Research Studies Evaluating the Effectiveness of
Reflexology in Nervous System and Sensory System Conditions

1. A STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF REFLEXOLOGY ON PEOPLE WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
   By Marian Joyce and Rosemary Richardson
   
   Twenty six participants were assigned to two groups, 14 to treatment group and 12 to a control group. Both groups were assessed at the same intervals on a simple form listing 19 symptoms of MS before the treatment group received treatment, after 6 weeks of treatment, after 12 weeks of treatment and six weeks after the treatment group ceased treatment. After 6 weeks of treatment a significant number of participants in the treatment group showed an improvement over the range of symptoms. After 12 weeks of treatment 81.53% of these improvements were maintained, some people improved further and some who had not improved began to improve. In the assessment conducted 6 weeks after treatments were ceased, some people had maintained their improvements, most noticeably in the symptoms of bladder control, sleep, circulation and constipation; many participants lost the improvements that they had gained or their symptoms showed signs of worsening. All participants in the treatment group showed some improvements of their symptoms and enjoyed the reflexology treatments. They also reported that other medical conditions such as asthma, sinuses, sciatica, migraine and menstrual problems were benefited by reflexology. It was hoped that continued reflexology treatments would maintain and build upon the improvements reported in the study, and that, sessions needed to be maintained in that the six week break showed some of the benefits gained started to diminish. The assessment for the control group showed that some participants had symptoms improve, more of them worsened and the majority showed no changes in their symptoms.

2. THE POSSIBLE VALUE OF REFLEXOLOGY IN DIAGNOSED MYALGIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS
   By Thomas S. McCreadie, GSSR, Member of the Scottish Institute of Reflexology
   
   Six patients aged 38 to 65 years, diagnosed as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (painful inflammation of the brain and spinal cord) sufferers by general practitioners, who had a mean duration of suffering of 8 years were treated with 10 reflexology treatments. It was found that 5 treatments were necessary to effect change. All patients experienced a reduction in pain and tiredness after some of the sessions. After 6 months, 5 patients felt that their continuing improvement began with their reflexology treatment.

3. HAND AND FOOT REFLEX AREA MASSAGE IN THE TREATMENT OF SENILE CATARACT
   By Zhou Di-Xin, Wuxi Commercial Hospital, Jiangsu, China
   
   Ten patients (4 males and 6 females) aged 58 - 73 years, with senile cataracts diagnosed by an ophthalmologist, whose clinical courses ranged from 2 to 25 years, were used for this study. Foot reflex area massage was applied daily, with twenty sessions consisting one course of treatment. Most patients received two to three courses of treatment. Visual acuity was assessed pre and post treatment. Improvement was recorded for all 10 patients, and it was concluded that foot reflex area massage has a therapeutic effect in senile cataract.

4. FOOT REFLEXO-MASSAGE IN THREE PATIENTS WITH INTRACTABLE FACIAL PALSY
   By Bei Zuofu, Tan Chunfang and Bei Meng, People's Hospital, Qingan County, Heilongjiang
   
   Foot reflexotherapy was used to successfully treat three patients diagnosed with intractable facial palsy. These three patients had been unresponsive to previous therapies, including systemic and local medicines, acupuncture and physical therapies. A typical case is presented in which daily 30 minute treatments were applied for six days. This was followed by the patient applying self treatment for two weeks, at which point she was completely cured - normal.

5. TREATMENT OF 33 CASES OF CEREBRAL THROMBOTIC SEQUELAE WITH FOOT REFLEXOTHERAPY
   By Zhang Duowen, and Wu Zhaoxia, Hospital under the fifth Bureau, Department of Water and Electricity, China
   
   This paper reports on 33 patients (23 males and 10 females) aged 44 to 78 years (average age 54.8 years) clinically diagnosed with Cerebral Thrombotic Sequelae (stroke), who were treated with foot reflexotherapy. Their strokes were stable, and their clinical courses were between 2 months and 5 years. There were limb dysfunction in 26 patients and motor aphasia in 7 patients. Foot reflexo-therapy was applied for 30 minutes daily, with 10 days as one course of treatment. The period of treatment ranged from 2 to 7 months. It is reported that after treatment, 11 patients (33.33%) were cured: symptom free, with normal limb function and independent daily life; 20 patients (60.61%) improved: symptom free with improved limb function; and 2 patients (6.06%) were unchanged: no improvement in symptoms and limb function. It was concluded that foot reflexo-therapy can restore the damaged brain function, and revive the limb and speech performance of patients with cerebral thrombotic sequelae (stroke). It was also proposed that foot reflexo-therapy is useful in the prevention of cerebral thrombosis, as well as in the treatment.

6. PRELIMINARY EXPLORATION OF TREATMENT FOR INSOMNIA
   By Gao Wa, Wang Zhen and Liu Haige, The Women and Infantile Health Centre of Inner Mongolia
   
   Seventy patients suffering from insomnia, were randomly divided into group A and Group B. Forty one patients (58.57%) had had insomnia for more than 3 years, twenty nine patients (41.43%) for less than 3 years. Twenty-five patients (58.57%) were completely dependent on sleeping pills to sleep, 33 patients (47.14%) took sleeping pills as need, and 12 patients (17.14%) refused to take medication. Group A were treated twice a day with 20 minute reflexotherapy sessions for 10 days. Group B. was treated once a day with 20 minute foot reflexotherapy sessions for 10 days. The criteria for effectiveness was that the patient could go to sleep naturally and next day would feel relaxed, comfortable and clear minded. Results: After 5 days of treatment, reflexotherapy was effective for 88.57 % of group A, and, for 22.86% of Group B; after 10 days, reflexotherapy was effective for 100% of Group A, and, 91.43% of Group B. It was concluded that adopting intense stimulation (twice a day) can help the patient's body to readjust itself within a shorter time and yield a better result.

7. FOOT REFLEXOLOGY IN THE TREATMENT FOR 5 CASES WITH DRUG TOXIC DEAFNESS
   By Zhao Zhijian, Zhou Gengye and Zhou Xin, Service Centre of Foot Health Care, Ganghou, Jiangxi Province
   
   Five patients, 4 females and 1 male, (2 aged 55 - 65 years, 1 aged 35 -45 years, and 1 aged 20 - 35 years) were treated with 40 minute daily foot reflexology treatments. All patients had contracted the disease for many years and had been treated by many other therapies without effect. Therapy was stopped when a patient could hear the speaking voice from a certain distance and give an answer - this was after 14 - 28 days of treatment. All five patients experienced improvement with no recurrence in follow up. A typical case is presented. It was concluded that foot reflexology has good therapeutic effects in treating deafness.

BACK