What are the benefits of Reflexology?

  • Relieving stress and tension
  • Improving blood supply
  • Unblocking nerve impulses
  • Reducing pain
  • Stimulating the body’s ability to heal itself

Related Posts

  • What can I expect during a Reflexology session?

    A reflexology session lasts one hour.  The client sits with bare feet while the therapist applies pressure by hand to all areas of both feet.  Imbalances in the body are detected as tender spots on the feet and normally these become less tender after a few minutes massage.  However, it may not possible to remove all tender areas with one treatment.

  • Reflexology and Pain Management – Part 3

    In previous posts in this series I have discussed the nature of pain, and how is evidence for the reflexology can be used for acute pain.  In this article I want to discuss reflexology and chronic pain, as back pain is the most common chronic pain and it effects 8 out of 10 people in their lifetime, I will focus on studies that have looked at chronic lower back pain. An initial pilot study was carried out entitle Reflexology in the management of low back pain: a pilot randomised controlled trial by F Quinn, CM Hughes and GD Baxter.  the results of which was published (see Complement Ther Med. 2008 Feb;16(1):3-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2007.05.001. Epub 2007 Jun 27.)  Participants suffering from non-specific lower back pain were recurited and randomly assigned to a reflexology or sham group.  Each patient received either a 40 minute reflexology treatment or a sham treatment according to which group they were in once per week for 6 consecutive weeks.  The key measure of success was the measurement of pain on the visual analogue scale supplemented by the McGill pain questionnaire,  Roland-Morris disability questionnaire, and SF-36 health survey. Outcome measures were performed at baseline, week 6, week 12 and week 18.  The results incidicated that reflexology may have a positive effect on Lower Back Pain. This initial trail was followed up by a more comprehensive study of times were nurses were the patients, nursing is in the top ten professions for high incidence of lower back pain.  Again this study was a double bind trial, and the same measurements of pain were used as in the trail. The study recruited 50 male and 50 female nurses with chronic lower back pain to take part in the trail.  40 minute sessions of reflexology or sham treatements were performed three times a week for two weeks.  The study concluded Reflexology can be effective in reducing the severity of chronic back pain, i.e. it is able to reduce pain from moderate to mild.  (see The Irainian Journal of Nursing Times (reference Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2012 Mar-Apr; 17(3): 239–243.), focused on back pain in nurses) In conclusion it is clear that while the number and size of the studies are small there is a clear trend which demonstrates the effectiveness of Reflexology in helping to reduce pain levels especially in cases of lower back pain.  Remember I offer a 15 minute taster Reflexology session for anyone who would like to try reflexology.

  • Reflexology: Scientific Evidence of it’s effects physiological anxiety signs

    Recently a scientific study (see details below) was published which evaluated the physiological anxiety signs and sedation needs of patients in intensive care units in a Turkish hospital.

    Title: Reflexology: It’s effects on Physiological Anxiety Signs and Sedation Needs
    Journal: Holistic Nursing Practioner
    Authors: E. Korhan, L. Khorshid, M Uyar
    Reference: 2014; 28 (1);6-23
    Study Type: Randomised Controlled Trial - with control group receiving no treatment
    Background It is an accepted medical fact that when it is necessary to mechanically ventilate patients in intensive care units of hospitals, the patients experience stress and anxiety.  It is standard medical practice to relieve anxiety, pain, agitation with sedatives to ensure patient comfort. Sedatives however also have side effects causing high blood pressure, slow heart beat, coma, respiratory depression, muscle weakness and atrophy, increased risk of pneumonia, kidney problems and immunosuppression. It may also prolong the need for ventilation which in turn increases the risk of complications. Method 60 patients were split into two groups one of which was the control group.  Sedation (Propofol) was reduced 30 min before treatment (or no treatment) which resulted in patients with mixed consciousness to which the outcome measure was administered. This was the American Association of critical care nurses sedation assessment scale (AACNSAS) and the vital signs recorded. Reflexology applied to ears, hands and feet bilaterally was given twice a day for a total of 30 minutes per day, over 5 days. The reflexology focussed on the brain, cortex, hypothalamus, hypophysis and subcortex; areas though to influence anxiety, agitation and stress response. No reflexology was given to the control group but the sedation was reduced and all the same measurements were taken. Results The physiological signs of anxiety and stress i.e. blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate were are reduced in the group that received reflexology on each of the 5 days.  In addition there was a reduction in the requirement for sedatives in the group that received reflexology. Conclusions These findings ‘show that reflexology is an effective treatment in reducing the physiological signs of anxiety and stress in patients receiving mechanically ventilated support.’ This study provides scientific evidence to underpin the idea that reflexology has a beneficial effect on anxiety and stress.