Episode

Responding to a Burst of Reiki from Turkey by Thomas J. Wheeler

Podcast
Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition
Published
Mar 18, 2026
Duration seconds
1157
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Summary

In this article, Anthony G. Wheeler examines a surge of Reiki studies published in Turkey, arguing that they promote a scientifically implausible form of "energy medicine" without addressing its lack of evidential basis or considering alternative explanations such as placebo effects and patient attention. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/responding-to-a-burst-of-reiki-from-turkey/ About the Author: Thomas J. Wheeler was a biochemistry professor at the University of Louisville School of Medicine for twenty-five years, followed by a second career as a high school science teacher. While at Louisville he developed an elective course on alternative medicine, a subject he continues to pursue, posting his writings on the Kentucky Council Against Health Fraud site (https://sites.google.com/site/kycahf/kentucky-council-against-health-fraud). He has been a Skeptical Inquirer subscriber since 1982. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/