A pilot study at PES University, Bangalore tested whether direct Reiki healing, distance Reiki, and Vedic mantra chanting influence the growth of finger millet (Ragi, Eleusine coracana). Sixteen pots of 5 seeds each were divided across four groups (direct Reiki, distance Reiki, mantra, control) and grown in an open setting for six weeks. Plant height was measured at two weeks and six weeks.
Mixed and contradictory results: At two weeks, direct Reiki plants were taller than controls (10.20 vs 8.75cm) with a significant ANOVA and significant post-hoc result [t(76)=2.99, p<0.05, Cohen’s d=2.27]. At six weeks, this advantage had completely vanished — direct Reiki and control plants were statistically identical (20.95 vs 20.90cm). Mantra plants showed the highest mean at six weeks (21.75cm) but this was not significantly different from control in post-hoc testing (t=0.79). The significant 6-week ANOVA F-ratio appears to be driven by the distance Reiki group performing below control (18.20cm), not by any treatment performing above it.
Yield (pods per plant) was not measured: the crop was destroyed by insects and storm before pod development.
Evidence value: This study is the weakest in the collection. Its primary value is as an honest negative/mixed signal that documents an attempt to test biofield and mantra effects on plant growth under conditions that made detection very difficult. The inconsistency between 2-week and 6-week results is best explained by random variation in a small-n, unblinded design rather than any real treatment effect. The confidence rating of 0.15 reflects that a single significant post-hoc result at one timepoint, not replicated at a later timepoint, in an unblinded pilot study, provides minimal evidentiary weight.
Source: Kumar VSK, Subramaniyam KV, Vanishree. Presented at International Conference on Frontiers of Consciousness, Montfort College, Bangalore, December 28–29, 2018.