title: The Touchstone Process: an ongoing critical evaluation of reiki in the scientific literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reiki is used by a growing number of people but little is known about the scientific basis for its use.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The Touchstone Process was developed as an ongoing process to systematically analyze published, peer-reviewed studies of Reiki, the results being made accessible to the public online.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen scientifically qualified experts in the field of Reiki were assembled into 3 teams to retrieve, evaluate, and summarize articles using standardized, piloted evaluation forms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Summaries of 26 Reiki articles, including strengths and weaknesses, were posted on a newly developed Web site (www.centerforreikiresearch.org), together with an overall summary of the status of Reiki research and guidelines for future research: The Touchstone Process determined that only 12 articles were based on a robust experimental design and utilized well-established outcome parameters. Of these articles, 2 provided no support, 5 provided some support, and 5 demonstrated strong evidence for the use of Reiki as a healing modality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a need for further high-quality studies in this area.
authors: Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA. abaldwin@u.arizona.edu
authors: Ann L
authors: AL
authors: Baldwin
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Vitale
authors: Elise
authors: E
authors: Brownell
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Scicinski
authors: Mary
authors: M
authors: Kearns
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Rand
mesh_terms: D015706:Bibliometrics; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000592:standards*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D017712:Peer Review, Research; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*; D019124:Therapeutic Touch; D016896:Treatment Outcome