Meaning of Reflexology

If you suffer from chronic pain, tension or anxiety, you may want to book a reflexology session at your local spa or alternative health treatment center. Reflexology, an ancient healing art, uses the power of pressure and movement to alleviate pain and promote healing throughout the body. However, you should speak with your primary care physician about the benefits and risks associated with reflexology if you are taking any medications or are undergoing any treatments for a condition.

Identification

Reflexology, also called zone therapy, is an alternative health treatment that uses pressure applied to certain areas of your hands and feet to relieve bodily ailments and restore the natural flow of energy throughout your body, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Theories/Speculation

Each of your palms and soles contains 7,200 nerve endings, according to the International Academy of Medical Reflexology, which correspond to your organs, glands and various other bodily parts by way of your nervous system. Therefore, when the reflex points on your hands or feet are stimulated with pressure and movement, it corrects the instructions your nerves send to your affected body part, which ultimately promotes healing of your affected body part, the academy says.

Methodology

A typical reflexology session begins with a verbal health questionnaire. Then the reflexologist applies pressure to selected reflex points along your hands or feet that correspond with your affected body part. For example, if you are experiencing frequent headaches, your reflexologist would gently apply pressure to the back of your big toe, almost to the top, for as long as it takes to alleviate your headache symptoms. Then the reflexologist would spend the remainder of the session working on other symptoms, or performing a general reflexology massage over your feet or hands in an effort to rejuvenate your nervous system and restore your body's overall health.

Clinical Trials

In a study, 23 people who had breast or lung cancer received reflexology treatments for 30 minutes, reports the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, to determine if the treatment would result in a decrease in cancer-related anxiety or pain. People with both types of cancer experienced a decrease in anxiety, reports the NIH, and people with breast cancer also experienced a reduction in pain. In another study, 71 people who had multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease in which the protective coverings on nerves deteriorate and cause muscle atrophy, were given either reflexology or localized massage therapy for 11 weeks. The group that received reflexology experienced an increase in muscle strength and motor skills, the NIH reports.

Considerations

Do not have reflexology body work performed on your feet or hands if you have any tumors or lesions near reflexology points, the ACS says. You should also speak with your doctor before you undergo reflexology if you have a chronic condition such as heart disease or arthritis.