Shingles, or herpes zoster, is an outbreak of painful blisters on the skin. Adults who have had chickenpox in childhood or later are at risk of developing shingles. The virus hides in the spinal cord and can emerge years after the first infection when the immune system is low. Usually the blisters occur on only one side of the rib cage, and follow the line of the ribs. Not only are the blisters painful, patients who have had shingles can experience pain for months after the blisters clear up. Treatment for shingles usually revolves around pain relief, and though reflexology can work as a treatment for pain, there is no medical evidence that it works specifically for shingles.
Treatment
The standard -- evidence-based -- treatment for postherpetic neuralgia, the pain that follows an episode of shingles, includes medications such as antidepressants, gabapentin, pregabalin, long-acting opioids or tramadol according to a June 2011 article in "American Family Physician." There is also evidence that the use of capsaicin cream or a lidocaine patch can help with the pain of shingles.
Reflexology
There is no evidence that reflexology can cure shingles or any other disease. That said, however, there is significant evidence that reflexology can reduce pain and anxiety that go along with a variety of medical conditions, including cancer and herniated spinal disk. For example, the Touch Research Institute reports that 63 percent of a group of people suffering from lumbar-sacral disk herniations reported a reduction in pain after three treatments of reflexology massage. It is possible, then, that reflexology could also reduce pain and anxiety in patients with shingles.
Theory
Reflexology is based on the belief that massaging specific areas on the feet can improve related areas on the rest of your body. You can get a general idea of those reflex areas by comparing your foot to the general shape of your head and body. Reflexologists believe that the toes represent the head and neck. The ball of your foot represents your upper back and the top of your foot represents your chest. The inside or medial edge of your foot represents your spine. The area about halfway between your toes and your heel, across the arch of your foot, represents your waist area.
Technique
Reflexologists massage the areas on the foot that represent the area of the body with problems. In this case, shingles generally occur on the rib cage, from the spine around the side to the front of the rib cage. Your reflexologist would likely concentrate on the inside edge of your foot and the arch of your foot as representing the areas with the symptoms, although you would still receive massage to your entire feet.
References
- "Professioni Infermieristiche"; The effectiveness of foot reflexotherapy on chronic pain associated with a herniated disk; M. Degan, et al.; 2000
- "Oncology Nursing Forum"; The effects of foot reflexology on anxiety and pain in patients with breast and lung cancer; N.L. Stephenson, et al.; 2000
- "Medical Journal of Australia"; Is Reflexology An Effective Intervention?; E. Ernst; September 2009
- "American Family Physician"; Herpes Zoster and Postherpetic Neuralgia; J. Fashner, et al.; June 2011
- Happy Feet Reflexology; Shingles -- Reflexology; Nancy Bartlett
