Reiki (Japanese: 霊気, English pronunciation: Ray-kee) is a form of spiritual healing and spiritual practice proposed for the treatment of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual diseases. Mikao Usui (usui mikao 臼井甕男) developed Reiki in early 20th century Japan, where he claimed to receive the ability of 'healing without energy depletion' after three weeks of fasting and meditating on Mount Kurama. Practitioners use a technique similar to the laying on of hands, in which they claim to be channels for energy ("Ki") guided by a universal spirit or spiritual nature ("Rei") — flowing through their palms to heal a person wherever they may need healing. A study in Alternative Therapies (Jan/Feb 2005 issue) said that in 2002 there were over one million U.S. adults who had experienced Reiki treatments. Reiki is considered controversial by some people. There is little evidence Reiki works by any means other than suggestion or the placebo effect, though some sympathetic theorists have described a scientific basis for calling Reiki an energy medicine.