Does Foot Reflexology really work?

Question

Or is it something like acupuncture or homeopathy where its "iffy" on whether it really works or not?

Answer 1

From a personal point of view I would swear by it!

I have received reflexology treatments and found them to be hugely beneficial and my colleague is now training to become a reflexologist.

I would definately give it a go!

Answer 2

It sounds like you or someone you know might be thinking about seeing a foot reflexology practitioner. Yes, reflexology is valid, and it works - as do acupuncture and homeopathy. In fact, none of these healing modalities are considered "iffy."  People who say they are merely exhibit a personal lack of knowledge and/or inability to understand energetic medicine.

One way to look at energetic medicines is through metaphor: Is electricity "iffy" because you only know it by its results (i.e., light, spark, jolt)?

I've had a homeopathic family practice for more than 25 years, my family, pets and I drug-free since. My initial impression was a misperception common to many. I lumped it as another "alternative" medicine, secondary to conventional care. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Go for it.

Answer 3

Reflexology really does work and well beyond the effects of foot massage. Those protocols using foot massage are flawed by the fact that often the same person often does both the reflexology and the foot massage. Of the controls to choose foot massage is one of the worst.

There are extensive research studies into the workings of reflexology and many are done to NIH standards that are the highest in the world. There are also fMRI studies which show what parts of the brain are effected by working on different parts of the feet.

The research really is quite exciting. But think about this. The human body is a complex communication system. Each and every part of the body needs to communicate with every other part of the brain in order to survive.

This communication need to be integrated via the brain to generate a proper response. The feet because of their importance to locomotion share their information with other parts of the brain. And all this information is fed forward to the parts of the body that need this information.

We tend to look down on the feet (no pun intended). Yet if you have lost the use of your feet even temporarily you realize the importance of these hard working sensory organs.

I think what works is the pressure to the feet. This signal is important in the communication process.

Reflexology is a set of techniques that simply trigger a relaxation response. And the relaxation response is not just a general relaxation response but it triggers very specific relaxation responses as well.

Reflexology to me is a truly wonderful approach to health. I've seen it save lives and I have seen it change lives. It changed mine. Profoundly.

Answer 4

Like acupuncture and homeopathy, reflexology is considered to be quackery.

This is because the evidence to support it is flimsy and the explanations of how it works are bizarre, unlikely and unproven.

Answer 5

I am a massage therapist, so it is almost taboo in my profession to say that it does not work.

However, I am also skeptical and when I was asked if i would teach reflexology at the massage school that I teach at, I researched for peer reviewed studies to indicate its affectiveness.

What I found was according to the studies I was able to find, reflexology did not provide any benefit that any regular hand/ foot massage does not provide.

For example, some studies showed that anxiety levels decreased and opiates were released in the body. But again, these are the results of any hand or foot massage.

As far as whether the liver point in reflexology actually stimulate liver enzymes, I have not been able to find any research supporting these claims.