique did not significantly reduce preoperative anxiety but was associated with slightly lower postoperative pain scores.

The findings contribute to a complex and growing conversation in medicine about the role of complementary and alternative therapies. As patients increasingly seek holistic approaches to care, the medical community is tasked with rigorously evaluating which methods stand up to scientific scrutiny and how they can be integrated to improve the patient experience.

The Anatomy of the Study

Researchers at Ege University Faculty of Dentistry in Izmir, Turkey, conducted a single-blind, randomized controlled trial to investigate Reiki's effects on patients undergoing surgical removal of an impacted lower third molar—a common and often anxiety-inducing procedure. The study involved 180 adults between the ages of 18 and 45.

Participants were randomly divided into three groups before their surgery:

• A Reiki group, which received a standard Reiki session from a trained practitioner.
• A sham Reiki group, which received a placebo treatment mimicking the hand positions and duration of a real session, but from an individual not trained in Reiki. This was designed to control for the effects of human touch and attention.
• A no-intervention group, which served as the baseline control.

Using validated questionnaires to measure anxiety and a visual analog scale for patients to self-report pain daily for a week after surgery, the researchers gathered their data. The results were clear on one front: there were no statistically significant differences in preoperative anxiety levels among the three groups. Reiki, it appeared, was no better than a placebo or doing nothing at all for calming pre-surgery jitters in this setting.

However, the data on postoperative pain told a more nuanced story. Patients in the Reiki group reported, on average, lower pain scores than those who received no intervention. While this difference was noted, the authors pointed out that the pain scores between the Reiki and sham Reiki groups were not significantly different, suggesting a powerful placebo effect or a benefit derived simply from therapeutic touch. The authors concluded that "additional well-designed clinical trials are needed to better define Reiki's role in oral and maxillofacial surgical care."

The Science of Comfort: Seeking Evidence for Alternative Care

This study from JOMS, the official journal of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), exemplifies a critical trend in modern medicine: the application of scientific rigor to complementary practices. While Reiki has proponents who report profound benefits, its core concept of manipulating a biofield or "life force energy" remains unproven and scientifically unsupported, a position held by institutions like the NIH's National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH).

The NCCIH states that while Reiki appears safe, it has not been clearly shown to be effective for any health-related purpose, citing inconsistent results from a body of research often plagued by small sample sizes and methodological flaws. This is precisely why studies with robust designs, including a placebo or 'sham' arm, are so vital. They help clinicians and patients distinguish between a therapy's specific effects and the non-specific, yet powerful, benefits of placebo, relaxation, and human connection.

By publishing such research, the oral and maxillofacial surgery community demonstrates a commitment to evidence-based practice, even when exploring unconventional modalities. The goal is not necessarily to debunk these therapies but to understand them, quantify their effects, and determine if and how they can be responsibly integrated into a patient's care plan.

Beyond the Pill: The Patient Quest for Holistic Care

The interest in the Reiki study is not isolated; it reflects a broader patient-driven movement towards holistic care and non-pharmacologic management of pain and anxiety. Concerns about the side effects of medications, particularly opioids, have spurred both patients and providers to seek safer alternatives to enhance comfort during surgical procedures.

JOMS itself has previously published research on other non-pharmacologic strategies with promising results. For instance:

• Music Therapy: A 2023 clinical trial found that listening to baroque and classical music was associated with reduced anxiety in patients undergoing dental implant surgery.
• Meditation: A 2021 study reported that a single session of Heartfulness meditation could reduce anxiety during wisdom tooth surgery.
• Aromatherapy: Research from 2014 showed that the ambient fragrance of orange successfully reduced anxiety in patients having impacted third molars removed.

These findings suggest that while Reiki's effect on anxiety was not validated in the recent trial, the principle of using sensory and psychological interventions to improve the patient experience is well-supported. The success of aromatherapy and music therapy points to the powerful connection between our senses and our emotional state, offering surgeons a toolkit of low-risk options to create a more calming clinical environment.

A Subtle Signal: Unpacking the Nuance of Pain Relief

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the new Reiki study is the subtle signal it detected in postoperative pain management. The finding that Reiki produced slightly better pain outcomes than no intervention at all, even if it wasn't superior to a placebo, is significant.

This highlights the potential of therapies that activate the parasympathetic nervous system—the body's "rest and digest" mode. The simple act of a quiet, focused session with a practitioner, involving gentle touch and a calm environment, can reduce heart rate, lower blood pressure, and ease muscle tension. These physiological changes can, in turn, alter the perception of pain.

This effect should not be dismissed. In an era focused on multimodal analgesia—using a combination of techniques to manage pain while minimizing opioid use—even a small contribution from a low-risk intervention like Reiki or sham Reiki can be valuable. It complements, rather than replaces, standard evidence-based pain management protocols, which increasingly rely on non-opioid medications like NSAIDs and acetaminophen.

Ultimately, the study underscores that the patient experience is multifaceted. While the 'energy healing' component of Reiki remains scientifically questionable, the human element of the practice—empathetic attention and gentle touch—may hold a therapeutic benefit of its own. As surgeons continue to refine their toolkits, the rigorous examination of every potential aid, from the pharmacological to the psychological, remains a cornerstone of advancing patient care.