Arteriosclerosis is a relatively common condition causing hardening of arteries. A healthy lifestyle -- including the use of specific stress management techniques -- can help prevent arteriosclerosis, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. While there's not much clinical evidence to support its specific benefits for arteriosclerosis, reflexology treatments may help by decreasing stress and treating specific reflex points associated with the condition.
Reflexology
Reflexology is a holistic method of healing that has been used for thousands of years in Eastern medicine. The idea behind reflexology is that stimulating specific reflex points, located on your ears, feet and hands, can help treat certain mental and physical conditions and alleviate stress. Reflex points are thought to consist of a gathering of nerve endings that correspond to specific organs, glands and other parts of your body. Dysfunction or illness is believed to occur in part due to a blockage in your natural energy flow, called "qi" in Chinese medicine. Through specific massage techniques using the thumbs, fingers and knuckles, a reflexologist can access and clear energy blockages in reflex points.
Arteriosclerosis and Stress
The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that although researchers aren't certain what causes arteriosclerosis, several factors can worsen the condition, including smoking, high blood pressure and elevated levels of homocysteine, an amino acid associated with oxidative stress. Additionally, high levels of stress can also contribute to the progression of arteriosclerosis, according to the World Heart Federation. Keeping your stress levels in check by implementing relaxation methods and reducing high blood pressure may help prevent arteriosclerosis.
How Can It Help?
Many people rely on reflexology treatments to decrease stress and induce feelings of relaxation, which can be beneficial for arteriosclerosis. Among others, the heart and solar plexus points located near the center of your feet are thought to be associated with arteriosclerosis, say authors Vicki Pitman and Kay MacKenzie in their book, "Reflexology: A Practical Approach." Treating these points may at least promote feelings of relaxation. It's also possible that reflexology treatments can help lower high cholesterol and blood pressure levels. A study published in the August 2004 issue of the "Journal of the Korean Academy of Nursing" found that reflexology treatments helped decrease systolic blood pressure and triglyceride levels in hypertensive study participants, although Western medical studies have not evaluated this claim.
Considerations
If you have arteriosclerosis, it's important to obtain permission from your doctor before a reflexology treatment. Some patients with arteriosclerosis may experience decreased blood flow to the legs and feet, resulting in a greater sensitivity to pain. Therefore, your reflexologist should be careful about the amount of pressure used during the massage, say nursing professors Mariah Snyder and Ruth Lindquist in their book, "Complementary and Alternative Therapies in Nursing." No adverse reactions to reflexology treatments have been reported, although short-term side effects may include more frequent bowel movements and urination, gas and increased perspiration, as the body's natural healing process is stimulated and toxins are eliminated.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Artherosclerosis
- World Heart Federation: Stress at Work Increases the Progression of Arteriosclerosis
- Reflexology: A Practical Approach; Vicki Pitman and Kay MacKenzie
- Journal of the Korean Academy of Nursing; Effects of Foot Reflexology on Essential Hypertension Patients
- Complementary and Alternative Therapies in Nursing; Mariah Snyder, Ph.D, RN and Ruth Lindquist, Ph.D, RN
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