What are some Reiki techniques? When it comes to alternative therapies, Reiki (also known as energy healing) is a late nineteenth-century Japanese technique. The practitioner's universal energy is believed to be transmitted to the patient via his or her palms, which is the fundamental premise. By concentrating their healing energy on specific locations on the patient's body, the practitioner can expedite healing, promote relaxation, and calm stiff muscles that may be harboring memories of emotional or physical anguish.