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Reflexology and Mental Health
A new report from the local association of MIND (Worthing) reveals the beneficial effects of reflexology and counselling on mental health patients.
Research was carried out between May 1996 and August 1997 in which a reflexologist and a counsellor worked with a total of 74 people (49 received reflexology and 25 received counselling).
The report’s findings based upon the observations of the therapists and the participants indicate that:
• Physical improvements underpinned feelings of enhanced mental/emotional well-being for many participants. For example, the researchers observed that the release of tension through being able to talk led to greater relaxation, which in turn was found to alleviate headaches and improve sleep.
• With the exception of two participants in the reflexology sample, there was a reported increase in relaxation levels and a decrease in anxiety levels.
• The reflexologist noted that participants developed an increased awareness of tension in the body and an increased ability to change that state, e.g. they consciously altered their breathing and their posture.
• Many participants reported improved emotional status. Fear, worry and despair reported at the beginning of the study were considered to have changed into more positive and fulfilling emotions.
• There was a general consensus among the participants that an offer of more complementary therapies would be of overall benefit within the mental health service.
Perhaps the most interesting finding of the study was that the participants tended to make greater progress when reflexology and counselling were offered together, and the report recommended greater integration of the therapies.
Although this was a small, pilot study which by its very nature is limited in value due to the absence of objective data measurements or traditional scientific audit, the researchers hope that it will ‘form the basis for a further controlled research project, incorporating objective data measurements, or a comprehensive audit’.
Peta Trousdell, Andrea Uphoff-Chmielnik. Making connections: user perception of the effects of Reflexology and Counselling: an evaluation of a complementary health care project at Worthing Mind. September 1997.
(Copies of the report may be obtained from MIND Worthing, 8-10 Durrington Lane, Worthing, W.Sussex BN13 2QB for a charge of £5.)
Reflexology and 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 Reflexologtists) 2nd edition.
Reflexology and Children with nocturnal enuresis (Bed wetting)
The purpose of the study was to clarify whether reflexology is a relevant treatment for enuresis nocturna, and to test a research design applicable to controlled experiments with reflexology. An unblinded method was used comparing a treatment group (1) receiving reflexology to a non-treatment group (2) keeping the same record of symptoms. At the start of the study, the volumes of night urine in the two groups were comparable. By the end of the study, there was no significant decrease in the volume of night urine in either of the groups. Two children in the treatment group and one in the non-treatment group became dry during the night in the course of the study. In conclusion, reflexology given as 14 treatment sessions over a period of four months did not result in a significant fall in enuresis nocturna in children aged seven to eleven years old. It must be concluded that the treatment result can not be distinguished from the conditions in the non-treatment group even though the average night diuresis in group one showed a slightly decreasing tendency while morning diuresis increased, in contrast to group two which exhibited a slight increase in night diuresis. As the total diuresis remained constant, this could be interpreted as an increased urinary bladder capacity, but in both cases the changes were far from significant.
Comments: Comment in: Ugeskr Laeger 1999 Apr 12;161(15):2224 Sietam KS, Eriksen L Forenede Danske Zoneterapeuter, Kolding.
According to a 1994 Swiss medical report, foot Reflexology is one of the most useful treatments for post operative gynaecological patients. The researchers demonstrated that reflexology enhances urination, stimulates bowel movements and so aids recovery. Patients who received reflexology treatment also showed a much less need for medication than patients in the control group.
Kesselring A. (foot reflex zone massage) Fussreflexzonemassage. Schweiz med Wochenschr suppl (SWITZERLAND) 1994, 62 p88-93
According to a 1994 Swiss medical report, foot Reflexology is one of the most useful treatments for post operative gynaecological patients. The researchers demonstrated that reflexology enhances urination, stimulates bowel movements and so aids recovery. Patients who received reflexology treatment also showed a much less need for medication than patients in the control group.
Kesselring A. (foot reflex zone massage) Fussreflexzonemassage. Schweiz med Wochenschr suppl (SWITZERLAND) 1994, 62 p88-93
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