to think that reflexology does in fact "work" - just am not sure how

[sotiredofthis1]

Hi

Am considering doing a reflexology course next year. I have been interested for a long time but never quite taken the plunge. I have now had three reflexology treatments and I know that at the very least I have felt much more relaxed and tired (in a good way) afterwards.

Have twice told dh that I may be doing this course but he is scornful of the whole thing saying that there is no link between the reflex points on the feet and various organs - as reflexologists would claim. That it is not a pressure point massage that reflexologists offer but a simple foot massage. He also says that it is not "my thing" (as in mine, not his).

The thing is that I am not entirely sure myself (nothing to do with dh's scorn) that I should really do this course so dh kind of taps into my own insecurities. Obviously I have no idea whether there really are energy pathways between the pressure points on the feet and any organs but aibu to think that it doesn't really matter? There is no doubt IMO that reflexology is a helpful therapy in that it helps people relax and a relaxed body is better able to deal with imbalances, than a stressed one.

So I guess I am asking for your opinions - if you have had reflexology what kinds of things has it helped you with. Also if you are a reflexologist - whether you "believe" in the basic premises of reflexology and if you think it is important to "believe" for the therapy to work?

Western medicine was based on humours and bleeding until the modern age. Some of the most intelligent and foremost thinkers of the past studied and believed in this system of medicine. We then moved onto an evidence based system, germ theory etc. It is not disrespectful to evaluate whether a medicine actually works beyond the placebo( nothing wrong with placebo)

I would love it if leeches were still available. I get these headaches that just feel like my brain is FULL and needs a tap or something.

It sounds like you are rather suspicious already and there are plenty of others who would agree with your husband.
Placebo works wonders and I have seen this in various trials the effect is striking.
For thousands of years people have had all sorts of random theories - the earth was flat is a good example. That was crap as are many other theories.
We are learning all the time.

I might set up doing leech therapy, do you think I might make any money? leeches are actually used in plastic surgery to control local blood loss but I was thinking of something a bit more woo

It god rid of my interstitial cystitis when oohing else would. She would press the bit relating to bladder and I'd yelp.

I'll be first in the queue mud!

I have to say, I find it hugely disrespectful when people (including some on this thread) rather rudely consign thousands of years of medical tradition to the junk pile and write it off as 'rubbish'

This is an argument for ignorance and superstition.

Thanks for all your messages. Am still thinking what to do but will probably not do the course as though I think it is quite a powerful therapy for whatever reason - I just can't quite see myself doing it.

Look after yourself, don't justify and make it clear you will do what you want to do

Thanks mmmcake - you are right, dh can be quite interfering and damning in his criticism often without wanting to learn anything about the thing he is criticising, but I am getting better and better at doing what I want to do regardless of his negativity ranting.

Positive results had here.

I'm not sure about Reflexology, sort of think there might be something in it though for two or possibly three reasons.

1. DS has always had dodgy bowels. My mum mentioned this at the hospice she volunteers at and a lady who does reflexology showed her a massage to do on his feet. It made a difference everytime we tried it and even now he will ask one of us to do his feet if his tummy feels off. DD asks for it too and it helps her dodgy bowels as well.

1. Years ago I fell while skiing and injured (or so we believed) my elbow. I was in a funky sort of cast for weeks and had pain for months afterwards. It was later discovered that one of my ribs was affected and once the rib was sorted the elbow pain went away which led me to believe in referred pain and thus showing the marvels of the nervous system.

1. When my sinuses are blocked I can clear them by pressing on two points at the bottom of my nose.

I think our bodies complex. I also think any massage can be theraputic and healing in ways we don't understand.

I wouldn't describe a massage as a 'placebo' as it is not an inert substance with no medical effect- you are still getting a relaxing massage on your feet which helps your whole body destress and relax, at the very least!

Whenever I had it, I was very tired afterwards. I felt that it was unblocking energy that Iwas containing through stress, if that makes sense. I haveterrible pms and she picked up hormonal problems too so I think there is definitel something in it.

I used to have reflexology just before hay fever season as I suffered quite badly with it.
Whilst I was having the treatment one of my eyes would swell up like i was having an allergic reaction.
How can that be a placebo effect?

Referred pain in the head/abdomen/thorax can be mediated by a specialised structure specific to a particular type of nerve.

Basically, the nerves that carry signals from your organs all form a "sympathetic chain" that runs alongside your spinal column. This can be thought of a series of nodules where bundles of sympathetic ("fight or flight") nerves gather before they feed into the spinal column proper.

Nerves usually join the chain at the nodule sitting at the same horizontal line as the organ that it connects to, and from there, enter the spinal column. However, some nerves join the chain and grow up/down to adjacent nodules (or even several nodules away) before they enter the spinal column. So this means that information coming from, say, your kidneys, might enter the chain at kidney level but only enter the spinal column at the same horizontal level as your shoulder. Thus, pain from lower organs may be interpreted as coming from a much higher source.

So, some superficial thinking would suggest that internal organs are innervated in such a way that their responses can be modulated by manipulating nerves far away in the body. However, reflexology is based on the premise that manipulation of a sensory nerve in your foot can feed information to your liver via and unrelated nervous system, which is neuroanatomical nonsense. As is the claimed reverse, that a problem with a liver manifests itself in a particular nerve on your foot (and can be duly diagnosed).

It's a foot massage. That has stress and health benefits in itself.

I find it hugely disrespectful when people (including some on this thread) rather rudely consign thousands of years of medical tradition to the junk pile and write it off as 'rubbish'

You think "tradition" makes for good medicine?

FFS.

op i'd do it just because he's trying to stop you . Also i do reflexology on my self for my arthritis and it works. - as most of the pps have said.

Of course it's not 'disrespectful' for goodness sake.

When I ovulate one area of my foot aches and actually puffs up a little. It is the reproductive area on a reflexology chart. I looked it up after being aware of this regular feeling. It's only on one foot though.
I have had reflexology treatments and have always found them relaxing. One day a certain area regularly became really painful to massage. The therapist said it was the pancreas area but I was quite well. About 12 months later I had to have an emergency appendicitis operation. I think what she felt may have been the start of it.

A friend offered to help me along when I was very overdue and fed up with dc2. Dc1 was 15 days late/induced and wanted avoid it if at all possible. Had 3 sweeps from Midwide and friend pressing parts of my foot not at same time saying 'you WILL' go into labour tonight, be ready'. She did it again three days later. Dc2 was induced at +12 the same as dc1 and dc3

She was a reflexologist helping me along I mean sorry that sounds terrible

One day a certain area regularly became really painful to massage. The therapist said it was the pancreas area but I was quite well. About 12 months later I had to have an emergency appendicitis operation. I think what she felt may have been the start of it

But your pancreas is nowhere near your appendix, nor does it have any linked function (other than "all part of a complex digestive system").

I like reflexology not because I believe it can affect other organs but because I find it amazingly relaxing. I work quite long hours and am not the world's best at switching off but reflexology does the trick.

I think it's real benefit for me is the destressing and I suspect that does have a tangible impact on my health.

YABU. Unless you market it purely as a relaxation treatment, and emphasise that it cannot treat illness, you would be making money from snake oil.

I'm actually surprised so many people don't think it's a valid medical tool.

I did a reflexology course despite being extremely cynical about it, because it naturally followed in from the Indian Head Massage course and Aromatherapy course with the same teacher.

I think it is definitely better than doing nothing, and better than the control of having someone listen to you for half an hour.

I do not think it works because of chakras or energy centres.

I do a mean sinus massage.