Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Biting my tongue

   The other day I overheard Mr. Ho talking about Reiki. He is, according to himself, a Reiki practitioner. He was telling someone about how he had performed Reiki on an accquaintance of his, for some ailment or another, and that person had reported an improvement. But here's the thing: he did it over the phone.
   I swear I'm not making this up. He claims that he performed a therapeutic technique on someone over the phone. And that person reported improvement in their condition. That's just funny on so many levels.
   I could have pointed out that there is no
scientific evidence that Reiki has any effect whatsoever, but I didn't. I could have pointed out that the claims made by practitioners of Reiki, and Therapeutic Touch Therapy, were effectively debunked recently by a nine year old girl in her elementary school science fair project, but I didn't. I bit my tongue. I said nothing. I walked away.

   And then, today, I overheard another conversation between Mr. Ho, and a co-worker. Seems he had performed Reiki again last night, on another friend. That friend, allegedly, had been suffering from back problems. According to Mr. Ho, after one half hour of Reiki (in person this time), the friend said her back felt much better.
   I could have pointed out that any person with a sore back, given a half an hour to lie down and do nothing but relax, would almost certainly report improvement in their back pain, but I didn't. I could have pointed out that heat is an effective treatment of back pain, and the laying on of hands transmits heat directly to the affected area, but I didn't. I bit my tongue. I said nothing. I walked away.

   What? He's my boss.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey, man!  Don't be so hard on that whole therapeutic touch thing.  I think a certain sort of "extreme therapeutic touch" program along the lines of heavy petting/groping could be helpful in getting my mind off my aches and pains for a while.  

-Dan
http://thewisdomofadistractedmind.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Paul,
Time to get you a new job!

And Dan,
That kind of therapeutic touch may relieve your aches and pains for a short while but  shortly thereafter those pains are likely be replaced by the "Bobbit" kind.
And unfortunately Bobbit has nothing to do with the Lord of the Rings!!
Brent  

Anonymous said...

  Although, I've heard he does refer to himself in the third person like that: "The Bobbit."
-Paul

Anonymous said...

LOL... Yes, there are DEFINITELY some kinds of therapeutic TOUCH that work to release endorphins that certainly make (especially those with chronic illness like Dan and I) us feel better.   Reiki?  Not so much...

I am glad that you are able at appropriate times show restraint, Paul!  LOL

be well,
Dawn
http://journals.aol.com/princesssaurora/CarpeDiem/

Anonymous said...

Maybe you should ask Mr. Ho if he would perform Reiki on your tongue, I bet it sore as hell.

Anonymous said...

The Bobbit understands that a $10 hand-job can be therapeutic.  

Now, as for Reiki, The Bobbit also understands that anything you can imagine, the Japanese have already done it while wearing a school-girl uniform.

-Dan
http://thewisdomofadistractedmind.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Anybody know Mr. Ho's e-mail address?



Anonymous said...

Is it Ho@HoKnowsHos.org?