INCREASED RENAL BLOOD FLOW & KIDNEY FUNCTION

Sudmeier l et al. Changes of renal blood flow during organ-associated foot reflexology measured by colour Doppler sonography.

Forschende Komplementaermedizin 6(3): 129-34 Jun 1999

Researchers in Austria studied the effects of reflexology upon renal blood flow. 32 healthy young adults (17 women, 15 men) participated in a placebo-controlled, double blind trial.

The treatment group received reflexology at zones corresponding to the right kidney.

The placebo group received treatment on other foot zones.

The blood flow of 3 vessels of the right kidney was measured then monitored prior to, during and following reflexology. Systolic peak velocity and end diastolic peak velocity were measured and resistive index calculated.

The two groups showed significant differences:

* a highly significant decrease showed during and following reflexology. There were no differences between men and women nor smokers and non-smokers.

These results are consistent with the hypothesis that reflexology is effective in influencing renal blood flow and confirms the results of independent research that reflexology can significantly help kidney function

URETERIC COLIC AND REFLEXOLOGY THERAPY

By Baekgard, Niels and Vibe-Hansen, Henrik. Ugeskr. Laeg. 1981, 143, 676-678.

To assess the effects of reflexology therapy on patients with acute ureteric colic (pain caused by kidney stones). The material comprised 30 patients distributed equally in a therapeutic group and two control groups.

* Relief of pain could be demonstrated after reflexology therapy. Compared to an ordinary analgesic, BaralginO, relief of pain was more rapid but had a shorter duration.

REFLEXOLOGY RESEARCH INTO ENURESIS (NOCTURNAL/BEDWETTING) 1 & 2

By Krogsgaard, Dorte; Poulsen, Edith; Kyhl, Torben; Bo Lund, Jens; and, Eriksen, Leila.

Thirty-minute treatments were administered twice weekly for four weeks (with a minimum of 2 days between treatments), followed by weekly treatments for seven weeks.

Twenty children, aged 5 - 10 years, who had a minimum of 3 night time bed wettings per week were treated with foot reflexology alone. Parents filled out an observation questionnaire during treatment and for one month following treatment. Of the twenty, eighteen completed treatment.

* A decrease in the night time amount of urine was reported by 43.8% of the parents, and 23.5% moved from the category of "soaking wet" to "a little wet".

* Upon conclusion of treatment, one boy was completely dry.

For one month after the conclusion of treatment the effects were maintained, and one boy and one girl were completely dry, also one boy was almost dry. Some parents reported a change in their child's sleep pattern:- now the child would awaken upon urination, which they previously had not done.

FOOT REFLEXOLOGY AS AN ACCESSORY TREATMENT AFTER EXTERNAL LITHOTRITY, A CLINICAL OBSERVATION OF 46 CASES (Kidney Stones)

By Ying Xiaojian and Chen Yihua, People's Hospital of Lishui City, Zhejiang Province

Treated with 45 minute foot reflexology (FR) sessions

Forty-six patients suffering from renal stones and ureter stones (kidney stones), from 6 mm to 10 mm in diameter, comprised the treatment group, and, were compared to 50 patients with equivalent size stones who were not treated with reflexology, in a control group. B-scan and X-ray examinations were used for diagnosis.

Foot reflexology was applied on the second day after the stones were broken with a lithoclast. The commencement and completion of excretion of stones was charted. Charts display an

* expedited commencement and completion of the excretion process for the  treatment group.

It is proposed that foot reflexology accelerates renal secretion and fluent micturition to help the excretion of fragmental stones.

BEDWETTING

A 1990 Australian study reported in the International Council of Reflexologists Newsletter, February 1994.

Reflexology treatment: a minimum of two sessions per week. The minimum number of sessions was ten, and the maximum was twenty.

Forty-two patients, aged 4 - 12 years, were given treatments.

* No change was noticed until after the tenth treatment.

* The result showed that by the twentieth session there was either less urination in urine volume or less incidence of wetting in 29 (70%) of the cases.