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RESEARCH
ON HOW REFLEXOLOGY CAN EASE STRESS
A recent British study found reflexology to provide beneficial effects on "women experiencing a need for emotional support." Fifteen women received 30-minute reflexology sessions for eight weeks. The findings included: physical improvements, emotional improvements, self-esteem and confidence, motivation, touch, increase in relaxation levels, being heard and taken seriously, concentration improvements. (Trousdale, Peta, "Reflexology meets emotional needs," International Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, November, 1996, p.9) Mental health “ It is clear by the end of the research period that a significant number of participants had experienced many positive effects from the reflexology treatments." The findings of a study of "those in need of emotional support" were reported by Mind Affiliated Local Association Worthing in a publication titled Making Connections, User Perception of the Effects of Reflexology & Counselling: an evaluation of a complementary health care project at Worthing Mind. Mind Worthing is an affiliate of national charity Mind. The study was conducted at a day centre or a drop-in centre. "The people included in the study were all in need of emotional support." They ranged in age from 18 to 65. Forty-nine individuals participated in the reflexology project and twenty-five in the counselling project between May 1996 and August 1997. "Most of the reflexology sample received reflexology once a week for eight weeks, and each treatment lasted thirty minutes. Qualitative data collection included "Confidential profiles" (individual responses to questions) and "Focus group questions" (responses gathered in groups of four to eight individuals). Findings from participant responses included: Improvement in physical aspects, significant improvement in emotional state, improvement in ability to concentrate, increase in motivation for a significant number of participants, significant increase in confidence and self-esteem levels, improvement in communication and ability to articulate ideas more effectively and readily, "importance of being touched during treatment in a safe non-intrusive / abusive manner," and reduction of medication by several. Reports of benefits by the centre's staffs were noted: "Both services (reflexology and counselling), it was reported, have in addition (to positive feedback from members) helped to alleviate pressure on staff and avert crises because some members becoming more relaxed and at ease as a result of having had reflexology and/or counselling." Assessment of cost-effectiveness included questions related to the cost of not providing reflexology and/or counselling services. At issue were expenses related to the cost of typical interventions such as psychotropic medications or consultation with a GP or Psychiatrist. Adverse outcomes for individual were noted to potentially include "psychiatric breakdown, attempted suicide, physical / sexual abuse of children, and inappropriate health care seeking behaviours." Trousdale, Peta and Uphoff-Chmielnik, Andrea, Making Connections, User Perception of the Effects of Reflexology & Counselling: an evaluation of a complementary health care project at Worthing Mind, September 1997 Nervous exhaustion Recent research from China suggest that reflexology may be particularly helpful for patients suffering from nervous exhaustion. Twenty patients with a history of neurasthenia (nervous exhaustion), which had lasted between 1 & 8 years, were given a course of reflexology at the department of physiotherapy, 52884 Military Hospital. The patients' chief symptoms were dizziness, insomnia, memory loss, indigestion and headaches. All had previously received long-term medical treatment none of which had helped them. The reflexology treatments focused on the areas of the feet relating to the adrenal gland, kidneys, bladder, sinus, brain and heart. Those patients who suffered from associated digestive problems were also treated to the areas of the feet relating to spleen, stomach, duodenum and celiac, while those patients who suffered from headaches had the areas of the feet relating to the cerebellum and trigeminal nerves treated. The reflexology treatments were given daily over a period of seven days and the results were quite remarkable: 40% experienced complete 'cure', further 35% had greatly improved, and a further 15% had mildly improved. Only 10% showed no change at all to the treatment. Duan Shuang-Feng. Foot reflexology in neurosism: Clinical Observation of 20 cases. Presented at the China Reflexology Symposium in Beijing (July 1993). Reflexology research reports (Association of Reflexologists) 2nd edition
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