REFLEXOLOGY

 BY:

Grace Koster

Shakirah Hartley

Jessica Cotterill

 

COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY:

 

Reflexology - what is it?

 

• popular complementary therapy worldwide
• originated from ancient China and Egypt
• utilises massage of body parts to detect health issues, promote healing, and whole body wellness

  based on the belief that:

-specific parts of the body reflect the whole

-body’s reflex points are connected and correspond to several organs and parts of the body

Reflex points

• Feet
• Hands
• (face & ears)

    ...reflex points react to pressure and stimulate the bodies own natural healing process by stimulating the body’s nerves and blood flow

Massage         VS.

•  utilise micro movement techniques
• focus on reflex points
• stimulate nervous system & release tension
• work from the inside out

Reflexology

•  utilise techniques like kneading, tapping & friction
• manipulate soft tissue & relax muscles
• work from the outside in

What is it claimed to be used for?

• relief of pain & tension
• boost circulation
• stimulate internal organs
• restore body functions
• aid allergy symptoms
• asthma
• diabetes
• stress
• anxiety

• gastrointestinal disorders
• headaches
• skin disorders
• cardiovascular issues
• premenstrual syndrome
• respiratory infections
• chronic fatigue syndrome
• kidney function
• injury recovery (especially foot & hand regions)
• relaxation from tired or overused body areas

 various health conditions & issues...

 

Ingham method   VS.

• very holistic method
• pressure applied by the finger or thumb bending & straightening (walking along the area of work)
• emphasis on relaxation & harmonising the body systems

Rwo Shur method

• mixture of firm pressure techniques utilising the knuckles & thumb sliding
• sometimes incorporates use of small wooden sticks
• emphasis is on stimulation rather than relaxation

Reflex zone therapy

Left side reflex zone therapy

Meridian	Reflex zone	Corresponding organs
Line 1	Left thumbs and big toes	Pituitary, pineal, brain, hypothalamus, thyroid, sinuses, larynx, nose, trachea, tongue, oesophagus, thymus, heart, spine, pancreas, breast, small intestine and large intestine, prostate
Line 2	Left index finger and second toe	Brain, eye, adenoids, lungs, heart, stomach, spleen, pancreas, breast, small and large intestine
Line 3	Left middle finger and third toe	Brain, eye, lung, breast, stomach, spleen, pancreas, kidney, adrenal gland, small and large intestine
Line 4	Left ring finger and fourth toe	Brain, eye, lungs, breast, large intestine, ovaries
Line 5	Left little finger and fifth toe	Ear

Embong, NH, Soh, YC, Ming, LC & Wong, TW 2015, ‘Revisiting reflexology: concept, evidence, current practice and practitioner training’, Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 197-206.

Right side reflex zone therapy

Meridian	Reflex zone	Corresponding organs
Line 1	Right thumbs and big toes	Pituitary, pineal, brain, hypothalamus, thyroid, sinuses, larynx, nose, trachea, tongue, oesophagus, thymus, heart, spine, pancreas, breast, small intestine and large intestine, prostate
Line 2	Right index finger and second toe	Brain, eye, lung, breast, liver, small and large intestine, adenoids
Line 3	Right middle finger and third toe	Brain, eye, breast, liver, gall bladder, kidney, small and large intestine, adrenal gland
Line 4	Right ring finger and fourth toe	Brain, eye, main lymphatic duct, breast, liver, lung, large intestine, ileo-cecal valve, appendix
Line 5	Right little finger and fifth toe	Ear

Embong, NH, Soh, YC, Ming, LC & Wong, TW 2015, ‘Revisiting reflexology: concept, evidence, current practice and practitioner training’, Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 197-206.

Reflexology Maps...

Left hand top & palm

Right hand top & palm

Left foot top & sole

Right foot top & sole

Reflexology session

• Approximately 30 minutes - 1 hour
• Clients attend multiple sessions over a period of time
• Reflexologists work within a client’s pain tolerance
• Sessions can be enhanced by additional elements such as - aromatherapy
                 -peaceful music
                 -pleasant environment settings

The evidence says ...

• Literature on reflexology only began to emerge in the early 1990's

• In 2015 the Australian Government’s Department of Health published the results of a review of alternate therapies that aimed to determine if any were suitable to be covered by health insurance policies.

• Reflexology was 1 of the 17 therapies reviewed in which there was no clear effectiveness found

• Alternative therapies such as reflexology, may delay the seeking of appropriate medical treatment. 

• The trials conducted in 2009 were used to examine the effectiveness of reflexology in comparison to no treatment, usual care or placebo treatment.
• The methodological quality of the trials was poor, with only a few of the studies sufficiently controlling non-specific effects.
• Therefore, concluding that the clinical evidence does not convincingly validate reflexology to be an effective treatment for any medical treatment.
• Alternative therapies such as reflexology, may delay the seeking of appropriate medical treatment.  

Potential Problems with Testing

• Biased opinions
• Small sample sizes.
• Inability to conduct blinded trials
• It is impossible to test a no fail system
• Patients are too willing to share.
• Subliminal cuing

• Although the treatment is enjoyable, it is “nonsensical" - Ernst 
•  There is no nerve or other connections between specific areas on the sole of a foot and a certain organ.
• The maps differ and fail to agree on which area corresponds to which organ.
• There are inconsistencies within reflexology and in relation to the facts regarding physiology and anatomy. 

Chinese Reflexology vs Western Reflexology

Recap

• There are many inconsistencies between each zone chart 
• Generally all of the Controlled Clinical Trial results were poor 
• Alternative therapies such as reflexology, may delay the seeking of appropriate medical treatment.
• There are many potential problems faced with testing
• There is insufficient scientific evidence to back the claim that reflexology is an effective alternative treatment.

Risks associated with reflexology

• Almost none!

• Individuals may forgo proven medicines in preference of reflexology

Should be avoided in individuals:

• In first trimester of pregnancy
• With unstable pregnancies 
• With DVT
• With contagious conditions
• With past heart surgery

Self- reflexology video

Could it treat back pain?

• 80% of people experience back pain

• Could reflexology be used as a non-agressive, non-invasive treatment?

• One study found a 31% decrease in lower back pain when individuals used reflexology

• It has potential as a supplementary therapy

For your interest...

Sites:

• The Australian School of Reflexology and Relaxation
• Reflexology Association of Australia

Places around Wollongong that offer reflexology sessions:

• Wellness Center Wollongong
• Sacred Navigations
• Soletude Body Therapy

Thank you for listening!