Criticism

Efficacy

An article published by the National Council Against Health Fraud claims there is no evidence that Reiki's effects are due to anything other than suggestion.[13] Many scientists, health care workers and others dispute the effectiveness of Reiki, because studies have shown that it does not facilitate healing beyond that expected from the placebo effect. Many in the scientific community ascribe anecdotal evidence of the effectiveness of Reiki therapy to the placebo effect and a combination of post hoc reasoning and the regressive fallacy [3].
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Safety

Doctors, academics, and consumer advocates have expressed concern when patients with serious diseases such as cancer choose Reiki as a means of treatment over trained doctors.[citation needed] Opponents of Reiki claim that Reiki is exploiting the fear and hope of people with serious illnesses for money while offering only a placebo effect, noting that in some cases people reject conventional medicine and solely practice Reiki or other "alternative" therapies [4]. However, safety-conscious Reiki teachers and practitioners should advocate using Reiki as a complement to conventional medicine, never as a replacement. Some safety concerns are shared with other alternative medicines.

Roman Catholic priests have also denounced Reiki as "opening the door to evil and occult forces which have later side effects". [5]
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Internal controversies

With the many varied ways that have been used to teach Reiki, there have emerged points of controversy between different groups, teachers and practitioners. Controversies exist on topics such as the nature of the Reiki energy itself, fees charged for courses and treatments, training methods, secrecy of symbols and attunement methods.[citation needed]

Various claims are made about 'legitimacy' or 'authenticity' between various schools of Reiki. Political disagreement exists between some schools; so for example a practitioner of one teacher may be unwelcome to practice Reiki with another teacher's Reiki group. A Reiki school might discourage the participation of outside students and teachers, particularly when a school considers their practices to be the only correct approach. This occurs amongst both traditional and non-traditional schools. As a lesser form of discrimination, a practitioner considered unorthodox might be required to retrain before being accepted.[citation needed]
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The "Reiki Grandmaster"

Many conservative schools are based around claims of Hawayo Takata's many student teachers competing as the true "Grandmaster" of Reiki or teaching exactly as Takata herself taught. In recent years, however, many teachers connected in some way with Hawayo Takata do not strenuously claim to be appointed as the "Grandmaster of Reiki" as they once did in the past. Phyllis Furumoto (the granddaughter of Takata), for example of the "Reiki Alliance" seemed to cease claiming this title around the same time that it was found that historically no such title ever existed once the Japanese schools were discovered by Western Reiki schools. Barbara Weber Ray of the "Radiance association" still makes the claim. Often these "Grandmasters" attempt to patent the term "Reiki" in their particular country or countries of interest. Such actions are very unpopular in the wider Reiki community and no patents have ever been granted in any country except Germany. However, Phyllis Furumoto obtained this patent and holds it in trust for the greater Reiki Community. In the UK and many other countries the term 'Reiki' is deemed to be in the public domain and not patentable.