Healthy VolunteersNCT07871981
Study on Biomagnetic and Physiological Signals During Reiki Practice in Healthy Volunteers.
A study testing Reiki Therapy and Mock Hand Placement in people with Healthy Volunteers and PHYSIOLOGICAL PHENOMENA, run by Anhembi Morumbi University at 1 site in Brazil.
Trial summary
This study evaluates whether the practice of laying on of hands (Reiki) produces detectable biomagnetic and physiological modulations proximate to the human body in healthy volunteers. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups: 1. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 60 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy Volunteers, PHYSIOLOGICAL PHENOMENA, Biomagnetic and Physiological Effects of Laying on of Hands
- What is being tested?
- Reiki Therapy and Mock Hand Placement
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 45 participants
- Where
- 1 siteBrazil
- Study dates
- 30 Jul 2025to 30 Dec 2030
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 60 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Healthy adult volunteers aged between 18 and 60 years.
- Ability to remain in a calm, supine position on the examination table for approximately 40 minutes.
- Provision of written informed consent prior to study participation.
Who cannot join
- Presence of implanted electronic medical devices (such as cardiac pacemakers, neurostimulators, or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators).
- Presence of ferromagnetic metallic implants in the thoracic or torso region.
- Use of pharmacological agents that directly modulate autonomic nervous system function, heart rate variability, or cortical electrophysiology (e.g., beta-blockers, antiarrhythmics, psychotropics).
- History of clinically significant cardiac arrhythmias, neurological disorders, or active cardiovascular diseases.
- Current pregnancy.
- Ingestion of caffeine, alcoholic beverages, energy drinks, or tobacco within 12 hours prior to experimental data collection.
- Engagement in strenuous physical exercise within 24 hours prior to data collection.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Brazil1 site
Parque Tecnológico São José dos Campos
São José dos Campos, São Paulo, 12247-016
About this study
Official title: Quantitative Evaluation of Physiological Signals During the Practice of Laying on of Hands.
This study evaluates whether the practice of laying on of hands (Reiki) produces detectable biomagnetic and physiological modulations proximate to the human body in healthy volunteers.
Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups:
Read more
- Reiki Group: Certified Reiki practitioners perform non-contact hand placement approximately 5 cm above a magnetic sensor;
- Grounded Sham Group: Certified Reiki practitioners perform the identical protocol wearing grounded stainless steel mesh gloves designed to drain superficial electromagnetic signals;
- Lay Control Group: Individuals without training in Reiki mimic the physical hand positions for the same duration.
Researchers record magnetic signal variations near the thoracic area (xiphoid process) alongside physiological parameters before, during, and after a 15-minute intervention period to assess whether biofield effects can be objectively distinguished from simulated touch and ambient electromagnetic artifacts.
Read the detailed description
This is a three-arm, parallel-group, randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial designed to investigate biomagnetic signal modulations and autonomic regulation during the practice of Reiki.
All experimental procedures were conducted under strictly controlled environmental conditions (temperature stabilized at 23°C and relative humidity at 60%). Volunteers remained in a supine position on a non-metallic examination table throughout the session.
A total of 45 healthy adult participants (aged 18-60 years) were recruited in São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil, and randomized into three parallel groups (n = 15 per group):
- Reiki Group (RG): Certified Reiki practitioners (Level II or higher, with regular active practice) positioned their hands approximately 5 cm above a magnetic sensor centered over the participant's xiphoid process.
- Grounded Sham Group (SG): Certified Reiki practitioners performed the identical hand positioning while wearing stainless steel mesh gloves (AISI 316) connected to an independent external ground rod to drain superficial electrostatic and low-frequency electromagnetic signals.
- Lay Control Group (CG): Lay volunteers without Reiki training positioned their hands mimicking the identical spatial placement and duration.
The protocol lasted 35 minutes per participant, divided into three continuous phases:
- Pre-intervention baseline (15 minutes): Subject acclimation, autonomic baseline stabilization, and sensor thermal stabilization.
- Intervention phase (15 minutes): Continuous application of the assigned procedure (Reiki, grounded sham, or lay control).
- Post-intervention rest phase (5 minutes): Assessment of immediate recovery and potential biomagnetic rebound effects.
In addition to biomagnetic field recording, physiological monitoring encompasses autonomic regulation via heart rate variability (HRV), electroencephalographic (EEG) spectral power, and cutaneous temperature assessed through infrared thermography.
- Conditions
- Healthy Volunteers, PHYSIOLOGICAL PHENOMENA, Biomagnetic and Physiological Effects of Laying on of Hands
- Being tested
- Reiki Therapy, Grounded Sham Hand Placement, Mock Hand Placement
- Keywords
- Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, Biofield, Biomagnetism, Complementary Therapies, Heart Rate Variability, Electroencephalography, Grounded Sham
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Reiki TherapyOther
Also called Reiki Group (RG)
Non-contact laying on of hands performed by certified practitioners (Level II or higher) maintaining hands approximately 5 cm above the thoracic region/sensor for 15 minutes.
Grounded Sham Hand PlacementOther
Also called Grounded Sham Group (SG)
Simulated laying on of hands performed by certified Reiki practitioners wearing stainless steel mesh gloves connected to an independent external ground rod for 15 minutes.
Mock Hand PlacementOther
Also called Lay Control Group (CG)
Simulated laying on of hands performed by untrained lay volunteers mimicking identical physical hand positions and duration (15 minutes).
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Reiki Group (RG) | Experimental | Participants (n=15) receive a 15-minute non-contact hand placement session performed by certified Reiki practitioners (Level II or higher) holding hands approximately 5 cm above a magnetic sensor centered over the xiphoid process. Receives: Other: Reiki Therapy |
| Grounded Sham Group (SG) | Sham comparator | Participants (n=15) receive a 15-minute simulated session performed by certified Reiki practitioners wearing grounded stainless steel mesh gloves (AISI 316) connected to an independent ground rod to drain superficial electromagnetic signals. Receives: Other: Grounded Sham Hand Placement |
| Lay Control Group (CG) | Placebo comparator | Participants (n=15) receive a 15-minute simulated session performed by lay individuals without training in Reiki, mimicking identical hand positioning and posture. Receives: Other: Mock Hand Placement |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Biomagnetic Signal Intensity Modulation Proximate to the Xiphoid Process
Modulation of biomagnetic signal intensity proximate to the xiphoid process recorded by the magnetic sensor across baseline, intervention, and post-intervention rebound phases, compared across the Reiki, grounded sham, and lay control groups.
Measured: Baseline (15 minutes), during intervention (15 minutes), and post-intervention (5 minutes)
Secondary outcomes (3)
Autonomic Nervous System Modulation via Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
Time-domain (SDNN, RMSSD) and frequency-domain (LF, HF, LF/HF ratio) parameters of heart rate variability measured to evaluate autonomic sympathovagal balance.
Measured: Baseline (15 minutes), during intervention (15 minutes), and post-intervention (5 minutes)
Cortical Brainwave Spectral Power via Electroencephalography (EEG)
Spectral power density across brainwave frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta, gamma) assessed to monitor cortical state changes during the protocol.
Measured: Baseline (15 minutes), during intervention (15 minutes), and post-intervention (5 minutes)
Cutaneous Surface Temperature via Infrared Thermography
Cutaneous facial and hand temperature variations evaluated by thermal imaging to assess microcirculatory and peripheral autonomic responses.
Measured: Baseline (15 minutes), during intervention (15 minutes), and post-intervention (5 minutes)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Oct 2026
- Study start30 Jul 2025
- Primary completion12 Oct 2025
- Study completion30 Dec 2030 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Healthy VolunteersStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Three parallel groups: Reiki Group (RG, n=15), Grounded Sham Group (SG, n=15), and Lay Control Group (CG, n=15).
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 45 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Anhembi Morumbi University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior.
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Elizabeth Kyoko Wada, Anhembi Morumbi University
- Investigators
- Renato Amaro Zângaro, PHD, Principal investigator, Anhembi Morumbi University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07871981
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 85407024.0.0000.5492
- Other IDs
- U1111-1347-9936, 7.672.207
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 7 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 14 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: De-identified individual participant data that underlie the results reported in published articles will be shared with academic researchers upon reasonable request directed to the corresponding author.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 14 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Quantitative Evaluation of Physiological Signals During the Practice of Laying on of Hands.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07871981
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 85407024.0.0000.5492
- Conditions
- Healthy Volunteers, PHYSIOLOGICAL PHENOMENA, Biomagnetic and Physiological Effects of Laying on of Hands
- Keywords
- Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, Biofield, Biomagnetism, Complementary Therapies, Heart Rate Variability, Electroencephalography, Grounded Sham
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 45 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Anhembi Morumbi UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior.
- Study start
- 30 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 12 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Dec 2030 (estimated)
- First posted
- 13 Oct 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study evaluates whether the practice of laying on of hands (Reiki) produces detectable biomagnetic and physiological modulations proximate to the human body in healthy volunteers.
Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups:
- Reiki Group: Certified Reiki practitioners perform non-contact hand placement approximately 5 cm above a magnetic sensor;
- Grounded Sham Group: Certified Reiki practitioners perform the identical protocol wearing grounded stainless steel mesh gloves designed to drain superficial electromagnetic signals;
- Lay Control Group: Individuals without training in Reiki mimic the physical hand positions for the same duration.
Researchers record magnetic signal variations near the thoracic area (xiphoid process) alongside physiological parameters before, during, and after a 15-minute intervention period to assess whether biofield effects can be objectively distinguished from simulated touch and ambient electromagnetic artifacts.
Detailed description
This is a three-arm, parallel-group, randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial designed to investigate biomagnetic signal modulations and autonomic regulation during the practice of Reiki.
All experimental procedures were conducted under strictly controlled environmental conditions (temperature stabilized at 23°C and relative humidity at 60%). Volunteers remained in a supine position on a non-metallic examination table throughout the session.
A total of 45 healthy adult participants (aged 18-60 years) were recruited in São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil, and randomized into three parallel groups (n = 15 per group):
- Reiki Group (RG): Certified Reiki practitioners (Level II or higher, with regular active practice) positioned their hands approximately 5 cm above a magnetic sensor centered over the participant's xiphoid process.
- Grounded Sham Group (SG): Certified Reiki practitioners performed the identical hand positioning while wearing stainless steel mesh gloves (AISI 316) connected to an independent external ground rod to drain superficial electrostatic and low-frequency electromagnetic signals.
- Lay Control Group (CG): Lay volunteers without Reiki training positioned their hands mimicking the identical spatial placement and duration.
The protocol lasted 35 minutes per participant, divided into three continuous phases:
- Pre-intervention baseline (15 minutes): Subject acclimation, autonomic baseline stabilization, and sensor thermal stabilization.
- Intervention phase (15 minutes): Continuous application of the assigned procedure (Reiki, grounded sham, or lay control).
- Post-intervention rest phase (5 minutes): Assessment of immediate recovery and potential biomagnetic rebound effects.
In addition to biomagnetic field recording, physiological monitoring encompasses autonomic regulation via heart rate variability (HRV), electroencephalographic (EEG) spectral power, and cutaneous temperature assessed through infrared thermography.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- Three parallel groups: Reiki Group (RG, n=15), Grounded Sham Group (SG, n=15), and Lay Control Group (CG, n=15).
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Reiki Group (RG) | Experimental | Other: Reiki TherapyParticipants (n=15) receive a 15-minute non-contact hand placement session performed by certified Reiki practitioners (Level II or higher) holding hands approximately 5 cm above a magnetic sensor centered over the xiphoid process. |
| Grounded Sham Group (SG) | Sham comparator | Other: Grounded Sham Hand PlacementParticipants (n=15) receive a 15-minute simulated session performed by certified Reiki practitioners wearing grounded stainless steel mesh gloves (AISI 316) connected to an independent ground rod to drain superficial electromagnetic signals. |
| Lay Control Group (CG) | Placebo comparator | Other: Mock Hand PlacementParticipants (n=15) receive a 15-minute simulated session performed by lay individuals without training in Reiki, mimicking identical hand positioning and posture. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Healthy adult volunteers aged between 18 and 60 years.
- Ability to remain in a calm, supine position on the examination table for approximately 40 minutes.
- Provision of written informed consent prior to study participation.
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Presence of implanted electronic medical devices (such as cardiac pacemakers, neurostimulators, or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators).
- Presence of ferromagnetic metallic implants in the thoracic or torso region.
- Use of pharmacological agents that directly modulate autonomic nervous system function, heart rate variability, or cortical electrophysiology (e.g., beta-blockers, antiarrhythmics, psychotropics).
- History of clinically significant cardiac arrhythmias, neurological disorders, or active cardiovascular diseases.
- Current pregnancy.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Reiki TherapyAlso: Reiki Group (RG)Non-contact laying on of hands performed by certified practitioners (Level II or higher) maintaining hands approximately 5 cm above the thoracic region/sensor for 15 minutes. | Other | Reiki Group (RG) |
| Grounded Sham Hand PlacementAlso: Grounded Sham Group (SG)Simulated laying on of hands performed by certified Reiki practitioners wearing stainless steel mesh gloves connected to an independent external ground rod for 15 minutes. | Other | Grounded Sham Group (SG) |
| Mock Hand PlacementAlso: Lay Control Group (CG)Simulated laying on of hands performed by untrained lay volunteers mimicking identical physical hand positions and duration (15 minutes). | Other | Lay Control Group (CG) |
Primary outcome
Biomagnetic Signal Intensity Modulation Proximate to the Xiphoid Process
Time frame: Baseline (15 minutes), during intervention (15 minutes), and post-intervention (5 minutes)
Modulation of biomagnetic signal intensity proximate to the xiphoid process recorded by the magnetic sensor across baseline, intervention, and post-intervention rebound phases, compared across the Reiki, grounded sham, and lay control groups.
3 secondary outcomes
Autonomic Nervous System Modulation via Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
Time frame: Baseline (15 minutes), during intervention (15 minutes), and post-intervention (5 minutes)
Cortical Brainwave Spectral Power via Electroencephalography (EEG)
Time frame: Baseline (15 minutes), during intervention (15 minutes), and post-intervention (5 minutes)
Cutaneous Surface Temperature via Infrared Thermography
Time frame: Baseline (15 minutes), during intervention (15 minutes), and post-intervention (5 minutes)
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 14 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. De-identified individual participant data that underlie the results reported in published articles will be shared with academic researchers upon reasonable request directed to the corresponding author.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Renato Amaro Zângaro, PHD principal investigator
Anhembi Morumbi University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Reiki Therapy and Mock Hand Placement in people with Healthy Volunteers and PHYSIOLOGICAL PHENOMENA, run by Anhembi Morumbi University at 1 site in Brazil.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Brazil. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Biomagnetic Signal Intensity Modulation Proximate to the Xiphoid Process (time frame: Baseline (15 minutes), during intervention (15 minutes), and post-intervention (5 minutes)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Oct 2026.