For some sixty years, reflexologists have theorized about the effects on the body caused by reflexology. Since the publication of Eunice Ingham's Stories the Feet Can Tell in 1938, the mantra of the practice has been that reflexology relaxes tension, normalizes gland and organ function, and improves circulation. Recent research has upheld such contentions and shown reflexology to be effective in several other areas. (Numbers in parentheses refer to controlled studies listed on Controlled Studies on Reflexology )
A survey of reflexology
research shows that reflexology work not only achieves results in
these areas but also helps in other ways such as reduction of pain,
improvement in effectiveness of medication, and avoiding side effects
of drug therapy while achieving results.
• Women who have recently given birth lactate earlier and more satisfactorily when given foot reflexology work. (21)
• 95% of women who experience amenorrhea find foot reflexology to be effective. (2)
• Reflexology improves the symptoms of 46% of those suffering from PMS. (24)
• Reflexology was found to be 87.5% of men experiencing impotence and 100% effective for other male sexual dysfunctions. (26)
• Individuals who receive foot reflexology show an improvement in symptoms of hyperlipimia (cholesterol and monoglyceride). (16)
• Individuals who have received lithotrity (external mechanical impact on kidney or ureter stones) expel the fragmented stones more quickly with foot reflexology work. (28)
•Symptoms of coronary heart disease (chest distress and angina) disappear in those receiving foot reflexology work as well as causing a drop in blood pressure of 25/5, results better than those achieved with medication. (9)
• Not only do constipated individuals evacuate their bowels more quickly when receiving reflexology work but individuals with normal bowel function do also. (8)
• "The reflexology and foot massage control groups experienced a significantly greater reduction in baroreceptor reflex sensitivity,…" "the mechanism that maintains blood pressure and homeostasis by changes in autonomic outflow." (3)
• Children with cerebral palsy who received reflexology work showed an improved growth rate over those who did not. (4)
• Mentally retarded children were shown to improve significantly in height, weight, health states, social living abilities, and intellectual development when receiving foot reflexology as opposed to those not receiving treatment. (7)
• Individuals with cervical spondylosis were found to experience a higher clinical cure rate than those treated with traction. (5)
• Foot reflexology
work was found to decrease the free radicals present in test
subjects. (14)
• Reflexology work reduces the pain of those with kidney and ureter stones. (20)
• Reflexology reduced
the pain of 66% toothache patients as well eliminating the symptoms
of 26%. (27)
• 19% of headache
sufferers ceased taking medication following reflexology work.
(15)
• Lithotrity
(external crushing of kidney and ureter stones) patients experienced
less pain, began excretion of stones earlier, and completed excretion
earlier than those who did not receive reflexology
work.
(18)
• Reflexology work
was found to be more effective and safer than the standard treatment
of catheterization in patients with uroschesis, retention of urine
following surgery. (30)
• Reflexology saved
on Danish employer US$3,300 a month in fewer sick days for employees
in addition to improving the work environment. (31)
• The feet of
mentally retarded children were found to be of abnormal color and
show abnormal shapes in toes as opposed to other children.
(6)
From "Medical Applications of Reflexology, Findings in Research about
Safety, Efficacy, Mechanism of Action and Cost Effectiveness of
Reflexology"
©2003 Kunz and Kunz