[Closed] Reflexology have you ? Do you ? Etc?

Yes. My wife is a reflexologist. It hurts, its worked for me and others she treats for a variety issues.

Its is not a blissful "foot massage".

Had it, liked it.

Not totally sure of benefits, but was convinced there's something in it when the (trainee) reflexologist said "have you got toothache in your upper left jaw, and a sore throat?"

Sore throat had cleared up that night and I did have very minor toothache.

Another convert here. Have had ongoing treatment for sinusitus and has been really helpful, in fact this winter has been the first time in a number of years i have not been really ill with it.
She often picks up other ailments that are niggling as well.
Find it very relaxing and useful. Get a reccomendation or go to your local Natural Health Centre. I pay £43 for an hour. I have fortnightly/three weekly sessions over the winter if feeling rundown and then as and when over the rest of the year.

Quack Watch:

http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/reflex.html

Just use your brains - somehow the body is mapped onto your feet - what a load of nonsense. It may have a placebo effect but I wouldn't take much notice of any of the above anecdotal evidence.

Knew it wouldn't be long before somebody came up with with some trashing of a natural health prcatice that has been around for a few centuries!
The feet are one of the most neglected part of the body and have a massive impact on how the rest of the body functions, ignore the twits who spout negative comments without experiencing the treatment and posting up a dodgly link from a guy who clearly does not know what he's talking about.

The feet are one of the most neglected part of the body and have a massive impact on how the rest of the body functions, ignore the twits who spout negative comments without experiencing the treatment

Do you actually have any real evidence (non anecdotal) that reflexology works - has there been any properly conducted clinical trials showing it works?

It may have a placebo effect but I wouldn't take much notice of any of the above anecdotal evidence.

😆

I deliberately discussed my toothache with the reflexologist before the session, just so she could ask me.

OP - in my experience, some 'alternative' treatments work for you and others don't. If there's the option of trying it out then give it a go - if it doesn't work then you've lost little.

Although I have never tried reflexology I used to think that there might be something in it - my understanding was that the points on the foot corresponded to the ends of acupuncture meridians. Then I saw that the map of points was effectively a front view of the body, rotated 90 degrees & distorted to fit the shape of the feet - a happy (& to my mind extremely improbable) coincidence or expedience?
If someone has plausible reasons for this I am open to persuasion, until then as far as I am concerned it is no more or less than foot massage.

@instant hit I agree that feet are neglected & that their function can have a significant effect on the rest of the body - but in a strictly biomechanics sense. Just because something is natural or old doesn't make it automatically effective or even safe.

Had it, liked it, would do it again. Similarly I had sinusitus and the therpaist picked up on it. No idea how it works but does make me feel better. IANAD.

What I find ironing about this type of subject is: Physical manipulation of muscles results in feeling better and since we have very limited understanding of the central nervous system it's deemed OK to be sceptical of physical therapy by some, but not sceptical of science's inability to prove that anecdotes may be true.

"What, with these feet?"

If you read more into it you'll learn that it's mostly related to the lymphatic system. Reflexologists believe that the lymph drainage maps points on the foot to the lymph around the body - and anecdotal evidence shows a correlation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lymphatic_system

There may be other nervous system and muscular system correlations but I believe they're very much secondary. Of course an all awful lot of the all knowing naysayer won't even know the lymphatic system exists...

IIRC the requirement for a lymphatic system is a consequence of Starlings law, the lymph from the lower body draining into the cisterna chyli. I can see how foot massage could affect local lymphatic drainage - but sinuses??

I once accidentally ended up at a reflexologist in France (the French call it "micro-kinestherapie" whereas proper physio is "kinestherapie" - I was not aware of this!).

I can assure you it did absolutely ****-all for my injured shoulder.

I can assure you it did absolutely ****-all for my injured shoulder.

Maybe you should have gone to a proper physio? 😉

I can assure you it did absolutely ****-all for my injured shoulder.

You should have lain the other way round... 🙄

Knew it wouldn't be long before somebody came up with with some trashing of a natural health prcatice that has been around for a few centuries!

The longevity of a practice is no guarantee of it's veracity.

We did, after all, spend many hundreds of years burning "witches" for casting "spells"....

We did, after all, spend many hundreds of years burning "witches" for casting "spells"....

😆

Thank God they got them all! That's all I can say.

despite some negativity I think I will give it a go...

Haven't tried it, but wife goes on an irregular basis, has no complaints or feeling that she's being duped...

[i]Quack Watch:

http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/reflex.html [/i]

I think the mere use of the word 'quack' in that web address tells you something about his standing and that he's not likely to give a balanced opinion.

^^^^^ see how powerful their arguments are - that is as scientific as they get , bless em.

Should we get impartial advice from the believers instead 😉
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Barrett

Never tried it because i understand science and the placebo effect
It will not do you any harm having your feet rubbed but it wont, despite the anecdotal claims, cure anything

My Mrs had it for a while and swore it 'worked', till she moved on to the next load of shite that worked until it didn't and she moved on to the [i]next[/i] load of shite.
She's been through the lot, if even one of them really did work surely she would have stuck with it?

First paragraph on Wikipedia (emphasis mine):

Reflexology, or zone therapy, is an alternative medicine or [b]pseudoscience [/b]involving the physical act of applying pressure to the feet, hands, or ears with specific thumb, finger, and hand techniques without the use of oil or lotion. It is based on what reflexologists claim to be a system of zones and reflex areas that they say reflect an image of the body on the feet and hands, with the premise that such work affects a physical change to the body.[1] [b]A 2009 systematic review of randomised controlled trials concludes that "The best evidence available to date does not demonstrate convincingly that reflexology is an effective treatment for any medical condition."[/b]

You pays your money and you makes your choice I suppose.

Knew it wouldn't be long before somebody came up with with some trashing of a natural health prcatice that has been around for a few centuries!

Reflexology hasn't been around for a few centuries, it's barely been around for one and its "zone therapy" idea was made up by a bloke in the 1940's.

But, by that argument I assume you'll be all in favour of a spot of [url= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theriac ]Venice Treacle[/url] next time you're ill? That was a "natural health practice" for a couple of millennia.

If you read more into it you'll learn that it's mostly related to the lymphatic system.

It's mostly related to aligning your Chi, last I heard. If it has anything at all to do with the lymphatic system then it's by blind luck.

But I googled it, as I'd not come across this claim before. I found an unbiased article, written as it is by a reflexologist.

http://reflexologysuccess.com/reflexology-tips/reflexology-the-lymphatic-system

There is no pump anywhere in the lymph system, and the fingers and toes are the furthest distances for the fluid to flow back to the heart. However, it’s inherent in our gently thumb and finger walking compression to support all the fluid tides, including the lymph. I say inherent, because the focus of reflexology is not to move fluids, it’s just another fringe benefit of our techniques.

Well, I'm convinced. Interestingly here, this actual reflexologist states that "it’s just another fringe benefit", somewhat different to the claim that it's "mostly related to the lymphatic system."

Many instances of ill health result from hypertension, stress and psychological malaise. A reflexology treatment will relax the client, provide a supportive environment and promote release of endorphins.
All of these factors are undeniably a positive influence on overall health and more than a placebo effect.
Some GPs I work with bemoan the "10 minute consultation" they are rationed to and the pretty stressful environment a busy GP surgery provides to patients.
The link between "a feeling of well being" and quantifiable good health is one that both conventional and complementary practitioners are aware of - would I purely use conventional medicine, no but neither would I go to a refexologist for an infectious illness or specific disease.
I think there's room for both approaches to healthcare, but unfortunately only one approach uses certified, regulated practitioners.

A reflexology treatment will relax the client, provide a supportive environment and promote release of endorphins.
All of these factors are undeniably a positive influence on overall health and more than a placebo effect

It claims to be do something more than just relaxing you so you get the benefits of being relaxed.
I is relaxing it is not a medical treatment for anything

Relaxation is but one of the benefits, the effects on endocrine and nervous systems are another, as are the psychological effects.
The claims, if made by an open practitioner, will focus on the benefits that may be realised, not the mechanisms by which these benefits are achieved.
If complementary practice was used alongside conventional medicine it would offer the best if both worlds, clinicians could focus on using their specialist skills on specific disease conditions whilst people who would benefit from a more supportive approach would be helped in a less invasive manner.

[b]If it works for you then do it.[/b]
I do it myself using the 3 pointed "ninja" shape wooden massaging tool like this one.
[img] [/img]

Other opinions are irrelevant because your health is yours and they know jack.

😆

It's a thorny subject, for sure. What we're basically debating there is "is it ok to lie to your patients if it makes them feel better?"

(See also: religion)

Relaxation is but one of the benefits, the effects on endocrine and nervous systems are another, as are the psychological effects.

Any excuse...

Relaxation is the only effect or els eit owuld not be "alternative" and it would be medicine

Well I respect your opinion, but I assume by medicine you mean allopathic drug based therapy rather than any treatment which results in an improvement in health.
Exercise and good eating patterns are not "medicine" but have measurable effects on health.
An effective social health program relies on education, prevention and intervention - practitioners from many disciplines can contribute to this, not just conventional medics.
This is why term complementary therapy is used rather than alternative therapy by informed practitioners. The many benefits of modern medicine are not denied, but it is realised that other approaches may enhance or remove the need for conventional medical treatment.

It's a thorny subject, for sure. What we're basically debating there is "is it ok to lie to your patients if it makes them feel better?"

And it must be remembered that the "lies" are not confined to any one school of practice 😉

Well I respect your opinion, but I assume by medicine you mean allopathic drug based therapy rather than any treatment which results in an improvement in health.

You know that "allopathic" is a pejorative term favoured by [s]con artists[/s] complimentary therapy practitioners like Homeopaths, yes?

I don't mean to put words in his mouth but expect JY means drug based therapy rather than any treatment which results in an improvement in health [i]beyond placebo.[/i]

And it must be remembered that the "lies" are not confined to any one school of practice

Oh, sure. But you can't justify a lie simply by saying someone else is lying as well.

Plenty of people have vested interests, but plenty more don't. Science strives to prove itself wrong, not right.

After the true believers ganged up on me in the nutrition thread, I'll just say that people who believe in reflexology should stay well away from the edge of the earth, and leave it at that. Pure fantasy.

Yes, I know allopathic is sometimes used with a negative insinuation, it was not my intention.
And as a professional healthcare scientist and part time complementary therapist I see the benefits and pitfalls of both approaches on a regular basis.

Cougar is correct and more broadly I meant drugs that made you better not stuff that stops you being unhealthy.

An effective social health program relies on education, prevention and intervention

FWIW i do agree all manner of stuff can help prevent you getting ill/promote well being but I would not class any of it as medicine.

I know allopathic is sometimes used with a negative insinuation, it was not my intention.

* of course I do not mean thins negatively either and i have nothing but respect for it - just testing to see how truly gullible you are 😉

Yes, I know allopathic is sometimes used with a negative insinuation, it was not my intention.

Cool. Might want to avoid the term in future, save any confusion. Intent or no, it will likely be inferred.

those who practice alternative* medicine

That's another misleading term I'd like to see go away. There's no such thing as "alternative medicine," it's an alternative [i]to [/i]medicine. Or to give it its proper name, "not medicine."

I think I might start using that phrase. Non-pejoratively, of course.

Sorry, I was too busy being a grumpy arse to reply to the crux of Hilly's post. To wit,

And as a professional healthcare scientist and part time complementary therapist I see the benefits and pitfalls of both approaches on a regular basis.

I don't doubt it.

Reflexology, homeopathy, chiropractic and all the other not medicine disciplines are based on theories which, being generous, don't have a shred of proof to back them up. The Western strains gained popularity amongst the masses because they were less likely to actually kill you than the "Allopathic medicine" of the time, and gained popularity amongst the practitioners because there was money in it.

However, modern GPs have a short time with patients these days; go in, get a prescription, leave, don't let the door hit you in the arse on the way out. Not medicine practitioners conversely can spend a good time talking to them, listening to them drone on about their aches and pains for a while, then give them a sugar pill or a nice foot rub, who's not going to come away feeling better after that?

So, sure, I don't doubt that not medicine has its benefits, it helps people relax and if they can be convinced that their problems are going to get better then yay, placebo effect, they might well do just that (or the symptoms might go away on their own and then the therapy will probably be credited with curing them, everyone's a winner).

So the question is,

a) Is it desirable to be misleading customers if the net result is that they feel better (or think they do)? Is that even ethical?

and

b) Could we not achieve the same results without having to wrap it up in all the smoke and mirrors? Is there not a market for some sort of complimentary therapy where people can go and have a nice cup of tea and a sit down whilst someone listens attentively to their problems for a bit?

Well I respect your opinion