The first Research Study published in medical literature was published in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vol. 82, #6, December 1993. During the mid 1980's Dr. Terry Oleson and Bill Flocco combined their talents and resources to conduct a Randomized Controlled Reflexology Research Study, according to the strict standards of research ethics and protocols required by the medical research community.

The objective was to determine whether reflexology therapy - the application of manual pressure to reflex points on the ears, hands, and feet that somatotopically correspond to specific areas of the body - can significantly reduce premenstrual symptoms compared to placebo treatment.

The methods: Thirty-five women who had previous distress with premenstrual syndrome (PMS), were randomly assigned to be treated by ear, hand, and foot reflexology or to receive a placebo reflexology session. Each subject maintained a daily diary, which recorded 38 premenstrual symptoms on a four-point scale. Somatic and psychological indicators of premenstrual distress were recorded each day for 2 months before treatment, for 2 months during reflexology and for 2 months afterward.The reflexology sessions for both groups were provided by a trained reflexology therapist once a week for 8 weeks, and lasted 30 minutes each.

The results: The active reflexology group showed 46 % improvement in their symptoms while the placebo group showed 19 % improvement and  the waiting list control group showed 0 %.  This demonstrated a significantly greater decrease in premenstrual symptoms for the women given true reflexology treatment than for the women in the placebo group.

Publishing of the study, and the wide spread reporting that followed in numerous professional journals, magazines, newspapers, and on radio and television, for the first time, was very exciting for reflexologists around the globe. This helped lead the way for many many more published  and unpublished reflexology studies since then, all around the world, on cancer, pain, fertility, kidney stones, diabetes type II, blood pressure and many more. 

The conclusion: These clinical findings support the use of ear, hand and foot reflexology for the treatment of PMS. (Obstet Gynecol 1993;82:906-11)

Psychological Symptoms - Percent Reduction of symptoms
                                                                 
                                                                        True Reflexology                             Placebo Reflexology
Easily irritated                                                            63%                                                      43%
Nervous or anxious                                                  36%                                                       24%
Depressed or sad                                                     66%                                                      24%     
Forgetful or confused                                               76%                                                       25%
Critical of self or others                                            68%                                                       36%

Physical symptoms - Percent Reduction of symptoms

                                                                         True Reflexology                             Placebo Reflexology
Headache                                                                   77%                                                       22%
Backache                                                                    48%                                                       26%
Constipation                                                               60%                                                       25%
Tired or fatigued                                                         33%                                                       08%
Difficulty falling asleep                                              33%                                                       00%

        

Hand and Foot Reflexology Can Relieve Headaches

Hand and foot reflexology can help relieve the symptoms of a headache. Reflexology is a system of reflexes in which a map of the body is interposed on the feet, hands, ears and even face. The feet, hands and ears “reflect” the body parts or “are a reflection of the body.” By working with specific finger and thumb pressure on these reflex points, a physiological change occurs in the body. Reflexology is deeply relaxing, improves blood flow, relieves stress and helps the body normalize itself naturally.

The corresponding area to the head and neck on the hand is the thumb and fingers, and on the feet, the toes. The pads are the head reflexes and the long finger and toe areas are the neck reflexes. The top-of-the-shoulder/upper trapezius muscle reflexes are where the toe or fingers meet the hand or foot, in the web areas and around the base of the fingers and toes.

Headaches are caused by different factors. Stress and tension, sinus problems, migraines and intestinal disorders are the most common. Hand and foot reflexology can be specifically targeted to one of these conditions or administered to cover all possibilities. For example, in the case of a tension or stress headache, the reflexologist concentrates on the part of the hand and/or foot that corresponds to the neck and shoulder area, in the long part of the fingers and toes, in the web areas, and around the base of the thumb and fingers and toes, relieving the tension around the neck and shoulders.

By treating the distal portions (or ends) of all four fingers and the thumb, or all the toes, reflexologists are stimulating the head, brain and sinus reflexes. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that reflexology can be used to aid in migraine relief and decrease the amount of medication that migraine sufferers must consume to alleviate their pain.

Hand reflexology has advantages over the more conventional foot reflexology. It can be practiced unobtrusively anywhere, so when a headache strikes, help is immediately available. You can practice it on yourself or on another person. It also is suitable for both the old and the very young. You should avoid working deeply in the web of the thumb when pregnant, because it can stimulate contractions. Otherwise, it is an extremely helpful area to work. There is a meridian point in the thumb web, up against the second metacarpal bone of the hand that is especially good for headaches and migraines. To work the web areas, use a “milking” massage, using your thumb and index finger to squeeze the muscle area of the webs between the fingers, thumbs and toes. Not just the skin, but include the body of the muscle.

Among other techniques, treatment consists of finger and thumb walking techniques, over specific areas of the hand or foot, inching along like an inchworm in little “bites” to stimulate all the reflex points. One treatment normally will relieve a headache, but if you suffer recurring headaches, consider a course of six to eight sessions over a number of weeks. Once this is complete, a "tune-up" treatment once a month can help keep the headaches from recurring. Some people say they feel like they are “floating” after a session, some people feel relaxed and energized and some people feel relaxed and sleepy. It seems to depend on what the person needs at the time. Many people feel that reflexology is more relaxing than a full body massage. I believe when you can get into a deeply relaxed state, is the space where natural healing occurs.

Reflexology is not a substitute for professional medical care but a complement that works alongside your medical team's efforts. Because reflexology also increases the flow of fluids in the body, you may feel thirsty after a treatment, so do drink plenty of water, but avoid alcohol, as you may find the treatment increases its effect. Not only may it increase the immediate effect of alcohol, but it may create more stress on the body organs as the body tries to process the reflexology treatment and clear the body of the alcohol. (Note that alcohol is dehydrating and requires several glasses of water to help the body reestablish hydration)

        

Foot Reflexology Couples Class

with Wendy Decker

Reflexology is based on the idea that there are zones and reflex areas in the feet and hands that correspond to all the body parts.  Reflexology induces relaxation, improves circulation, promotes balance and normalization of the body naturally and is fun both to give and to receive.  Most of this two & one-half hour hands-on class will be learning to work on your partner’s feet.  Participants will be learning the basics and will receive handouts which will include a foot reflexology chart.

Benefits of Reflexology:

• Stress reduction
• Improved blood flow
• Relaxation
• Helps the body normalize itself naturally
  

Studies show reflexology:

• Relieves pain
• Improves kidney function
• Relieves kidney stone pain and faster excretion
• Relieves headaches
• Complements cancer care
• Enhances medical care

Studies show that reflexology works best for some conditions when done on a frequent basis. Most people can't afford to see a reflexologist several times a week, so this class is designed to help you help yourself and loved ones between sessions. Some conditions respond well to one or two reflexology sessions. Some conditions respond well and require regular sessions to maintain the healthy response. The more often you can work on yourself, even if it is for 5 minutes a day, even if it is just using a foot roller, or rotating the toes, can help you see faster results.

Class will  be held at the Universe Gym, 361 High Street, in Bath, Maine, on Tuesday, May 11th, 2010, from 6:30-9:00 pm. $50 per couple/partners, $45 per couple if members of Universe Gym. $25 per person for an individual. Please contact Wendy Decker at 207-443-2572 or wendy@reflexologyandmassage.com

 

 

        

How does reflexology work?

The underlying theory behind reflexology is that there are"reflex" areas on the feet, hands and ears that correspond to specific organs, glands, and other parts of the body. The feet and hands are a reflection of the body. For example:

• the tips of the toes reflect the head
• the heart and chest are around the ball of the foot
• the liver, pancreas and kidney are in the arch of the foot, nearest the ball
• low back and intestines are in the arch towards the heel
• the map on the ears is an inverted fetus with the head at the ear lobe, foot near the top of the ear
• hands have a similar reflection of the body as do the feet.

Practitioners believe that applying pressure to these reflex areas can promote health in the corresponding body parts through the nervous system and meridian pathways, as well as by improving circulation and inducing deep relaxation.

Dr. William H. Fitzgerald, an ear, nose, and throat doctor, introduced this concept of "zone therapy" in 1915. American physiotherapist Eunice Ingram further developed this zone theory in the 1930's into what is now known as reflexology.

There is increasing research that shows evidence that reflexology works.

What will I feel?

Most people find reflexology very relaxing. It can be more relaxing than a full body massage. It has been described as “relaxing from the inside-out,” as opposed to “massage which relaxes from the outside in.”

Reflexology shouldn't be painful. If you feel discomfort, be sure to tell the reflexologist. He or she should work within your comfort zone.

Some areas may be tender or sore, and the reflexologist may spend extra time on these points. The soreness should decrease with pressure.

If you're ticklish, not to worry. The reflexologist applies firm pressure to the feet. Did you know that ticklishness is really just muscle tension?

Why do people get reflexology sessions?

• Stress and stress-related conditions
• Tension headaches
• Digestive disorders
• Arthritis
• Insomnia
• Hormonal imbalances
• Sports injuries
• Menstrual disorders, such as premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
• Back pain
• Easier birthing and delivery
• Improvement of kidney function
• Infertility
• Maintain health
• Post operative
• Post-partum
• Prostate issues
• Insomnia
• Stroke recovery
• Kidney stones

Studies show results with variations for different conditions, such as time between sessions and length of sessions. Some conditions require more frequent sessions such as 2-3 times a week, or even daily for 14 days to achieve results. Other conditions/clients achieve results with once-a-week sessions. Some conditions or clients need only one to four sessions for long term results; others need weekly sessions to continue the benefits.

Reflexology is a popular alternative therapy. It promotes relaxation, improves circulation, reduces pain, soothes tired feet, and encourages overall healing and a sense of well-being.

Reflexology is also used for post-operative or palliative care. A study in the American Cancer Society journal found that one-third of cancer patients used reflexology as a complementary therapy.

Reflexology is recommended as a complementary therapy and should not replace medical treatment. Reflexologists are not doctors and do not diagnose or prescribe.

What is a typical reflexology treatment like

A typical treatment is 45minutes to 60 minutes long and begins with a consultation about your health and lifestyle.

You are then asked to remove your shoes and socks. A footbath may be offered.You will then sit comfortably in a reclining chair or lie on a massage table. Otherwise you remain fully clothed.

The reflexologist will assess the feet, and then use brisk movements to warm the feet up. Pressure is then applied from the toes to the heel according to your comfort. Usually the lower leg and forearm are included. Some conditions such as cancer require a light touch, but most conditions respond to a firm touch. Some sessions include reflexology of the hands and/or ears as well as the feet. Some may even offer facial reflexology.
Lotion or oil may be used.

Where do I find a qualified Reflexologist?

Some may offer hot stones, salt scrubs or Thai reflexology which includes use of a Thai (made of Thai wood) stick. But, the main thing is, be sure your reflexologist has a certificate in reflexology (at least 200 hours of training in the US, which includes at least 90 supervised practical sessions, is required for a national certification), but state requirements vary from state to state. In Maine, there is no reflexology licensing, so it helps to ask for their education background. Some states require a massage therapy license to do reflexology, but not in Maine. Some spas offer something they call reflexology, but is a spa treatment. It makes a difference because reflexology is not massage and is much more specific and detailed work than a foot massage or hand massage. You may find a reflexologist in your area by googling or through the ARCB American Reflexology Certification Board or RAA Reflexology Association of America. http://www.arcb.net/   www.reflexology-usa.org Here in Maine we have the Maine Council of Reflexologists which lists certified reflexologists by region. http://www.reflexologyofmaine.org/

How will I feel after?

Most people feel calm and relaxed after a treatment. They may even feel sleepy. Some feel energized…some feel tired.

Occasionally, people feel nauseous, anxious, or tearful, but this is only temporary and is considered to be part of the healing process.

Precautions

If you're pregnant, talk with your doctor first and let the reflexologist know. Reflexology is not contraindicated for pregnancy, and is in fact beneficial, but there are points around the ankle and web of the thumb that should not be worked deeply.

Be sure to give the reflexologist a complete and accurate health history.

If you have foot ulcers, injury, or blood vessel disease such as blood clots,consult your doctor before having reflexology.

        

Your body hurts all over, you are always tired. Your doctor can’t find anything wrong with you. Researchers are not yet certain of the answer. But many believe that the pain of Fibromyalgia comes from “central sensitization.” This means that the problem might be a result of overactive nerves in the central nervous system (CNS) which can cause a more intense response to pain.

The CNS is made up of the brain, the spinal cord and the nerves that control physical activities. For Fibromyalgia patients, this possible problem in the central nervous system may lead to a greater sensitivity to pain. It’s almost as if the “volume control” for pain is turned way up.

The pain can occur anywhere in the body, and is not usually confined to just one muscle group. The pain is often continuous and sometimes worse if you sit still or lie down. Too often it disrupts sleep patterns causing the pain to worsen. It is a vicious cycle. There seems to be a connection between loss of sleep and worsening symptoms. You may be sensitive to light, heat or cold.

Moreover, anti-inflammatory medications do not help and analgesics do not help much. Fibromyalgia is not an inflammatory disease. Though some cases are mild, it can be a debilitating disease, often resulting in patients being bed ridden and unable to function in their daily lives. Medical treatment usually includes addressing life style, such as sleep patterns and exercise.

Reflexology has shown promising results for managing fibromyalgia and many other common diseases. Reflexology is the practice of applying finger pressure to areas of the feet, hands and ears. There is a map of the body on the feet, hands and ears. These reflex points correspond with all the specific body organs and body parts. Reflexology induces relaxation, improves circulation, reduces stress, and effects a physiological change of the body.

Studies show that reflexology relieves pain. In fact, many people with illnesses such as allergies, chronic sinus problems, acid reflux, migraines, PMS, menopause, insomnia, diabetes type II, fertility problems and even arthritis have been helped tremendously by reflexology treatments. Reflexology can also be used on the face as well. Reflexology is working to calm the overactive sympathetic nervous system (which accelerates heat rate, constricts blood vessels and raises blood pressure - basically the “fight or flight” response) and engages the parasympathetic nervous system , another part of the central nervous system that slows the heart rate, increases intestinal and gland activity, and reduces muscle tension, or what could be called "rest and digest.”

How Reflexology can Help Fibromyalgia Sufferers
In one study of 10 fibromyalgia sufferers who had reflexology treatments twice weekly for five weeks, researchers found definite improvement in the symptoms of all ten of the patients, with no side-effects. FMS patients who have undergone regular reflexology treatments report an improvement in:

mental clarity

irritable bowel syndrome

fatigue

sleep

depression

myofascial pain

tender point pain

What can you do to help yourself?

Talk with your doctor for help with sleep and diet.

You could rub the tender areas of your feet and hands. It would be best to take a self-help or couples class, so that you can learn the technique.

However, a trained reflexologist might be the best option for those looking for specific types of pain relief and to obtain a more relaxing experience, especially for those who list anxiety as a symptom of their FMS. Then, for best results, you can use self-help and family help in between sessions.

        

Ear Reflexology/Auricular Therapy

Just like the feet and hands, there is a map of the body on the ears. Stimulation of sensitive points on the ears have a therapeutic effect on those parts of the body that are mapped. Auricular therapy is utilized by acupuncturists, shiatsu practitioners, and naturopaths. Reflexologists, who do not use acupuncture needles, use thumb and finger pressure for Ear Reflexology. 

Though there are historic records of tiny burns to certain zones in the ears around 400 BC, and twenty therapeutic points in the ears available in acupuncture by 618-907 AD, as being a comprehensive system of treatment, ear reflexology is of more recent origin.

Dr Paul Nogier, French physician writing in a German acupuncture periodical in 1957, first drew serious attention to the correspondences between specific sites on the ear and other parts of the body. When he had patients showing up with burn marks on their ears, a form of local folk healing for back pain, he began years of careful observation relating points of tenderness, morphological and coloration changes on the ear to disease elsewhere in the body. More than 200 sites were then charted on the auricle (ear) by Chinese medical workers.

The Difference between Auricular Therapy and Ear Reflexology

Auricular Therapy is the approach used by Physicians and other licensed medical practitioners. French and Chinese physicians have reported that it is possible to diagnose a variety of pathological conditions by examining the ear. When there is pain in part of the body, the corresponding ear point is said to be "reactive", manifesting greatly increased tenderness and electrical conductivity as compared to the surrounding areas of the ear. Several investigators have provided clinical evidence supporting the therapeutic efficiency of auricular therapy for the relief of pain and the healing of disease. Reflexologists are not doctors and cannot diagnose or treat specific illnesses. Reflexologists use specific touch techniques to help different parts of the body relax, so the body can normalize itself naturally.

The Application of Ear Reflexology

Ear Reflexology is administered through thumb and finger pressure techniques applied to the external ears. When used alongside other reflex maps an Ear Reflexology treatment may last 5-15 minutes. As a stand alone treatment a Reflexologist may offer a 30 minute Ear Reflexology session. Some ear reflexology sessions involve 3-5 minute holds on specific points.

Contraindications for Ear Reflexology include psoriasis or eczema sores that are open or other wounds to the ears that are not yet healed. A session should be postponed until the issue clears up or an alternative map, such as the hands, may be used. Clients with external hearing aids may choose to remove them for a session. Those with internal, or implanted, devices will best know if external stimulus to the ear will be appropriate for them.

Human studies have shown that stimulation of ear acupuncture points appears to cause the systemic release of endorphins.You can feel the relaxation effect for yourself by using the thumb and index finger to gently rub the entire outer surface of both ears.

The Basic Concept of Auricular Therapy

The basic concept of Auricular Therapy is that the nerves in the skin overlay specific areas of the external ear which correspond to specific parts of the brain, which has a reflex connection to the body. These reflexes are activated when problems in part of the body induce reflex reactions in the external ear, manifested as changes in tenderness and altered blood circulation. These reflexes are stimulated when pressure is applied  to points on an ear in order to help  another area of the body.

Stimulation of ear reflex points leads to a diminished tenderness of the affected area. By correcting pathological reflex centers in the brain, stimulation of auricular points can lead to balance, where any form of stress or pain is lessened.

Auricular reflexology can be used to treat health conditions in distant parts of the body. Stimulating points in the ear can not only help problems in the face and head, but can also relieve pathological disorders in the chest, abdomen, lower back and feet. The theory is that nerves from the ear connect to reflex centers in the brain, which send neurological reflex pathways to the spinal cord and then to neurons going to the spine or to the foot. For instance, the stomach may be sending a message to the brain saying, "Stomach hurts." Stimulating the reflex points sends a message to the brain, "stomach okay, stomach okay," then the brain send a message to the stomach saying, "You're okay."

Among licensed medical practitioners, the most common reported uses for Auricular Therapy have been for control of chronic pain, detoxification from addictions, (smoking and heroin and cocaine), relief from nausea, and high blood pressure.

        

Welcome to my blog! I will be adding blog entries about foot, hand and ear reflexology and massage. Please check back soon for new entries.