Reflexology is a type of massage that involves applying different amounts of pressure to the feet, hands, and ears. It’s based on the theory that these body parts are connected to certain organs and body systems. People who practice this technique are called reflexologists.
Reflexologists believe that applying pressure to these parts offers a range of health benefits.
In traditional Chinese medicine
Reflexology rests on the ancient Chinese belief in qi (pronounced “chee”), or “vital energy.” According to this belief, qi flows through each person. When a person feels stressed, their body blocks qi.
This can cause an imbalance in the body that leads to illness. Reflexology aims to keep qi flowing through the body, keeping it balanced and disease free.
In Chinese medicine, different body parts correspond with different pressure points on the body. Reflexologists use maps of these points in the feet, hands, and ears to determine where they should apply pressure.
They believe their touch sends energy flowing through a person’s body until it reaches the area in need of healing.
Reflexology is linked to many potential benefits.
Reflexology may help to:
reduce stress and anxiety
reduce pain
lift mood
improve general well-being
In addition, people have reported that reflexology helped them:
boost their immune system
fight cancer
get over colds and bacterial infections
clear up sinus issues
recover from back problems
correct hormonal imbalances
boost fertility
improve digestion
ease arthritis pain
ease nerve problems and numbness from cancer drugs (peripheral neuropathy)
Here’s a look at what the research says about using reflexology to manage pain and anxiety.
Pain
In a 2011 study funded by the National Cancer Institute, experts studied how reflexology treatments affected 240 women with advanced breast cancer. All women were undergoing medical treatment, such as chemotherapy, for their cancer.
The study found that reflexology helped to reduce some of their symptoms, including shortness of breath. The participants also reported improved quality of life. But it didn’t have any effect on pain.
Experts have also looked at the effects of reflexology on pain in women experiencing premenstrual syndrome (PMS). In one older study, researchers looked at the effects of ear, hand, and foot reflexology on 35 women who previously reported having of PMS symptoms.
They found that those who received two months of reflexology treatment reported significantly fewer PMS symptoms than the women who did not.
Anxiety
In one small study from 2000, researchers looked at the effects of one 30-minute foot reflexology treatment on people being treated for breast or lung cancer. Those who received a reflexology treatment reported lower levels of anxiety than those who received no reflexology treatment.
In a 2014 study that was slightly larger, researchers gave people undergoing heart surgery a 20-minute foot reflexology treatment once a day for four days.
They found that those who received the reflexology treatment reported significantly lower levels of anxiety than those who didn’t. Touch by another human being is a relaxing, caring, anxiety-reducing action for most people.
Generally, reflexology is very safe, even for people living with serious health conditions. It’s noninvasive and comfortable to receive, so it may be worth trying if it’s something you’re interested in.
The way reflexology connects spots on the outside of your body to the inside is a bit like acupuncture and acupressure. But those therapies use points all over your body, not just on your feet, hands, and ears.
Reflexology may help you feel less stressed, more relaxed, and more energized. But the benefits might go deeper if you have certain health issues.
Some people with medical conditions find that they feel less pain and discomfort if they have less stress, and reflexology may help with that. Researchers reviewed 17 studies of the psychological benefits of the therapy and found that it boosted feelings of well-being and made it easier for people to manage their conditions.
Reflexology may ease:
Anxiety among people who've had heart surgery
Pain during labor
Arthritis pain
Some symptoms of multiple sclerosis, like fatigue and uncomfortable skin sensations
Emotional and physical pain caused by cancer
It may also help:
Improve sinus issues
Relieve back pain
Ease constipation
A theory that dates back to the 19th century suggests that reflexology works by stimulating the nervous system. Pressing on areas of the feet in a calming way stimulates the nerves there, which sends a message to the central nervous system. This helps to relax the body and has positive effects on your breathing, blood flow, immune response, and more.
Now, with the advancement of the Quantum Terahertz Device, you can experience the benefits of reflexology on a whole new level without the need for massage or touch.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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