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what is it?
A reflexologist applies manual pressure to specific areas on your feet or (less frequently) your hands in order to rebalance 'energy' in your body and stimulate natural healing processes. All parts of the body are said to be 'reflected' in the feet and hands and stimulating relevant areas is said to influence their corresponding organs and systems. Because the big toe 'represents' the head and neck, for example, working in this area is claimed to relieve migraine or headache.
A form of foot massage is depicted on Egyptian papyri, but the modern form of reflexology began with American ear, nose and throat specialist, Dr William H Fitzgerald, in 1915. Noticing that pressure on one part of the body seemed to produce a numbing effect in another, he introduced the idea of vertical zones of energy running from the head to the feet, not unlike the concept of Chinese meridians. Stimulation at any point on a zone could affect the organs, glands, bones and muscles along it.
An American physiotherapist, Eunice Ingham, took the idea of 'zone therapy' further in the 1930s, maintaining that all parts of the body could be treated by pressing certain areas of the foot. She coined the term reflexology and mapped the appropriate reflex points on the feet and hands. One of her pupils, Doreen Bayly, introduced reflexology to the UK in the 1960s, and its popularity has soared since as it is relatively easy to learn, simple to perform and usually agreeable to undergo. Reflexology is now used in some NHS cancer wards and hospices.
what it's supposed to do
Reflexologists believe that crystalline deposits of waste products, usually calcium and uric acid, accumulate around nerve endings on the foot and feel 'crunchy'. A swelling or sensation of 'squidginess' indicates a possible problem in the related zone. Working on a point helps crush the crystals and stimulate circulation so that the lymph system can more easily eliminate them.
Practitioners claim to help nearly all health problems, even emotional ones, as mental health is also said to be reflected in the foot. Apart from relaxation, reflexology is commonly recommended for stress, anxiety and stress-related conditions like insomnia and migraine, asthma, sinusitis, eczema, wound healing, back pain and general pain relief, PMS and other menstrual problems, infertility and constipation.
what happens
Treatment lasts about 45 to 60 minutes. You'll be asked questions about past and present health and lifestyle before you take off all footwear and make yourself comfortable on a reclining chair or a treatment couch with your feet raised.
Practitioners begin by examining the general appearance of your feet, noting their shape and condition. A dusting of talcum powder helps them use their thumbs and knuckles on the reflex points in a combination of massage, pressure and pinching, noting areas of pain or tenderness that call for extra attention.
A number of weekly treatments may be required. Most people find it relaxing, but occasionally symptoms may worsen before improving, which is said to be a sign that the body's natural healing processes are removing 'toxins'.
what's the evidence?
Very few large-scale controlled clinical trials have been carried out on reflexology. A 1993 American trial of 35 women found reflexology reduced PMS by 41%, and a Danish trial of 220 patients with migraine or tension headache, published in 1999, reported that reflexology relieved or cured symptoms in 81% of cases. But sceptics question the idea that specific areas on the foot are related to other parts of the body. In a small trial published in 2000, researchers at the University of Exeter found that reflexologists were unable to diagnose six common medical conditions when prevented from talking to patients.
precautions
Go to the safety first section of 'before you start' for some general precautions to take into account when considering a complementary therapy.
- Reflexologists are not medically qualitifed to diagnose health problems. Always check any symptoms with your doctor.
- Avoid reflexology in the first three months of pregnancy.
- Consult your doctor before having reflexology if you have a thyroid disorder, diabetes or any long-term health problem.
- Inform the practitioner if you are taking medication, as some believe that reflexology increases body excretions that could interfere with drug action.
how to find a practitioner
Reflexology is an unregulated profession which means that anyone can call themselves a reflexologist and set up a school or college or open a register. Reflexology organisations are working towards self-regulation, seeking agreement on educational and training standards, a code of ethics and disciplinary procedures. The organisations in help and info maintain registers of practitioners from training schools accredited with them. Ask your reflexologist if they belong to a professional association.
» help and info
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(July 2002)
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