IS REFLEXOLOGY more than a wallet massage?

THE CASE

The proponents of reflexology say it is a holistic therapy based on the principle that all parts of the body are reflected in the feet, hands and ears. By using a series of pressure techniques the therapists claim they can do wonderful things like restoring the flow of energy blocked by stress, illness and toxins.

Examine several different reflexology charts, and two things immediately become apparent -

Firstly, there is no rationale or proof as to why particular organs are reflected in particular places. Why, for example, is the voice on the inside of each big toe, or the bladder on the inside of each heel? Who said so? How did they find out? Where is the proof?

Secondly, different charts show the reflected organs in remarkably different places. Even if reflexology does work it must be very hard for the therapist to find the kidney or the heart, they wander around so much. Perhaps the charts are made deliberately inaccurate so that the uninitiated aren't tempted to perform the therapy themselves, or maybe they just drew the charts to look pretty.

The existence of Human Energy Flow is fundamental to reflexology, it is the same as or at least similar to Qi in Traditional Chinese Medicine - but it has never been demonstrated to exist. Reflexology proponents have developed elaborate charts or maps, and protocols of treatment without first proving or even demonstrating that there is even such a thing. Ten years ago a study concluded:

"the existence of 'human energy fields' and the ability to detect them remains extraordinarily doubtful."

A major criticism of reflexology, is that the therapists are not medically qualified, something not necessarily understood by their clients. Patients with serious or even life threatening illnesses have been known to delay proper treatment by consulting a reflexologist first.

So without Human Energy Flow, what can reflexology offer? You may get a relaxing foot or hand massage, as a result your stress levels may fall for a short while, and don't forget that the placebo effect is amazingly powerful. It is extremely unlikely that it will:

• improve your sleep


• boost your lymphatic system (except in your feet)


• detoxify your system


• affect all your body systems


• improve your circulation


• promote your body awareness (whatever that is!)


• increase your vitality


• balance your nervous system (again what does this mean?)


• abolish head, neck and back aches


• fix muscle and joint strains and aches


• overcome digestive problems such as diarrhea and constipation


• cure colds and flu


• stop travel sickness


• soothe period pains


• help infertility (unless your are really attracted to the therapist)
  

all of which are described as "proven benefits" in reflexology literature, but with absolutely no supporting evidence. In the US the National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF) recommended that:

"NCAHF advises practitioners and consumers of reflexology to be skeptical of therapeutic claims beyond the ability of foot massage for relaxation. Health professionals should be cautious about recommending practitioners who make, or encourage patients to believe in, unproved claims that reflexology is a valid method for assessing health status or for the treatment of diseases."

In Australia most reflexologists follow the Ingham method, which was developed mainly to help reduce tension caused by stress. As long as a patient realises that reflexology is not a substitute for proper medical diagnosis and treatment, it probably does no harm, and may even give temporary relief.

There are plenty of spin-off products emulating reflexology. There are a plethora of massage shoes, sandals and inner soles that make spurious claims such as "shoes that help improve your health and well being". There are even products that try to combine the two unproven therapies of reflexology and magnetism - nice one! These products a a tribute to human ingenuity, some of them are fun, but they are not therapeutic.

As Quackwatch says:

"Whether that is worth $35 to $100 per session or is more effective than ordinary (noncommercial) foot massage is a matter of individual choice. "

MY VERDICT

What more can I say? Reflexology may be an entertainment, but it is not a legitimate therapy.