Reflexology is a form of massage that promotes the physical manipulation of certain areas of the body called reflex points to provide increased well-being or ease the effects of specific ailments. In addition to your hands and ears, reflex spots appear on your feet. While reflexology is unproven as a treatment for any particular diseases, it may help ease pain levels and increase body relaxation.
The Basics
The basis of reflexology stems back to ancient Egypt and China, according to the University of Minnesota. Modern uses of reflexology techniques date back to 1917, when an American doctor named William Fitzgerald proposed the existence of 10 vertical zones of control that span the length of your body.
Fitzgerald believed these zones end in the bottoms of your feet. He also believed that lightly massaging your feet in specific areas could cure or relieve ailments located in corresponding vertical zones. Initially, Fitzgerald called his technique the zone system, but later practitioners gave it a new name and charted additional reflex zones on the hands and ears.
Reflexology Principles
Proponents of reflexology believe that energy in your body travels from your feet to your spine, and is then made available to the rest of your body, the American Cancer Society, or ACS, reports. According to reflexology's operating principles, foot massage triggers body detoxification by dissolving accumulations of uric acid crystals.
It also releases your body's supply of natural painkillers called endorphins. Advocates of reflexology believe its techniques can cure or ease a variety of health problems, according to the ACS. Examples of these problems include asthma, respiratory infections, diabetes, skin problems, premenstrual disorder, back pain, gastrointestinal problems and headaches.
Reflexology Practice
Reflexology practitioners around the world have reached a general agreement about the properties of the various reflex points on your feet, the University of Minnesota reports. According to commonly accepted guidelines, reflex points on your left foot give access to the left side of your body, as well as all of the organs and other structures located in this area.
Similarly, reflex points on your right foot give access to the right side of your body, as well as all of the organs and other structures located there. During a massage session, a reflexologist may use techniques that focus on specific organs or ailments, or alternatively use techniques that provide general systemic effects.
Effectiveness
Current scientific findings do not support reflexology as a treatment for any specific disease or ailment, according to the ACS. Although some study results indicate potential treatment benefits, overall results are largely inconclusive or suffer from poor research design.
For instance, a Danish study in the 1990s that produced positive reflexology results for the treatment of headaches did not use a control group of non-reflexology users to help verify their results.
Considerations
Reflexology techniques may help relax you or ease pain symptoms, the ACS notes. The University of Minnesota reports results that indicate that widespread use of reflexology in Denmark has reduce levels of employee and absenteeism and contributed to significant improvements in self-reported job satisfaction.
Member Comments