Can Reiki Ease the Pain of Wisdom Tooth Surgery? New Research Says Maybe.

Getting your wisdom teeth (third molars) pulled is a rite of passage for many, but it’s rarely a comfortable one. Between the pre-surgery jitters and the post-op throbbing, patients are always looking for ways to make the experience easier. A new study published in the January 2026 issue of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery explores a unique approach: Reiki therapy. Researchers at Ege University in Turkey wanted to know if this Japanese energy healing technique could actually lower anxiety before the procedure and reduce pain afterward. To test the effectiveness of Reiki, researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial involving 180 healthy participants. Each participant needed a mandibular (lower jaw) wisdom tooth extraction—specifically a Class II-B impaction, which is a common but complex type of removal. The participants were divided into three groups: Researchers tracked anxiety levels using several … Read more