這篇的內容很有趣，對於靈氣有正反兩面的說法，原來在西方，天主教對於靈氣也有這樣的限制性說法，規範和台灣的教條不相上下，但因靈氣效果讓人驚艷，醫院也因為患者不斷要求靈氣服務，而與治療師簽訂合約，在醫師的監督下使用靈氣，這真是令人深思。
有關靈氣的限制性思考，我曾經寫下 靈氣與因果，有那謎嚴重嗎? 一文，有興趣者歡迎參觀指教。
靈氣在國外已被保險公司列為給付項目，顯見靈氣在歐美的普及性，我們真的有很大的進步空間啊~
不多說，好文共賞~~
Reiki goes mainstream: Spiritual touch practice now commonplace in hospitals
By Brianna Sacks | Religion News Service (2014.5.16) 取自 washingtonpost
靈氣走向主流醫學:在醫院裡習為常的靈氣治療
A high-stress job and spiking blood pressure led Sandra Delgado to discover the healing power of human touch a year ago when she walked into her first Reiki session.
高壓工作及高血壓的症狀，引領珊卓.狄多在一年前接受靈氣治療，並感受這個人類的觸摸療癒能量。
“Reiki saved my life,” said Delgado, a lawyer with Bank of America. “I cannot live without it and I don’t want to know what would have happened to me if I hadn’t found it.”
"靈氣拯救了我的生命"狄多表示，一位美國的銀行律師。"我不能想像如果在我的生命中沒有靈氣，那將會發生什麼事"。
A spiritual touch practice based on the notion that human hands can redirect one’s “life force energy” to heal stress and disease, Reiki is the hottest new Eastern healing practice making its way into the Western health industry.
靈氣的觸療觀念建立在使用人的雙手來傳送"生命能量來源"並療癒壓力及疾病。靈氣是東方新起熱門療癒法，而現在已逐步進入西方健康產業。
Like acupuncture, yoga and other once fringe practices, Reiki is now viewed by many as an effective, accepted alternative practice in mainstream America, where at least 1.2 million adults have tried the energy healing therapy.
就像是針灸、瑜珈和其他療法一樣，靈氣現在帶來許多影響，並被美國主流醫學中接受並成為替代療法之一，至少有12000個民眾曾經接受能量療癒治療。
But for a relatively safe and side-effect-free treatment, Reiki has garnered quite a conflicted reputation among health researchers and medical professionals and in the Roman Catholic Church.
但相對於安全且對治療不會有副作用的影響，靈氣也在羅馬天主教會的健康研究者們及醫學專業人員間存在著相當矛盾的評價。
“Overall there is a lack of high-quality research on Reiki, and the studies that have been done show conflicting results,” a National Institutes of Health report found.
國立衛生研究院報告發現，"整體而言，靈氣缺乏高品質的研究，而且這些已完成的資料結果顯示出矛盾的結果。"
Findings also conclude that there is “no scientific evidence to prove that such energy exists,” writes John Killen from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
調查結果得出的結論是"沒有科學證據來證明這種能量的存在。"約翰.基倫-國家整體替代醫學中心。
Yet, the energy healing is being woven into patient services and treatment programs for people with cancer, fibromyalgia, pain and depression. American consumers like Delgado have been paying out of their own wallets for Reiki, which can range from $40 to $300 a session, creating a new touch therapy market that hospitals, medical and cancer centers are tapping into.
然而，能量治療已被編入為患有癌症、纖維肌痛症、疼痛和憂鬱症病人服務。如迪卡多這位美國消費者已經為靈氣付出了一些費用，一個療程約40-300美金，這個新的觸療市場現在已被醫院、醫學單位和癌症中心創造並充分利用。
More than 60 U.S. hospitals have adopted Reiki as part of patient services, according to a UCLA study, and Reiki education is offered at 800 hospitals.
根據加州大學洛杉磯分校的調查，超過六十間醫院將靈氣加入他們治療病患的行列中，大約有800間醫療院所提供靈氣的課程。
The Healing Touch Professional Association estimates that more than 30,000 nurses in U.S. hospitals use touch practices every year. Pecora said hospitals now seek out Reiki masters and do workshops to train nurses and medical staff. More medical professionals are signing up and paying about $175 to go through Reiki levels 1 and 2, she said. Training programs to become a Reiki Master Teacher last six months to a year and cost $875.
觸療專業協會統計，美國每年在醫院有超過30000個護理人員做靈氣練習。珮寇瑞表示醫院現在會尋求靈氣導師設立靈氣工作坊來培訓醫護人員，且需和院方簽約並付出175美金上靈氣一階和二階的課程。而成為靈氣導師需要六個月的訓練期並需要875元美金。
Yet many medical experts question Reiki’s lack of regulation, especially in a hospital setting.
然而許多醫學專家靈氣缺乏監管，特別是在醫院的環境中。
Reiki critics call the practice “quackery” and unable to ameliorate symptoms of serious diseases. According to a 2009 article in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, “The serious methodological and reporting limitations of limited existing Reiki studies preclude a definitive conclusion on its effectiveness.”
靈氣批評者表示這些東西是"江湖騙術"，而且不能真正解決嚴重疾病的症狀。根據2009年的整體醫學替代療法雜誌中寫道，"在這些靈氣有限的報告及重要方法裡，限制且阻礙對於效力的明確結論"。
In 2009, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued guidelines that say “a Catholic who puts his or her trust in Reiki would be operating in the realm of superstition.”
2009年，美國天主教主教會發生聲明表示:"在天主教醫院裡，無論是誰信任靈氣的效力，這就是將醫院放入迷信的境界來經營"。
The guidelines say it would be inappropriate for Catholic institutions, such as Catholic health care facilities and retreat centers, to offer Reiki.
這些聲明表示將靈氣放入任何一個天主教機構裡都是不恰當的，就像是天主教健康照護中心及庇護中心提供靈氣服務一樣。
Despite the criticisms, Pecora said she can walk into all major hospitals in the San Fernando Valley to conduct Reiki sessions without anyone batting an eye.
儘管靈氣有人有批評的聲音，但珮寇瑞說她仍然可以在毫無反對的眼神中走進聖費爾南多谷醫院裡，為大眾介紹靈氣課程。
“It just works,” she said. Pecora has been practicing Reiki since the 1980s, when energy healing was considered “unique, weird, and no one knew what you were talking about.”
"這只是個工作"，她說。珮寇瑞從1980年開始使用靈氣，當時能量療癒是被認為"獨特、怪異的"，沒有人知道你在說什麼。
At a recent Saturday afternoon Reiki share session, strangers gathered together to work out energy kinks.
而在這星期六下午的靈氣課程裡，許多彼此陌生的同學一起練習能量療癒。
Pecora quietly moved through the circle of folding chairs, conducting “attunements.” Her thin hands fluttered across people’s bodies. She blew on the crowns of heads and faces, her breath like steam, soft and odorless as participants focused on realigning and opening the energy channels.
珮寇瑞輕巧的在摺疊椅的範圍圈裡移動著，進行"點化"。她瘦小的雙手在學生的身體上揮動著。她輕輕的在頂輪及臉上吹氣，她的呼吸像蒸氣一般，柔軟無味，焦點放在打開並調整點化者的能量通道。
A 2008 American Hospital Association survey found that 84 percent of hospitals reported patient demand as the primary rationale in offering complementary medicine services, including Reiki.
2008年美國醫院協會的調查發現，有84%的醫院表示患者會要求提供整體醫療服務，包括靈氣。
Laura Zempel, a palliative care nurse at Ventura County Medical Center, summed up the core argument: Reiki has a placebo effect.
勞拉.樂珮，一位在文圖拉縣醫療中心的緩和醫療護理人員，總結了幾個重點:靈氣有安慰劑的效應。
But, she added, the medical center has plans to offer Reiki sessions because patients keep asking for it.
但，她補充道，因病患不斷的要求，醫學中心已經計劃要將靈氣療程加入其中。
Demand helped create the Integrative Medicine Wing of the Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center in Burbank, Calif., four years ago.
這樣的需求也在四年前，創建了龍和位於加州伯班克的帕提卡迪斯尼家庭癌症中心，翼這樣的中西醫結合醫學。
“Patients are much more demanding for these practices. It’s the reason why our whole department came about in conjunction with Western medicine,” said Vanessa Ortiz, the wing’s program director.
"患者對於靈氣治療是如此的渴望，這是為何我們整個部門要與西醫結合的原因。妮莎·奧爾蒂斯，翼總監說。
The hospital has a contract with a local Reiki master who comes once a week to conduct private sessions with patients. She charges $40, half her normal rate, and says she cannot wait until insurance covers her services.
醫院與在地的靈氣大師，有著每周一次要來醫院和病患私下會面的合約。每次費用為40美金，她原本收費的一半，她說她不能等待保險公司來付清她的服務才來醫院幫忙。
Health insurance companies cover Reiki when it’s woven into comprehensive treatment programs such as physical therapy, massage or palliative care and delivered by a nurse or licensed care professional as part of routine care during a hospital stay.
保險公司支付靈氣的費用，當靈氣被護理人員或授權被專業保健人士在住院期間定義為常規治療，並列入綜合醫療程序，如物理治療、按摩或緩和療法等。
PS:Blog裡的文章翻譯內容及影片字幕為本人所有，如需引用請註明出處。
