Here in China there are many foot massage/reflexology places.
I have tried on numerous occassions to see if this works.
Guess what - it doesn’t, even a number of my Chinese colleagues agree with me.
If anything one time it made me much worse as some practitioner rammed his knuckles into the soles my feet, the only reflex on display was my reflex to kick their hand away because it bloody well hurt and they did not stop when asked.
Massage is fine and should be appreciated for what it is. The rest of it , bunch of arse if you ask me.

I’m a bit squeemish with needles, so reflexology is always my first choice. I’ve had great success with both!
Perhaps it’s my perception, but no matter…if it’s working, I don’t need much more than that.
http://www.ChangeStartsToday.com

Thanks for the mention! I believe you should never dismiss anything until you give it a go.

I have had some great experiences with reflexology - it is very effective and relaxing. I usually fall asleep 10 minutes into a session.

It is also a great ice breaker when you offer to give a potential girl-friend a foot massage. Always works!

But ask her to wash her feet first.

Oh hooray! another day another unproven remedy.

Unlicensed, unregulated, unproven.

April,

You said ‘I believe you should never dismiss anything until you give it a go’.

I agree with this when it comes to beating women. Unfortunately the police and law don’t- so your theory fell at the first hurdle there.

Arvind,

Why would you want to wash or rub a birds feet. She should be doing that to you fella. You sound a bit whipped mate. The only time I touch a womans feet is to ‘lightly chastise’ them with a stun gun when I require her to get up and do my brekkie/washing/ironing/oral favours.

There’s an ancient French reflexology that works a treat,especially when self administered “gland dans la hand”

funny that Bo

whenever I require some ‘executive relief’ at Euston Steam and Sauna I usually kick out my leg (the left one) just as ‘your hour is up now preees Meester Gally’.

I didn’t know it was reflexology.

They really are talented there.

Re the original question

Reflexology, an Alternative to acupuncture needles?

Yes it is defo. As they are both unproven new age nonsense.

Ironically although only one involves the use of needles anyone who believes in the efficacy of either must feel a bit of a prick.

Unproven but helped my Mrs quit smoking with these pressure gauge things behinds her ear - everytime she got a craving, squeeze the ear and it went. Worked for her but not my bag. I love my cigs too much.

Here we go!
The first study I know of was supervised by William T. Jarvis, Ph.D., a professor who taught research methods to graduate students at Loma Linda University. Using questionnaires, 70 subjects were asked to state whether they had had health problems during the previous two years in any of 43 anatomical areas. These data were then compared with the findings of a reflexologist as recorded on a report form. The results did not differ from what would be expected by blind guessing. To prevent the reflexologist from asking questions or observing subtle clues, the experimental subjects were asked to remain silent and a curtain was placed so that their feet were the only part of their body visible to the reflexologist [12].
In another study, 35 women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) were randomly assigned to ear, hand, and foot reflexology or to placebo therapy done on sham reflex points. The women kept a daily record of 38 possible symptoms selected from previous PMS research questionnaires. The treatment group reported significantly fewer symptoms than the placebo group, and these improvement persisted for 2 months after treatment. Many women in this group fell asleep during the 30-minute sessions and reported feeling more energetic during the next day. The placebo group reported that they thought they were receiving genuine reflexology, The authors note, however, that it was very difficult to develop a credible placebo control group, which may have been the study’s flaw. Normally, reflexology is soothing, but the placebo treatment was described as “either overly light or very rough.” [13] Thus the differences could have been differences in the quality of the massage being administered. The study suggests that massage may relieve PMS symptoms, but it does not validate the alleged connection between reflex points and body organs
In another study, three experienced reflexologists examined 18 adults with one or more 6 specified conditions identified from their medical records. The data showed no significant relationship between the patient’s medical diagnoses and the reflexologists’ findings [14].
Another study compared the effects of foot reflexology, simple massage, and conversation on 130 patients who had undergone abdominal gynecologic surgery under full anesthesia. The patients were asked how they felt, and data were recorded on general condition, pain intensity, movement of the bowels, urination, and sleep, from the day before the operation until until the tenth day afterward. Simple massage turned out to be a relaxing, positive experience, whereas foot reflexology had various effects, some of which were negative. The researchers concluded that foot reflexology is not effective in acute, abdominal postsurgical situations in gynecology and can occasionally trigger abdominal pain [15].
Another study examined the popular claim that reflexology treatment benefits bronchial asthma. Ten weeks of active or simulated (placebo) reflexology were compared in a controlled trial of 40 outpatients with asthma. Objective lung function tests (peak flow morning and evening, and weekly spirometry at the clinic) did not change. Subjective scores (describing symptoms, beta2-inhalations and quality of life) and also bronchial sensitivity to histamine improved on both regimens, but no significant differences were found between groups receiving active or placebo reflexology. The researchers concluded that they had found no evidence that reflexology has a specific effect on asthma beyond placebo influence.

More like it Angry, some founded research at last!

Sarah
Are the decorators in?

Sarah (again)
I attempt to bring a touch of realism to some of the arguments and to base most of my comments on fact. Not the wishy washy anecdotal rubbish that the peddlers of New Age coaching/remedies/fads spread

Here’s the result of one study from 2004:

Park HS; Cho GY
Department ot Nursing, Pusan National University, Psan 602-739, Korea.

PURPOSE: This study was to evaluate the effects of foot reflexology on blood pressure, serum lipids level and life satisfaction in essential hypertension patients. METHOD: The research design used was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Foot Reflexology was used as the experimental treatment from June 23rd, 2003 until August 31st, 2003. Thirty-four subjects were assigned to an experimental group(18) and control group(16). Foot Reflexology was administered twice a week for 6 weeks and self foot Reflexology was administered twice a week for 4 weeks on the experimental group. RESULT: There was a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure but no significant decrease in diastolic pressure in the experimental group compared to the control group.

Life satisfaction in the experimental group compared to the control group was significantly improved after foot reflexology.

CONCLUSION: The results proved that foot reflexology was an effective nursing intervention to decrease systolic pressure, and triglyceride but not for the blood cholesterol and to improve life satisfaction. Therefore, blood cholesterol should be further evaluated in a larger group of subjects and for a longer period. Further research is regarded as necessary to evaluate and to compare effects of self-foot reflexology and foot reflexology.

Maybe it’s just the touch that promotes better health. That’s my belief.

Here’s one more: short and sweet.

Siev-Ner I; Gamus D; Lerner-Geva L; Achiron A
Complementary Medicine Clinic, Department of Orthopedic Rehabilitation, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of reflexology on symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in a randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial.

CONCLUSIONS: Specific reflexology treatment was of benefit in alleviating motor; sensory and urinary symptoms in MS patients

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