Research Studies Evaluating the Effectiveness of
Reflexology in Respiratory System Conditions

1. A CLINICAL ANALYSIS OF FOOT REFLEXO MASSAGE FOR THE TREAMENT OF 45 CASES WITH INFANTILE BRONCHIAL ASTHMA
   By Duanmu Hui-xian, Health Centre for Women and Children, Haimen, Jiangsu Province.
   Forty five patients in the out-patient clinic, aged 5 months to 7 years (mean age = 3.8 years), with 25 boys and 20 girls. The range of the course of the bronchial asthma disease was 3 to 63 months. Daily 40 - 50 minute reflexology sessions were administered. The length of the therapeutic course ranged from 2 to 12 weeks. When the therapeutic course was complete, the clinical symptoms of all 45 patients disappeared, the rate of clinical cure being 100%. It is pointed out that in such young children, if they receive drugs, toxic reactions will occur as their visceral states are not fully developed; and, that generally infants do not like injection and forceful administration of drugs, but, do accept foot reflexology.

2. FOOT ZONE THERAPY AND BRONCHIAL ASTHMA. A CLINICALLY CONTROLLED INVESTIGATION
   By Lisbeth Nuchel Petersen, Peter Faurschou, Ole Thor Olsen and Ulrik Gerner Svendsen. Ugeskr Laeger 1992; 154: 2065-8.
   Thirty patients with proved bronchial asthma receiving treatment with inhaled steroid in dosages of less than 1,000 micrograms daily were subdivided at random into two groups of 15 patients. One group received foot zone therapy and the other merely uniform clinical care but without "placebo foot zone therapy". The "active" group received a total of ten-foot zone therapy sessions of one hour at intervals of one week. The asthmatic symptoms, consumption of medicine and the objective pulmonary function parameters were followed up during the subsequent six months. Decrease in consumption of Beta-2-agonists and increases in peak-flow levels were observed in the group which had received foot zone therapy, but the same changes were observed in the control group. The authors do not find that this investigation demonstrates that foot zone therapy is of effect on the disease bronchial asthma. They conclude, however, that the favorable effects in both of the groups are due to increased care and control that occurred in both patient groups.

3. ASTHMA AND REFLEXOLOGY
   By Ulla Fosholt, "Mit Helbred" (My Health), 10, 1992
   Ulla Fosholt is the nurse and reflexologist who administered reflexology in the prior study. This paperis her report on this study. Five of the thirteen participants (38%) experienced improved or unaltered pulmonary function despite a reduction of medication during the research project. This paper presents case descriptions of these five patients.

4. REFLEXOLOGY, ASTHMA AND BRONCHITIS
   Unpublished 1988, report available from FDZ Research Committee
   Eighteen persons who suffered from asthma and bronchitis had received extensive medical treatment without real improvements were treated with reflexology. Two patients left the study; the remaining sixteen patients received ten reflexology sessions each. At the end of treatment 3 patients (18.75%) reported a complete cure, they no longer required spray treatments; 9 patients (56.25%) felt considerable improvement and could reduce their spray treatments from 8 - 10 x day to 1 - 2 x day; 2 patients (12.5%) felt better; 1 patient (6.25%) felt a little better, and, 1 patient (6.25%) felt no improvement.

5. TREATMENT OF UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION (URTI) IN CHILDREN WITH FOOT REFLEXO-MASSAGE
   By Li fengchun, Clinic of the 3520 Factory of PLA
   This paper asserts that URTI is a common respiratory disease and reports on treating 81 children aged 3 to 6 years with foot reflexo-massage. It is reported that the results were satisfactory and presents four typical cases. In discussion it is asserted that foot reflexo-therapy, in combination with appropriate medical therapy, can not only shorten the clinical course and prevent complications, but also improve the immune activity, promote the child's recovery, and reduce the recurrence of the disease. It is concluded that it is an excellent way to treat both the symptoms and the disease.

6. CLINICAL REPORT OF 18 CASES OF INFANT AMNIOTIC FLUID ASPIRATION PNEUMONIA TREATED WITH FOOT REFLEXOLOGY
   By Duanmu Huixian, Health Center For Women & Children, Hai Men City, Jiangsu Province
   This paper reports on the use of foot massotherapy for 18 patients, 8 boys and 10 girls with amniotic fluid aspiration pneumonia. Clinical symptoms are described and the method of treatment is presented. Foot massotherapy treatment was given twice a day, 30 - 45 minutes for each session. Three to seven sessions constituted a course of treatment. After a course of treatment, the symptoms of all 18 patients were disappeared. Two cases are presented. In the summary it is stated that the morbidity of amniotic fluid aspiration had increased in recent years with high mortality which accounted for 22.82% of the mortality of the newborn infants. It was proposed that by improving blood circulation foot reflexology facilitates elimination of respiratory secretion and therefore is beneficial for the absorption of amniotic fluid.

7. A CLINICAL INVESTIGATION ON 57 CASES WITH INFANTILE ASTHMA TREATED BY FOOT REFLEXOLOGY
   By Duanmu Huixian, Health Center For Women & Children, Haimen, Jiangsu Province
   This paper reports on 57 children, aged 5 months to 7.2 years, with infantile asthma treated successfully with foot reflexology. Fifty-five (96.5%) were evaluated as cured with no recurrence, and two (3.5%): one 4 - 5 years, one 6 - 7 years were improved but had recurrence. Concerns regarding medication treatment included the toxic effect on the young children's incompletely developed organs, plus, the children's resistance to taking medication by injection or orally. In comparison foot infants and young children readily accept reflexology.

8. FOOT MASSAGE TREATMENT OF CHILDREN PNEUMONIA AND BRONCHITIS
   By Wu Huiming, The Fifth People's Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, China
   This paper reports on the use of foot massage (FM) as an adjunctive therapy in 103 children suffering from prolonged and repeated pulmonary or bronchial infections. The history in most cases was between 2 - 4 years, with recurrence for 2 weeks to 3 months. In acute cases, applying antibiotics in conjunction with foot reflexology showed significantly better effects than using antibiotics alone. In sub acute or chronic cases the foot reflexology was the priority treatment. The foot reflexology was observed to be able to cure prolonged, refractory cases in a relatively short time. Some cases with frequent recurrence (1-2 times/month) were followed for six months with no recurrent infection after the foot reflexology. In conclusion, it is claimed that in view of the present data collected, foot reflexology is better than other therapies in both preventing and curing pulmonary and bronchial infections.

9. FOOT REFLEX ZONE MASSAGE ALLEVIATES SYMPTOMS INDUCED BY CHEMOTHERAPY IN PULMONARY MALIGNANT TUMOUR PATIENTS
   By Li Long Yun and Associates, Associate Professor of the Union Hospital, China Twenty-one subjects were used in this study. Nine in the control group received chemotherapy. Twelve in the treatment group received chemotherapy and Foot Reflex Zone Massage (FRZM). The treatment group received 30 - 40 minute FRZM daily for 12 days. It was concluded that FRZM might play an important role in alleviating gastrointestinal tract symptoms such as anorexia, nausea and vomiting, and, that FRZM was found beneficial in managing adverse side effects induced by chemotherapy in patients with pulmonary malignant tumours.

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