The following is an abreviated version of my statement before the White House Commission on Complementary and Alterantive Medicine at the Lighthouse International Center in New York City on January 23rd. More than 135 people testified in this committee's quest to determine federal policy on CAM. I was part of a delegation representing the New York Coalition of Alternative Healers.  We presented a unified position requesting that "energy" modalities be exempted from legislative control. New York is one of several states that have attempted to pass laws requiring the licensing of therapies involving any contact between the practitioners hand and the clients body. This would put "energy" healers in the same classification as licensed massage therapists, a practice that in New York State costs more than $10,000 for training and licensing.  Unlicensed energy workers would be charged as felons; the same fate that befalls prostitutes in so-called "massage parlors."  In my initial posting on this topic, I don't believe I made this clear.

The commission seemed to understand our plight and the questions they asked after our statements were supportive and non-adversarial.  We all said that we would be willing to participate in scientific studies of our practices and encouraged them to promote funding for this purpose.

Here is the text of my statement:

 

Dr. Gordon, Dr. Fisher and  other Distinguished Members of the Commission:<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

 First, I would like to thank you for giving us the opportunity to present our opinions and points of view on these very important topics and praise your efforts in fact finding and truth finding for as we have come to learn…sometimes facts are far from true and sometimes the truth is far from factual.

I have come to ask you to carefully consider what many refer to as energy healing or light work and what, in my personal practice, is called Reiki.  For most of us, this is not a vocation but an avocation and a spiritual practice.  Reiki is not a religion.  However, Reiki has given me a greater connection to my personal faith and beliefs than I had prior to this discipline coming into my life.  It is that point that I would like to emphasize…personal faith.<o:p></o:p>

The majority of Reiki Masters and practitioners that I have met are honest, upstanding, well-trained, professional and compassionate people of high integrity and very strong faith.  These same people are barely scraping out a living with their practices and often have other pursuits to support themselves.  I manage an industrial business here in New York.  I am fortunate enough to earn a comfortable living from that business which affords me the opportunity to give Reiki pro-bono to those in true need and without the means to pay for it.  I also volunteer with an organization called the Distant Healing Network which sends healing energy and prayer to those in need through out the world…coordinated over the Internet.<o:p></o:p>

Reiki, this healing work, is part of my spiritual practice.  I ask that you report back to those who commissioned you that this work should not be subject to control, licensing or other oversight either by federal or state governments.<o:p></o:p>

 Many scientists and medical professionals have studied and documented the effects of absent prayer on hospitalized patients…studies that have shown remarkable results on patients prayed for in comparison to those not prayed for.  Yet, I am certain that none of you would advocate that people who pray for the sick should be tested, licensed and controlled by governmental agency.  This would be in direct violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution and quite frankly, defy common sense. I ask that you consider my spiritual practice, Reiki, in the same light.  <o:p></o:p>

Thank you again for your time, consideration and compassion.