Is reflexology crap...

[Pineapple_Juice]

or is there scientific evidence to support its legitimacy?

Please nobody tell me about anything from Haunted.

[KontanKarite]

What the hell?

[Solumina]

It is a kind of random topic.

I haven't read any studies or anything but I would think that proper compression and release of specific areas in an extremity would affect your circulation which could manifest as a change somewhere in your body other then the area that was being touched.

[Pineapple_Juice]

Originally Posted by KontanKarite

What the hell?

Hahahahaha. I didn't know where to put it.



Solumina, thanks.

[Cicero]

I'm not sure about any scientific evidence for it, but remembering that what science is currently capable of isn't always enough to explain everything to do with how our bodies work, I can tell you that all the reflexology I've had has been bloody well effective, even when I wasn't expecting it to.

[Pineapple_Juice]

Originally Posted by Cicero

I'm not sure about any scientific evidence for it, but remembering that what science is currently capable of isn't always enough to explain everything to do with how our bodies work, I can tell you that all the reflexology I've had has been bloody well effective, even when I wasn't expecting it to.

So you've had it done then. 'Cause I think what Solumina said makes sense, though that would mean that I'd have to believe that blood pressure changes in areas of the body could fix ailments. Could I ask what you were treating with it?

[Cicero]

Just various aches and pains. I wouldn't call it a miracle cure or anything, but it definitely isn't bullshit. I'd also say it was more to do with nerves and blood pressure, and aside from being a good form of pain relief can be just as relaxing as any massage.

[Despanan]

Can you cure diseases by stimulating the foot?

No. No you cannot. How fucking stupid do you have to be to believe that a foot massage will cure parkinsons?

If your disease is a sore foot reflexology might help. Otherwise no.

[Cicero]

Originally Posted by Despanan

Can you cure diseases by stimulating the foot?

No. No you cannot. How fucking stupid do you have to be to believe that a foot massage will cure parkinsons?

If your disease is a sore foot reflexology might help. Otherwise no.

Who ever said it has to cure anything? According to most reflexologists it's just a form of pain and stress relief, and to that end its effective.

[CptSternn]

It's basically a glorified massage. It doesn't really fix and/or cure anything, much like hot stone therapy.

That being said it is very relaxing and a good way to relieve stress.

I like to go to the spa and get various procedures done. I don't believe they are therapeutic or anything, I just enjoy them.

[Drake Dun]

It looks like pure bullshit to me. If you just have some random, half-imagined ache or cramp and you're suggestible you might get a nice placebo effect out of it, but you absolutely should not go to them for help with an actual medical problem.

[Solumina]

If you have chronic pain in the area then increased circulation in the area could be quite beneficial, it can also be beneficial for diabetes as blood flow to the extremities is frequently diminished, sometimes to the point where amputation becomes the only option so yeah I would say that reflexology could help alleviate symptoms and help to dampen the effects of an illness, though it would not cure the underlying problem. I don't think anyone really goes to a reflexologist for a cure, just help with smymptoms such as pain, stiffness, and poor circulation.

[Despanan]

Originally Posted by Cicero

Who ever said it has to cure anything? According to most reflexologists it's just a form of pain and stress relief, and to that end its effective.

Watch the episode of "Bullshit!" on alternative medicine. There's a whole section on reflexology. There are PLENTY of "reflexologists" who claim they can cure diseases with it, and sucker dumbasses and hippies out of thousands of dollars.

Plus there's that whole name "Reflexolgy" which implies it's a science and perhaps the kind of advanced medical training one might need a degree for.

Kind of like Scientology.

[Cicero]

Originally Posted by Despanan

Watch the episode of "Bullshit!" on alternative medicine. There's a whole section on reflexology. There are PLENTY of "reflexologists" who claim they can cure diseases with it, and sucker dumbasses and hippies out of thousands of dollars.

Plus there's that whole name "Reflexolgy" which implies it's a science and perhaps the kind of advanced medical training one might need a degree for.

Kind of like Scientology.

Seems I've never come across that kind then. All the reflexologists I've been to have charged next to nothing, some were blind, and most didn't even speak English. A little more quaint than American over-hyped 'alternative medicine' crap.

And the name just implies 'the study of', like anything ending with '-logy', which doesn't necessarily have to relate to science. Though scientology is still a complete abomination of that suffix, I would agree, but they even go as obnoxiously far as to use the first five letters of 'science'.

[Solumina]

I've had reflexology massages, that is about as far as my personal experience goes, and those didn't cost any more than other massage treatments (actually there is a place near my apartment that does an hour long massage that incorporates reflexology for only $45, which I find to be extremely reasonable) and they felt wonderful so I for one don’t feel as though I was scammed out of any money.

[Despanan]

looks like there isn't a clip from the Bullshit! episode on the net. I highly recommend checking out the "Alternative Medicine" episode from season 1 before you get talked into Magnet-therapy or something equally as fucktarded. (This is not meant to be condescending, I actually have a buddy who's usually smart and rational, but almost ended up getting grabbed by a magnet-therapy pyramid scam.)

So, From Wikipedia:

Reflexology (zone therapy) is the practice of massaging, squeezing, or pushing on parts of the feet, or sometimes the hands and ears, with the goal of encouraging a beneficial effect on other parts of the body, or to improve general health.

There is no consensus on how reflexology is supposed to work; a unifying theme is the idea that areas on the foot correspond to areas of the body, and that by manipulating these one can improve health through one's qi.

Concerns have been raised by medical professionals that treating potentially serious illnesses with reflexology, which has no proven efficacy, could delay the seeking of help from proven conventional medicine. There is no clinical or scientific evidence that reflexology has any beneficial effect

Reflexologists posit that the body contains an energy field, invisible life force, or Qi, the blockage of which can prevent healing.

Other reflexologists claim to be able to relieve stress and pain in other parts of the body through the manipulation of the feet.

These hypotheses are rejected by the general medical community, citing a lack of scientific evidence and the well-tested germ theory of disease.

It's pretty much total crap. Claiming to manipulate the bodies Qi to heal diseases seems like they're claiming to do a bit more than simply make your feet feel better. Personally, I'd rather just get a massage, but if you'd rather have your feet banged, have at it. Just don't pay too much, or get talked into donating money to the institute of reflexology.

For the love of GOD don't spend money on their "training courses"

[Joker_in_the_Pack]

Originally Posted by CptSternn

It's basically a glorified massage. It doesn't really fix and/or cure anything, much like hot stone therapy.

That being said it is very relaxing and a good way to relieve stress.

I like to go to the spa and get various procedures done. I don't believe they are therapeutic or anything, I just enjoy them.

Yeah, but stress reduction can help cure diseases. Well, it makes cures work a bit better. Stress just gums up the works.

[Despanan]

Originally Posted by Joker_in_the_Pack

Yeah, but stress reduction can help cure diseases. Well, it makes cures work a bit better. Stress just gums up the works.

There is no clinical evidence for the effect of "Stress" on disease, as "stress" is a rather nebulous term, and since it's so nebulous and individualized, there's also no objective way to measure "stress" so there's no evidence that stuff like reflexology actually lowers it. It's all just anecdotal, and as Science has taught us, again and again, you cannot rely on anecdotal evidence.

The fact that it's so conveniently nebulous is how most modern-day snake-oil scams continue to claim legitimacy, and take the money of the foolish and the gullible.

[menus era sota]

well, i just kinda scrolled down after the first few comments of
"bullshit bullshit!"

but, i hear it's great for your feet.
(i really just want to stop there )


i'm not going to pretend i know anything about it, but a friend said she had some, and made her back feel great - but the whole foot thing kinda sorta makes sense. because aren't all/ most of the nerves or something all end up in the foot, and that's why whipping them with cables (is great torture, as says the middle east) but fucks you up...so i suppose the reverse could be true.

and yes i realize this i full of 'i guess' and 'maybe' and ' i hear'

[Mealla]

I don't buy all the medical application to different parts of the body stuff, but I see no problem with it if you go in expecting, paying for, and subsequently receiving a foot massage. Feels good on the feet I'm sure, but probably not good for much else.

[Solumina]

Originally Posted by Despanan

There is no clinical evidence for the effect of "Stress" on disease, as "stress" is a rather nebulous term, and since it's so nebulous and individualized, there's also no objective way to measure "stress" so there's no evidence that stuff like reflexology actually lowers it. It's all just anecdotal, and as Science has taught us, again and again, you cannot rely on anecdotal evidence.

The fact that it's so conveniently nebulous is how most modern-day snake-oil scams continue to claim legitimacy, and take the money of the foolish and the gullible.

Des I'm sorry but that is a bunch of shit. There are stress hormones (the levels of which can be measured quite easily) that can suppress the immune system, also stress affects your circadian rhythms and when your circadian rhythms are thrown off your immune system is impaired. If you don't believe me and want me to go track down studies on the physiological effects of stress I have plenty of time to waste tonight.

[Despanan]

Originally Posted by Solumina

Des I'm sorry but that is a bunch of shit. There are stress hormones (the levels of which can be measured quite easily) that can suppress the immune system, also stress affects your circadian rhythms and when your circadian rhythms are thrown off your immune system is impaired. If you don't believe me and want me to go track down studies on the physiological effects of stress I have plenty of time to waste tonight.

By all means show me, and show me how stuff like reflexology brings those hormones down.

Just don't give me stuff like "Free Radicals" Free Radicals don't develop due to the nebulous mental "Stress" these quacks are talking about, they develop due to extreme, excessive physical stress.

[Solumina]

Abstract of article titled: Use of reflexology foot massage to reduce anxiety in hospitalized cancer patients in chemotherapy treatment: Methodology and outcomes

"To examine the effectiveness of reflexology foot massage in hospitalized cancer patients undergoing second or third chemotherapy cycles. Background: Since the late-1970s, studies have been conducted to assess the efficacy of behavioural and relaxation approaches in controlling nausea/vomiting, anxiety and other side-effects associated with chemotherapy. Methods: The study consisted of 30 patients being admitted to the oncology unit at a Scientific Research Hospital in Italy. Only 15 of the 30 participants received therapeutic massage. The subjects' self-reports of anxiety (measured by the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) were recorded before, after and 24 hours after the intervention. Results: There was an average decrease of 7.9 points on the state-anxiety scale in the treatment group and of 0.8 points in the control group (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Reflexology foot massage can be considered a support treatment used in combination with traditional medical treatments and executed by an expert, qualified person to help cancer patients receiving chemotherapy feel better and also cope better with their disease. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved)"



Abstract for article titled:Reflexology for Fibromyalgia syndrome: A case study.

"This dissertation describes a study using a multiple case study approach to explore the nature of reflexology as a therapy and its effectiveness as a treatment for women with Fibromyalgia syndrome (FM). The philosophical underpinnings of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the idea of organ representation of the whole in the parts guided this investigation of reflexology-as-treatment. Stake's case method was used to investigate the effects of reflexology on six cases of women with FM. The women were given ten sessions of weekly reflexology and data were collected over a period of thirteen weeks for each participant. The various forms of data that were collected included: observation, interviews with participants, treatment dairies, and interviews with the reflexologist. Data were analyzed within cases and then across cases using the following four main focus issues; changes in the feet as sensed by the reflexologist, changes in FM symptoms, the experience of reflexology and healing crisis. The findings are presented first for each case and then analyzed across cases. The findings demonstrated that reflexology affected the energy in the women's bodies. This was seen in the feet and by sensations felt in their bodies as a result of the reflexology treatments. Distinct differences in the balance of energy in feet were demonstrated in diagrams before and after the series of reflexology treatments. Symptom of pain in multiple areas started to isolate and decrease showing evidence of connection between areas of the feet and the whole body. Healing crisis occurred and was documented in a way not described before. During the series of reflexology treatments the women acknowledged that they needed to take more control of their health, although not all of the women were ready for such changes. The findings demonstrated that each woman in the study responded differently to the reflexology treatments in a number of ways. Because of the individual differences noted in treating the women in this study, the findings underscore the need for individually tailoring reflexology treatments for each person seeking this type of complementary alternative therapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved)"



Both give the research methods and results but more specific information would require the entire article which I can't directly link unless you have access to the database and they are a bit on the long side to cut and paste. I hope this is what you were asking for and I know that it doesn't really give a clear answer as the research isn't extensive enough but it does seem to be something to consider.

[KontanKarite]

Now wait a minute. Did Desp ask for evidence of the existance of stress hormones in the body or if Reflexology actually works?

I don't get it. How did you guys go from wanting to prove if stress hormones work to trying to prove that Reflexology works on those hormones? Shouldn't we prove the hormones exist first?

[KontanKarite]

double post.