Researchs

Applied to reflexology, the idea is, thus, the nerve signals of reflexology’s pressure technique application to the feet interferes with pain signals elsewhere in the body. This takes place through the complex interaction that is pain perception as hypothesized by reflexology researcher Dr. Nancy Stephenson. In her study on partner reflexology and cancer patients (21)*, she notes: the current use of reflexology for pain relief is based on the Western neuromatrix theory of pain (Loeser & Melzack, 1999 , Melzack 1999). The theory is an expansion of the Gate Control Theory (GCT) of pain that proposes that pain is multidimensional experience involving three major psychological dimensions: sensory-discriminative, motivational-affective, and cognitive-evaluative.

Reflexology research demonstrates the effect of reflexology on a variety of physical and psychological concerns:  Amelioration of symptoms  Creation of a relaxation effect  Impact on physiological measures  Improvement in blood flow  Aids in pain reduction  Beneficial for post-operative recovery and pain reduction  Enhancement of medical care  Adjunct to mental health care  Complement to cancer care  Easier birthing / delivery / post-partum recovery

Of the 78 disorders and 168 studies reviewed, research shows an efficacy of 93.3% (11 negative outcomes) by one measure and 80.12% by another (11 negative outcomes and 22 positive-negative outcomes). The positive-negative studies showed at least one positive mea-sure and at least one negative measure or impact as good as results of control group. An example is a study of middle-aged women (3)*•^ found: significant difference following reflexology work in depression, perceived stress, systolic blood pressure, natural-killer cells and Ig G but no significant difference in diastolic blood pressure, pulse or serum cortisol.

Hb (hemoglobin) levels significantly increased; Emotional responses, vigor and mood scores were significantly increased; B cell and CD19 were increased significantly; Suppressor T cell and NK (Natural Killer) cell showed significant decrease after the program.

was significantly decreased, decreased or lowered for participants.

Anxiety was significantly decreased, or lowered for participants in 9 studies: reduced: (Healthy individuals) (41)* (Menopausal women)

Pain reduction is a significant result of reflexology work. 27 studies show positive outcomes for reflexology work ranging from “significant difference in” pain to “reduction in” pain. Of note is the broad range of individuals whose pain is impacted by reflexology work. Included are individuals of all ages and health states: birthing mothers, menstruating women, phantom limb pain sufferers, lower back pain sufferers, kidney stone patients, senior citizens and individuals with pain resulting from surgery. Such a range speaks of impact on an underlying mechanism at work.

Remarkable reduction (High cholesterol patients) (83)+
• Neuropathy patients Neuropathy patients suffer from nerve degeneration leading to loss of sensation and potentially loss of limbs due to poor circulation as gangrene can set in. Diabetics are prone to neuropathy. Research shows improvement in blood flow rate, time and acceleration within the feet following reflexology work. (6)*^ Bead mat walking also showed an increase in blood flow to the feet.
• Adjunct to mental health care Reflexology programs and research show that reflexology aids the mentally ill, providing needed benefits unique to reflexology work. Mental health workers report that reflexology work furnishes many advantages including facilitating communication and allowing for the client to be “touched during treatment in a safe non-intrusive / abusive manner.” (88)

Hemostasis patients Patients undergo hemodialysis to replace the functions of failed and failing kidneys. Research shows that reflexology work helps these individuals: Improves kidney function with changes in physiological measures: an increase in red blood cells (to combat anemia concerns), increase in lymphocytes (to help fight infection), and enhances disposal of waste products10, 40

Diabetic individuals Diabetes is characterized by the inability to produce or utilize insulin. For some, there is an unpredictable variation in glucose tolerance, brittle diabetes that results in difficulty treating it with an appropriate level of medication. Research shows that reflexology work reduces physiologic measures for diabetics and is an effective treatment for type 11 diabetes mellitus. (33)*•+

EEG (Measurement of brain waves) Significant increases in one or more patterns: Significant increase In alpha amplitude, theta amplitude,% alpha synchrony and% theta synchrony (Healthy volunteers) f64)  Increase in relaxation waves:  Increase in alpha frequencies (relaxation waves) in the brain waves (Healthy volunteers) (66)
• Increase in alpha waves that remained following reflexology work (Healthy volunteers) (137) , “Brings the brain-mind mechanism to a lower dimensional chaos indicating a state of ‘order out of disorder”’ (Healthy volunteers) (65)•  “Results showed that there was a clear differences in characteristics of EEG signals with and without reflexology. Results signal relaxation effect of reflexology.” (Healthy volunteers) (70)

Reflexology stimulus applied to lateral inner big toe (left foot) activated reflected region of the brain, the right temporal lobe (127)  Visual cerebral cortex not activated but reflex area stimulation matched same results as when accupoint stimulation in stroke patients with visual deficits (128)

Reflexology and acupuncture stimuli resulted in activation in the same area of the brain, the insula demonstrated that both at the points (adrenal gland K1 used for psychological asthma for both) probably regulate emotional and pain effects. The strongest activation in the brain for pressure applied to the adrenal gland reflex area was the insula with functions of homeostasis, pain, emotions) (129)

Diabetic individuals Diabetes is characterized by the inability to produce or utilize insulin. For some, there is an unpredictable variation in glucose tolerance, brittle diabetes that results in difficulty treating it with an appropriate level of medication. Research shows that reflexology work reduces physiologic measures for diabetics and is an effective treatment for type 11 diabetes mellitus. (33)*•+

EEG (Measurement of brain waves) Significant increases in one or more patterns: Significant increase In alpha amplitude, theta amplitude,% alpha synchrony and% theta synchrony (Healthy volunteers) f64)  Increase in relaxation waves:
- Increase in alpha frequencies (relaxation waves) in the brain waves (Healthy volunteers) (66)
- Increase in alpha waves that remained following reflexology work (Healthy volunteers) (137)
- “Brings the brain-mind mechanism to a lower dimensional chaos indicating a state of ‘order out of disorder”’ (Healthy volunteers) (65)
- “Results showed that there was a clear differences in characteristics of EEG signals with and without reflexology. Results signal relaxation effect of reflexology.” (Healthy volunteers) (70)

FMRI: Reflexology stimulus applied to lateral inner big toe (left foot) activated reflected region of the brain, the right temporal lobe (127)
Visual cerebral cortex not activated but reflex area stimulation matched same results as when acupoint stimulation in stroke patients with visual deficits (128)