How Reflexology May Help Your Patients

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 Reflexology is:

A lesser-known Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM) modality. More than 60 top medical schools in the US including Yale, Duke, Emory, Johns Hopkins, Harvard are teaching about CAM modalities https://imconsortium.org/member-listing/

• "A non-invasive protocol of manual techniques…applied to specific reflex areas predominantly on the feet and hands. These techniques stimulate the complex neural path-ways linking body systems, supporting the body’s efforts to function optimally...."http://reflexology-usa.org/information/raas-definition-of-reflexology/
  
• Based on the zone therapy work of William Fitzgerald, MD  http://www.reflexology-usa.net/history.htm
  
• Not meant as an alternative to standard medical care, but as a complement to it.
  
• An effective way to reduce stress, which according to JAMA is now being cited as the reason for up to 80% of doctor visits.  Reduced stress may decrease pain and improve patient outcomes from  medical treatmentshttp://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1392494
  
• Not massage http://academyofancientreflexology.com/reflexology-not-massage/  ...although reflexology recipients do receive all the benefits of nurturing touch that studies evidence   http: oawhealth.com/ 2014/03/18/health-benefits-of-human- touch/  (I have no affiliation with this site; the site simply has a useful aggregate of studies cited)
  
• Utilized in some cancer centers such as Dana Farber  http://blog.dana-farber.org/insight/2016/07/how-can-reflexology-help-cancer-patients/      and Memorial Sloan Kettering https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/diagnosis-treatment/symptom-management/integrative-medicine/therapies/individual-therapies

 42% Reduction of Pain Study with 317 participants at the VA at Fort Bragg. Peer-reviewed.   Pain study abstract here or use https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329811436_The_Benefits_of_Reflexology_for_the_Chronic_Pain_Patient_in_a_Military_Pain_Clin

Reduction of Pain by 40%

by Dr. Carol Samuel

https://www.nursingtimes.net/clinical-archive/pain-management/reflexology-effective-pain-relief-uk-study-suggests-10-04-2013/

Need for pain medication reduced by 40% 

https://health.usnews.com/health-care/for-better/articles/2018-11-29/how-aromatherapy-and-reflexology-are-changing-approaches-to-pain-management

Reduction of infant pain and distress  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26220257/

Reduction of Post-Operative Pain in Patients Undergoing Surgical Procedures   https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/acm.2017.0167 

Short video of Dr. Jesus Manzanares, an MD who's used reflexology in his medical practice for >40 years, explaining his scientific reflexological methodology  https://vimeo.com/124738718

Improved QOL for Advanced Breast Cancer Patients, Gwen Wyatt, PhD, RN https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4419638/

Effective for Diabetic Neuropathy, an NIH study https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24527055

Reflexology Improves Sleep

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33615535/

Reduction of severity of infantile colic. 

Published here in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 

Reduction of PMS symptoms, Dr. Terry Olson & William Flocco, NBCR, American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology http://americanacademyofreflexology.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Full-Study1.pdf

Increased circulation to organs, by Dr. Marc Piquemal, MD

Microsoft Word - Piquemal Article - Christine 2006.doc (reflexology-usa.org) 

Eradication of epileptic seizures

https://www.thecenteredsole.com/my-story/

& https://www.thecenteredsole.com/my-seizure-descriptions-and-triggers/

300+ Qualitative studies at   Reflexology Research | Reflexology Research Studies  

And more at Pacific Reflexology's ReflexologyResources.com Page 

 A reflexology study: CADAVERS                   DON'T LIE  

From researchers Barbara Bowers and Rebecca Sundeen: "The intention of our research in the cadaver lab, is to confirm visual congestion shown on the feet with physical congestion in the body, and have a means of correlating them both. This research in the cadaver lab gives more evidence for further study into the correlation of congestion in the body, and reflexology as a physical visual disclosure of where in the body we hold congestion as well as using reflexology to support homeostasis."

https://branchreflexology.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/FINAL-CADAVER-LAB-PDF.pdf

Urologist Dr. Mandour read in a medical journal about the 60% efficacy rate of reflexology for urology patients for whom "everything else had failed". He subsequently became certified in Reflexology, and conducted his own study. Short interview here. Interview with ARCB (American Reflexology Certification Board) on page 22 at  3c752a_50580d4786c443bba1164ed403d4a8f4.pdf (usrfiles.com)  

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 Directories of Credentialed Reflexologists Nationwide    

A directory of National Board Certified Reflexologists is at the American Reflexology Certification Board (ARCB) website https://arcbdirectory.org/  All Board-Certified Reflexologists have passed a practical exam and two written exams, and must fulfill annual CE requirements. NOTE: Due to 2022 website overhaul directory is currently incomplete. Use RAA directory below to find additional reflexologists in your area of interest, and/or search for a state's reflexology association.

 Another directory of reflexologists nationally   

 that can be searched by city, state, or name can be found online at http://reflexology-usa.org/professionals/ 

The Reflexology Association of America is a nonprofit organization that promotes the scientific and professional advancement of reflexology. The organization’s mission is to elevate and standardize the quality of reflexology services available to the public.
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Professional members of the Reflexology Association of America (RAA) have trained in a minimum of 300 hours of foot, hand and/or outer ear reflexology.