East Meets West

Back in the mid-1990s, I worked as a medical writer at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, where I got to interview doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals about the latest and greatest in medical treatment at a premier research center.

While impressed with the many of the treatments and technologies employed by Western medicine, I've come to strongly believe that the best medical system would combine the best of Eastern and Western approaches.

I'm heartened to see evidence that this is starting to happen. I've had numerous nurses and even a couple of doctors (OB-GYN) take my Reiki classes in recent years. One of those doctors was interested in expanding the alternative health offering of Kaiser Permanante, a national health care provider.

And yesterday I just learned of an exciting program started at Wake Forest, my old employer in Winston-Salem, N.C.. Called the Council for Bioenergetic Healing, the program was founded in 2002 by two MDs, a radiologist and a pediatrician who are both involved with Reiki.

The Council's mission is "to enhance understanding and provide support to numerous members of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine community and Winston-Salem/Triad community interested in research, education and clinical services related to bioenergetic therapies.

Bioenergetic therapies include, but are not limited to, Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, Healing Touch, Qi Gong, Magnetic Fields, and Prayer."

The Council is part of the medical school's Program for Holistic and Integrative Medicine (Website: http://www1.wfubmc.edu/phim/About/CBH/).

If it had been in existence back when I worked at Wake Forest, I definitely would have written about it for medical center publications.

I'd love to know what research they've conducted on Reiki to date. I might put on my freelance writer hat and give the Council's founders a call and see if they'd be interested in coverage in the blogosphere.