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Tapestry of Healing: Where Reiki and Medicine Intertwine - Book Review

AORN Journal, Dec, 2003 by Nancy J. Shatto

Jed Mills 2001, 203 pp $15.95 paperback

The intent of this book is to give the reader an overview of author Jeri Mills' successful efforts to blend the healing arts of mind, body, and spirit with Western medicine. The book is divided into two sections. In the first half, the author describes her personal journey from childhood to today. In the second half, she presents several energy therapies, including Reiki, which means universal life force in Japanese, and the ethics and responsibilities that attend the practice of such therapies.

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The author begins the book by giving readers insight into the events that led her to be a physician, then describes how she uses Reiki to help her patients, both animal and human. As the daughter of circus performers, she lived with her aunt during the school year and with her parents the rest of the year. When she stayed with her parents, she spent much of her time with the circus animals. Her experiences laid the foundation for her to earn her doctor of veterinary medicine degree. After practicing for three years, she moved on to medical school to become an obstetrician/gynecologist. Her practice eventually took her to Tucson, where she was exposed to Reiki and energy channeling.

At first, Mills was hesitant to use Reiki on patients, fearing they would not understand. As she practiced energy therapy over time, her fears diminished, and she noticed that patients with whom she used Reiki techniques were calmer and required less postoperative medication to control pain. Her work eventually came to the attention of the University of Arizona College of Nursing, Tucson, where she began teaching nursing students how to use these techniques in their patient care practice. Students responded enthusiastically to the lectures and asked that a class on energy medicine, including Reiki, be made part of the curriculum. Mills continued to study the healing arts and became a Reiki master teacher.

The second half of the book describes energy therapies from several cultures. Mills gives a brief history of Eastern medicine and healing, Reiki, and shamanic rituals and describes how she has taken elements from different cultures to form her practice. She explains the responsibilities mad ethics related to using alternative therapy and relates some of her experiences, good and bad. Mills stresses her belief that with the proper motivation and training, anyone can learn energy therapy techniques. Included at the end of the book is a list of recommended resources for readers who want to gain further knowledge of the subject.

The author is an excellent writer and conveys her thoughts in an easy-to-read, well-conceived format. Anyone, whether care professional or consumer, can enjoy this book. The author achieves her goals of providing the reader with an overview of Reiki and showing how it can be used in everyday patient care and personal care.

This book is available from White Sage Press, PO Box 928, Alto, NM, 88312, https: //www.healthyshopping.com /books/Topics.asp?ItemCode=496 &ListType=publisher.

NANCY J. SHATTO

RN, MSN, CNOR

NURSE MANAGER

DENVER VA MEDICAL CENTER

DENVER

Health Care Industry

Tapestry of Healing: Where Reiki and Medicine Intertwine - Book Review

AORN Journal, Dec, 2003 by Nancy J. Shatto

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