RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY OF PREMENSTRUAL SYMPTOMS TREATED WITH REFLEXOLOGY

By Terry Oleson PhD and William Flocco, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vol. 82, No. 6, December 1993

The reflexology sessions for both groups were provided by trained reflexology therapist once a week for 8 weeks, and lasted 30 minutes each.

This study was designed to determine whether reflexology treatment can significantly reduce premenstrual symptoms compared to a placebo treatment. Thirty-five women who complained of previous distress with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) were randomly assigned to be treated by reflexology or to receive placebo reflexology. All subjects completed a daily diary, which monitored 38 premenstrual symptoms on a four-point scale. Somatic and psychological indicators of premenstrual distress were recorded each day for 2 months before treatment, for 2 months during reflexology treatment, and for 2 months afterward.

Results: Analysis of Variance for repeated measures demonstrated a significantly

* greater decrease in premenstrual symptoms for the women given true reflexology than for the women in the placebo group.

* The treatment group showed a 46% reduction in premenstrual symptoms, which was sustained at 41% during the post treatment period.

It was concluded that reflexology is an appropriate therapy for the treatment of PMS.

HAS REFLEXOLOGY AN EFFECT ON INFERTILITY?

By Leila Ericksen, FDZ Research Committee, Denmark

Sixteen 45 minute reflexology treatments over a 7 - 8 month period. Treatments were given 2 times a week for 4 weeks, then 2 treatments before ovulation

To determine the effect of reflexology on infertility 61 women were given reflexology treatments.

* Nine women (15%) became pregnant within six months after starting treatment.

* Of two thirds of the women who had menstruation problems 77% experienced an appreciable improvement, with the majority totally getting rid of the problems.

* Three quarters of all the women reported improvements in other ailments such as: muscle tensions, psychic imbalances, indigestion, poor circulation and general imbalance.

EASIER BIRTHS USING REFLEXOLOGY

By Gabriella Bering Liisberg, "Tidsskrift for Jordemodre", No. 3, 1989.

103 women who gave birth at Gentofte county hospital in 1988,  chose reflexology as an alternative to both pain killing drugs and to labour stimulating and inducing drugs.

Of sixty-eight women who chose reflexology with no analgesic drugs:

* sixty one( 89.71%) stated that reflexology had helped reduce pain (4 also required pain medication)

* six (8.82%) felt no effect, and,

* one had increased pain in spite of reflexology treatment.

Of forty-nine women who chose reflexology to stimulate labour:

* twenty-four gave birth without additional drug treatment.

Fourteen women who were candidates for surgical

delivery, received reflexology treatment between 30 and 60 minutes of birth:

* Eleven (78.57%) were then able to discharge the placenta.

* The other three had it surgically removed.

All participants, except one, found the reflexology treatments extremely pleasant.

THE EFFECTS OF REFLEXOLOGY ON LABOUR OUTCOME

By Dr. Gowri Motha and Dr. Jane McGrath, Forest Gate, London

Completed the set course of ten treatments

 Thirty-seven pregnant women, received free reflexology.

* The effects of reflexology on labour outcomes were perceived as outstanding.

Some had labour times of only 2 hours, some 3 hours. The 20 - 25 year olds had an average time of First stage labor of 5 or 6 hours. The 26 - 30 year olds seemed to have the longest labors. In total, the average first stage was 5 hours, second stage 16 minutes, and third stage 7 minutes. This is compared to textbook figures of 16 to 24 hours' first stage, and, 1 to 2 hour's second stage.

FOOT REFLEXO-THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT FOR 50 CASES OF GYNAECOLOGICAL DISEASES

By Hui Song, Senior Doctor, Nanjing Obstetrical and Gynecological Hospital

Treated with foot reflexotherapy on each or every other day, 10 sessions = one course of treatment. Duration of therapy ranged from 10 sessions to two years.

Fifty patients, aged 20 to 51 years, diagnosed with gynecological diseases including dysmenorrhea, hysteromyoma, pelvic inflammation, cyst and mass, endometriosis, menstrual disorder, infertility and chocolate cyst. Results:

* Forty-two (84%) patients, the symptoms completely disappeared - normal menstruation with no dysmenorrhea.

* For the remaining 8 patients (16%) symptoms had almost completely disappeared.

EXPERIENCE IN 10 CASES OF DYSMENSTRUATION TREATED WITH FOOT REFLEXOLOGY

By Wu Zhixing, Department of Foot Reflexology, Hangzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital

Treatment sessions ranged from 5 to 10 minutes, and did not include whole foot massage, but, targeted specific reflex areas for pain relief.

Ten patients (17 - 26 years old, mean age: 21 years) were observed to study the effect of foot reflexo-therapy on dysmenstruation (painful menstruation).

Three of the patients had tried western or Chinese therapies without significant effect. 

* It was concluded that foot reflexo-therapy achieved analgesic effect very quickly.

FOOT REFLEXOLOGY IN THE TREATMENT OF HYPOGALACTIA (Deficiency of Milk Secretion)

By Zhang Jie, Department of Massage, The Second Hospital of the Tianjin Traditional Chinese Medical College, and Zhao Tianjun, Hospital affiliated to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Institute, Tianjin, China.

Ten cases of hypogalactia were treated with foot reflexology successfully. Compared with routine therapies the authors asserted: that Foot Reflexology:

* provided abundant and stable sources of milk, that

* enhanced both mother and babies immune function,

* has rapid effect and needs less time, and,

* avoids the intake of drugs, which may be absorbed by the baby through the breast milk.

FOOT REFLEXOLOGY IN THE TREATMENT OF HYPERMENORRHEA (Excessive uterine bleeding): REPORT OF 28 CASES

By Wu Zhixing, Hangzhou Traditional Medical Hospital, Zhejiang, China

Between 15 and 25 treatments were done

 This is a report on the effectiveness of treating 28 patients with hypermenorrhea by using foot reflexo-therapy (FRT).

* For twenty-three (82.2%) of the patients the FRT was significantly effective, the symptoms were relieved and there was no recurrence during the observation.

* For the remaining 5 (17.8%) patients the FRT was effective, symptoms were relieved, but continued treatment was necessary for permanent effect.

TREATMENT OF HYSTEROMYOMA (benign tumor developed from the proliferating uterine smooth muscle) WITH FOOT REFLEXOLOGY: REPORT OF 7 CASES

By Wang Yuying and Liu Yong, Chuncheng People's Hospital, and, chin Zidan, Jilin Traditional Medical College, Changchun, Jilin

The FRT treatment lasted from 1 - 3 months, until the tumours and symptoms disappeared, and then self-massage was continued as an after treatment.

Seven women diagnosed with hysteromyoma, confirmed by B-mode ultrasonography and endoscopy examination, were treated with foot reflexo-therapy (FRT). There were five cases of leiomyoma uteri, one case of subserous myoma, and one case of submucous myoma. All patients had a single tumour, the size ranged from 3cm. to 7 cm.

* It is concluded that foot reflexo-therapy is a cheap, safe, and surprisingly effective first choice in treatment of hysteromyoma.

TREATMENT OF CHLOASMA (hyper skin pigmentation) WITH COMBINED FOOT AND FACIAL MASSAGE: REPORT OF 12 CASES

By Gao Zechuan, Hospital of Beijing Linguistic College.

10 - 30 sessions of therapy, a combination of foot and facial massage.

This paper reports on the treatment of twelve women (aged 25 - 40 years) whose history of chloasma  ranged from 1 to 12 years. After 10 - 30 sessions of therapy, a combination of foot and facial massage: 

* 8 women (66.7%) the lesion nearly completely disappeared and the skin returned to normal.

* In three other women (25%) the pigment lightened with nearly normal central area, but a still discernable contour,

* in the remaining case (8.3%) there was no change.