VOLUME 26, NUMBER 4, June, 2005
Enter the contest and get a chance to win The Complete Guide to Foot Reflexology (Third Edition). Be the first to receive a copy of the newly revised book, available July 1.
The Association of American Medical Colleges reports that "more than 95 of the nation's 125 medical schools require some kind of complementary and alternative medicine courseware." ... "Doctors at Penn (University of Pennsylvania's medical school) are working with Tai Sophia Institute, an alternative medicine school in Maryland, on a program to teach medical school students about herbal therapies, meditation and other approaches that are increasingly popular with the public but largely exist outside the realm of mainstream medicine." It is noted that "cardiologists at Penn's Presbyterian Medical Center are working with Tai Sophia to integrate alternative therapies into traditional care for heart patients. The idea is to teach the cardiology staff how to develop personalized therapy plans - including everything from meditation and massage to reflexology ad aromatherapy - to decrease patient stress, pain and anxiety." Dr. Alfred Fishman of Penn's medical school noted the research possibilities. "'In the days before we could image the brain it was very hard to know about how these things worked, why placebos work in some people. We can image the brain now and see why they feel better. Nothing is off limits.'" (Loviglio, "Schools Opening Up to Alternative Medicine," April 23, 2005, Associated Press) (Penn Program:www.med.upenn.edu/progdev/compmed ä Tai Sophia Insitute:www.tai.edu)
A Reflexology Path will be featured in a Natural Reflexology Garden presented by Wright Gardens (www.wrightgardens.co.uk) at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in London. Kunz and Kunz are serving as reflexology advisors for the Path. Interested reflexologists can give the Reflexology Path a try from July 4 to July 10. (For ticket information, click here: http://www.rhs.org.uk/whatson/events/hamptoncourt2005.asp.)
Hampton Court Palace Flower Show: "Hampton Court Palace and its surrounding parkland provide an idyllic setting for the world's largest horticultural show. This spectacular gardening event features an exciting range of flowers, plants and gardening accessories, giving you the opportunity to browse, buy and discover stunning landscaped gardens bursting with inspirational ideas for your gardenä"With displays from over 150 specialist nurseries from around the country and one of the greatest annual gatherings of roses in full bloom in the world, this flower show guarantees a glorious summer's day out for everyone."
Hampton Court Palace: The Palace on the banks of the Thames was occupied by King Henry VIII from 1528. It served as the center of royal court life for 200 years. Today the Palace, its buildings and grounds are visited by tourist or anyone seeking to spend a pleasant day in garden surroundings. Noteworthy is a three hundred year-old maze. To take a virtual tour of the castle and gardens, click here: http://www.hrp.org.uk/webcode/content.asp?ID=8.
"Pampered prisoners offered reflexology" reads the headline of an article about the decision to offer reflexology and other holistic therapies to prisoners at Peterborough Prison in the United Kingdom. Controversy has followed the advertising for "two part-time therapists to 'offer treatments such as reflexology, aromatherapy, acupuncture, Indian head massage, reiki and shiatsu alongside general relaxation and other health promotion groups.'" ä "'We look at the whole person and try to treat them in the round.' said a spokesman. "There are some prisoners for whom holistic therapy will be extremely beneficial.'" The local member of Parliament objected, stating that prisoners "are being pampered instead of punished." A member of the local Police Authority notes "that while there might be a time when an individual prisoner needed reflexology, he felt it was 'ridiculous' for holistic therapies to be available for a total of 40 hours a week at the prision." Prison director Mike Conway stated "'The incident of self-harm among female prisoners is very high and this was part of an initiative to help resolve that problem and help to save lives.'" (Sapsted, David, "Pampered prisoners offered reflexology," June 1, 2005)