Reflexology is a type of massage therapy that involves direct pressure applied to points on the hands and feet. According to the tenets of reflexology, these areas have pressure points that correspond to different organs and systems in the body. Manipulating these pressure points on the feet will unblock the energy blockage and restore the body's balance, thus healing an array of maladies affecting the related organ or body system.
History
According to the Ontario College of Reflexology, the earliest forms of reflexology date back to ancient Egypt. In the modern era, reflexology --- called "zone therapy" --- was introduced to the U.S. in 1913 by Dr. William H. Fitzgerald, who claimed to have learned the technique from "Red Indians." Eunice Ingham, a therapist who worked with Fitzgerald, subsequently carried on his work, publishing several influential books on reflexology beginning with her 1938 book, "Stories the Feet Can Tell." A student of Ingham's, Mildred Carter, further popularized reflexology. Her 1969 book, "Helping Yourself with Foot Reflexology," went on to sell more than 500,000 copies. The book claims to demonstrate how the reader can utilize reflexology techniques to relieve such ailments as arthritis, back pain, stress, sore throat and sciatica.
Reflexology Points
In reflexology, the foot is divided into four distinct sections, each corresponding with one of four separate elements: earth, water, fire and air. The heel, for example, is related to earth, which affects emotional and spiritual issues associated with physical well-being, while the ball of the foot is associated with fire, and relates to issues surrounding fear and anger. In addition, a reflexologist will manipulate five specific reflex points that correspond to the pituitary gland, the ovaries or testes, the uterus or prostate, the ileosacal valve and the sigmoid flexure in the digestive tract.
Health Claims
In reflexology, the practitioner claims to be able to diagnose any abnormalities in the body simply by examining the patient's hands or feet. By vigorously massaging and manipulating the associated points on the feet, the practitioner can then stimulate the flow of energy and the associated blood and nerve impulses to the corresponding area in the body by eliminating any energy blockage. These concepts are not unlike those related to the flow of chi in acupuncture and other types of Eastern medicine. By allowing energy to flow freely, ailments in that particular organ or body system are then relieved. Proponents of reflexology, notes Dr. Stephen Barrett on the medical myth-busting website Quackwatch, claim reflexology offers such health benefits as cleansing the body of toxins, increasing circulation, supporting weight loss and improving the health of organs.
Efficacy
A number of studies have examined whether reflexology actually offers the health benefits claimed by its proponents. The general consensus seems to be that reflexology can effectively relieve stress --- much like other forms of therapeutic massage --- but there is no scientific evidence to suggest that reflexology can effectively diagnose or treat illness or disease. For example, a review study published in the June 2008 issue of "Journal of Advanced Nursing" compiled the results of previous studies that appeared in medical journals throughout the world. The study concluded that there is "no evidence for any specific effect of reflexology in any conditions, with the exception of urinary symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis."
References
- The Merck Manual for Health Care Professionals: Manipulative and Body-Based Practices
- Quackwatch; Reflexology: A Close Look; Stephen Barrett; September 2004
- "The Medical Journal of Australia;" Is Reflexology an Effective Intervention? A Systematic Review of Randomised Controlled Trials; E. Ernst; September 2009
- "Journal of Advanced Nursing;" The Efficacy of Reflexology: Systematic Review; M.Y. Wang, et al; June 2008
- AltMD: What is Reflexology?
- Ontario College of Reflexology: The History of Reflexology
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