Reflexology and reflexologists have long been a target for skeptics. The idea, reflexologists, and those who use the services have been lambasted for years. Of late, skeptics have grown desperate and reflexologists are gaining an upper hand.
Skeptics' strategies are no longer involve a discussion based on research and science but opinion portrayed as facts. Skeptics' attacks and talking points now target: funding for reflexology research, payment by governmental agencies for reflexology service providing, and educational degrees in reflexology. The illogic of such efforts includes criticizing monies spent on research, no matter the success or cost-saving benefits demonstrated by reflexology application. It would seem the general message is: You don't have any research and we plan to block any attempt to allocate funding.
These are acts of desperation says Kevin Kunz who has been discussing and arguing about reflexology with skeptics on the Web for years. The recent shift in tactics by skeptics shows an apparent politic campaign rather than the former typical anti-intellectual debate. Take, for example, the response of Dr. Steve Novella, Yale University Professor and founder of New England Skeptics. He drew Kunz's attention when he blogged about monies spent to fund research on the impact of reflexology applied to troubled children who needed special class rooms because of disruptive behavior. The children were helped and were mainstreamed back into regular school rooms. (See below.)His criticism of the spending was political in nature and included talking points rather than analyzing the situation or considering the science involved. In a blog discussion, he failed to defend his lack of science twisting the facts presented by Kunz. Finally, he allowed a post on the blog that consisted of nothing but slanderous comments.
Among the most recent attacks-by-skeptic, reflexology is cited as among the most popular of therapies in "The Touch That Doesn't Heal," a Wall Street Journal opinion article that appeared in the December 26, 2008 edition.
Author and American skeptic Steve Salerno writes of his fear: "Hundreds of colleges operating in all 50 states offer coursework in sundry CAM disciplines. Many more advertise on line." "A 60% grade on an admission exam puts you on the path to becoming a nutritional consultant, master herbalist or holistic chef for animals." "This should be a laughing matter, but it isn't - not with the Obama administration about to confront the snarling colossus of health-care reform. Today's ubiquitous celebration of 'empowerment,' combined with disenchantment over the cost, bureaucratic and possible side effects of conventional care, has spurred an exodus from medical orthodoxy. As a result, what was once a ragtag assortment of New Age nostrums has metastasized into a multibillion dollar industry championed by dozens of lobbyists and their congressional sympathizers. Among the most popular therapies are acupuncture at $50 to $100 per session; reflexology, which involves massaging various parts of the hand and feet, starting at $35 an hour and aromatherapy which relies on the supposed healing properties of about 40 'essential oils' with treatments at $30 to $90 an hour."
Editor's comments: Reality, let alone fairness, doesn't come into the picture with such a skeptic. Reflexology a multibillion dollar industry with lobbyists? Hardly. Scoffing at consumers' "disenchantment over the cost, bureaucratic and possible side effects of conventional care?" How about taking to task the medical community over such failures? "Celebration of 'empowerment'"? Last I heard, the Constitution grants American citizens the right to choose things such as care for their bodies.
To read more responses, go to wsj.com.
Tom Hill, reflexology student at Napier University in Edinburgh, Scotland reports attempts to curtail the current university degree program by attempting to move it to the arts from its current location in science. Their preference would be to move a reflexology degree out of the universities all together.
We note here positive steps any reflexologist can take to contribute to the fair treatment of reflexology. Become proactive. One, when you find a reflexology criticism with which you disagree, write your opinion and sent it the blog, Web site, newspaper or media outlet that created the remarks. Two, keep track of what skeptics are doing and provide commentary on their blogs. Sign up for "GoogleAlert" for the key words such as "reflexology +skepticism" or "reflexology +skeptics." Three check with the blog "ReflexologyLive" where Kevin Kunz details such information.
Stay positive with your remarks. As an example of what happens and positive comments, consider a December 26, 2008 article published in the Wall Street Journal. No letters to the editor appeared in the newspaper but many people wrote the newspaper's Web site. To see this go to. The interesting part is that people wrote very thoughtful proactive positions about what was really going on. There were few comments supporting the author's position.
Share your ideas about correcting illogical and/or erroneous statements about reflexology. Send them to us. We'd like to hear them. We'd also like to know about your efforts in this direction.
Previously noted in Reflexions
"... At present we are within four schools and one after school club where we offer a series of 8 to 15 weekly reflexology sessions to children with emotional and behavioral difficulties. These are specific partial treatments aimed at calming down the children and young people so that their behavior becomes less challenging within the classroom and generally, making the mainstream more accessible.
"The children and young people's difficulties can vary from bereavement to neglect, sexual, emotional, mental and physical abuse as well as exposure to drugs and alcohol. Some have witnessed and experienced horrific events within their country of origin and are separated from family members.... The experience of living in an unsafe environment over a period of time or a severe threatening experience can cause Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or an unbalance within the bodies systems which can lead to anti-social behavior...
"The results from evaluation to date show a reduction in aggression, stress and anxiety and an improvement in focus, concentration, self esteem, listening skills and confidence." BUD, Therapies for Life, Accessible complementary therapies for vulnerable children and adults to improve quality of life (http://www.bud-umbrella.org.uk/service.html)
The expenditure of some £90,000 to fund reflexology services to children with behavioral problems in South London, England has raised the ire of UK skeptics.
The Guardian (newspaper) reports that "Lambeth council in south London is to spend £90,000 next year on sending reflexologists into schools... The therapists from Bud-Umbrella, a London based charity, which offers complementary therapies to adults and children, will visit 60 primary and 14 secondary schools in Lambeth... They will work with children under age 13 who are considered badly behaved."
British skeptic: "Prof David Colquhoun, pharmacologist at University College London and pr campaigner against 'quackery'", said: "This is all a bit heartbreaking. Reflexology is a type of quackery based on nonsensical principles, and it should not be paid for by taxpayers... "There isn't a happ'orth of reason to think that that it is any different from plain old foot massage."
TaxPayers Alliance Skeptic: "However, everyone is not gaga about the initiative... Tory MP John Penrose dismissed the alternative therapy, saying: "Experienced teachers have a range of ways of dealing with badly behaved pupils and stroking their feet is not one of them."... "Mark Wallace, from the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "How on earth is the education system going to succeed if there are luxuries given out for naughty children and nothing at all given to those who work hard and do well? With everyone struggling in the financial crisis, this is crazy money being paid out on a crazy scheme." (Nov. 7, 2008 http://www.taxpayersalliance.com/media/schools/)
American skeptic: "Reflexology is pure, unadulterated, grade-A nonsense. That isn't stopping some UK schools from spending £90,000 to provide reflexology treatments for aggressive and anti-social behavior in students under 13. As reported by the Guardian , Lambeth council in south London is planning on spending taxpayer money on charlatans to address problem students." Dr. Steve Novella, Yale University Professor and founder of New England Skeptics and author of NeuroLogicablog: You daily fix of neuroscience skepticism, and critical thinking (http://www.theness. com/neurologicablog/?p=418)
A spokeswoman for Lambeth council said: "It's incredibly important that we address young people's behavioural problems and we make no apologies for using different and innovative methods, but this obviously won't replace more traditional ways of dealing with anti-social behaviour... "We have just pumped an extra £2m into youth services overall and we provide a whole raft of both traditional and innovative measures to tackle anti-social behaviour across the borough... "We need to deal with the root causes of young people's behavioural problems and nip them in the bud - prevention is better than cure... "In fact there has been a 50% increase in attendance and 60% decrease in exclusions among young people involved in the programme." (Nov. 13, 2008; http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/nov/03/reflexology-feet-behaviour-schools)
© 2008 Kunz and Kunz
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