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Other common
name(s): zone therapy, reflex therapy, foot reflexology,
hand reflexology
Scientific/medical
name(s): none
Description
Reflexology is a treatment that uses pressure on specific
areas of the feet (or the hands) with the goal of relieving a variety
of problems and balancing the flow of vital energy throughout the body.
Overview
There is early scientific evidence that reflexology may be
useful for relaxation and reducing some types of pain and anxiety in
some patients. Available scientific evidence does not support
reflexology as a treatment for cancer or any other disease.
How is it promoted for use?
Reflexology is based on the theory that reflex points, located
in the feet or hands, are linked to various organs and parts of the
body. According to this theory, stimulation of these points is thought
to affect the connected organ or body part. By stimulating the reflex
points, reflexologists claim that they can relieve a wide variety of
health problems and promote well-being and relaxation.
Some proponents claim that reflexology can help conditions
such as respiratory infections, headaches, asthma, diabetes, back pain,
premenstrual syndrome, and problems with the skin and gastrointestinal
tract. They also say reflexology can stimulate internal organs, boost
circulation, and restore bodily functions to normal. According to their
beliefs, energy travels from the foot to the spine, where it is
released to the rest of the body. They believe that reflexology
releases endorphins (the body's own natural pain killers) and
detoxifies the body by dissolving uric acid crystals in the feet. Some
reflexologists say that a tender or gritty area of the foot or hand
reflects a current or past disease in the organ linked to that area.
What does it involve?
The reflexologist may start by asking health questions before
examining the feet. He or she will gently examine a person's feet while
the client sits in a special chair or lies on a massage table, then
apply pressure to selected reflex points on the feet. Sometimes the
client will notice tender areas on the feet as they are touched. Some
people report tingling sensations in other areas of the body while the
reflex points are being touched. Most sessions take from 30 minutes to
1 hour. Some people learn to apply reflex pressure to their own or a
family member's feet. A few reflexologists work on the hands, and some
work on both the hands and the feet.
Since reflexology is not legally regulated at this time, no
formal training is required before a person can call him or herself a
reflexologist. The practitioner may have taken courses from a massage
school or other source, studied reflexology books, apprenticed with
another practitioner, or be self-taught. Some massage therapists,
nurses, and others incorporate reflexology techniques into their
practices.
What is the history behind it?
Reflexology traces its roots to ancient Egypt and China. In
the early twentieth century, an American physician, William Fitzgerald,
MD, decided the foot was the best place to "map" parts of the body for
diagnosis and treatment. He divided the body into ten zones and decided
which section of the foot controlled each zone. Dr. Fitzgerald believed
gentle pressure on a particular area of the foot would generate relief
in the targeted zone. This process was originally named zone therapy. A
few years later, another doctor named Joe Shelby Riley published
drawings of zones on both the feet and the hands to promote what he
called Zone Reflex. He also mapped zones on the outer ear.
In the 1930s, Eunice Ingham, a nurse and physiotherapist,
further developed Dr. Fitzgerald's maps to include reflex points, which
were much more specific than he zones used in Fitzgerald's maps. It was
Ingham who changed the name of zone therapy to reflexology.
What is the evidence?
Available scientific evidence does not support claims that
reflexology cures cancer or any other disease. However, it has been
shown to help promote relaxation and reduce pain in some people. Most
evidence regarding reflexology is based on anecdotal reports or small
studies.
A 2003 study looked at patients with cancer pain and found
that reflexology seemed to help symptoms for a short time. However, the
effects were gone 3 hours after the treatment. A recheck at 24 hours
showed no difference between the groups. A 2007 study of 86 people with
metastatic cancer compared reflexology administered by patients'
partners to reading to patients by their partners. The reflexology
group reported less anxiety and less pain.
A study done in 2002 looked at symptoms in menopausal women.
All the women received either a reflexology treatment or a placebo foot
massage. They reported improved menopausal symptoms, with no difference
between the foot massage and reflexology groups.
In a Danish study in the early 1990s, 220 people suffering
from migraine headaches or tension headaches were evaluated. Eighty-one
percent of the participants said they were helped or cured by
reflexology. Nineteen percent of those who had been taking medication
were able to stop after six months of reflexology treatments. However,
since there was no control group, scientists who conducted the study
cautioned that the patients' improved well-being could have been due to
other factors. They concluded that further study would be needed to
determine the benefits, if any, of reflexology.
Are there any possible problems or
complications?
As with massage and other forms of bodywork, reflexology can
generally be adapted to meet the needs of cancer patients. Deep
pressure and vigorous manipulation of the foot should be avoided during
times of active treatment for cancer, or if there is edema in the foot
or lower leg. It is recommended that cancer patients not have pressure
applied directly to known tumor sites or to lumps that may be
cancerous. People with cancer that has spread to the bone or who have
fragile bones should avoid physical manipulation or deep pressure
because of the risk of fracture. Bodywork should be provided by a
trained professional with expertise in working safely with people who
have cancer and with cancer survivors.
People with cancer and chronic conditions such as arthritis
and heart disease should talk to their doctors before having any type
of therapy that involves moving joints and muscles. Relying on this
type of treatment alone and avoiding or delaying conventional medical
care for cancer may have serious health consequences.
Additional Resources
More information from your American Cancer
Society
The following information on complementary and alternative
therapies may also be helpful to you. These materials may be found on
our Web site (www.cancer.org)
or ordered from our toll-free number (1-800-ACS-2345).
References
Barrett S. Reflexology: a close look. Quackwatch Web site.
Accessed at
http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/reflex.html on May
30, 2008.
Botting D. Review of literature on the effectiveness of
reflexology. Complement
Ther Nurs Midwifery. 1997;3:123-130.
Cassileth B. The
Alternative Medicine Handbook: The Complete Reference Guide to
Alternative and Complementary Therapies. New York, NY:
W.W. Norton; 1998.
History of reflexology. American Academy of Reflexology Web
site. Accessed at
http://www.americanacademyofreflexology.com/HistoryOf.shtml on June 2,
2008.
Hodgson H. Does reflexology impact on cancer patients' quality
of life? Nurs Stand.
2000;14:33-38.
Launsø L, Brendstrup E, Arnberg S. An exploratory
study of reflexological treatment for headache. Altern Ther Health Med.
1999;5:57-65.
Oleson T, Flocco W. Randomized controlled study of
premenstrual symptoms treated with ear, hand, and foot reflexology. Obstet Gynecol.
1993;82:906-911.
Quattrin R, Zanini A, Buchini S, et al. Use of reflexology
foot massage to reduce anxiety in hospitalized cancer patients in
chemotherapy treatment: methodology and outcomes. J Nurs Manag.
2006;14:96-105.
Reflexology. Aetna InteliHealth Web site. Accessed at
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/8513/34968/360060.html on
June 2, 2008.
Ross CS, Hamilton J, Macrae G, Docherty C, Gould A, Cornbleet
MA. A pilot study to evaluate the effect of reflexology on mood and
symptom rating of advanced cancer patients. Palliat Med.
2002;16:544-545.
Stephenson N, Dalton JA, Carlson J. The effect of foot
reflexology on pain in patients with metastatic cancer. Appl Nurs Res.
2003;16:284-286.
Williamson J, White A, Hart A, Ernst E. Randomised controlled
trial of reflexology for menopausal symptoms. BJOG. 2002;109:1050-1055.
Note: This information may not cover
all possible claims, uses, actions, precautions, side effects or
interactions. It is not intended as medical advice, and should not be
relied upon as a substitute for consultation with your doctor, who is
familiar with your medical situation.
Last Medical Review: 11/01/2008
Last Revised: 11/01/2008
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