Reflexology
There are many researches to be found on the health effects of reflexology.
The following examples of the impact of reflexology could be concluded from a review that was written by Kunz and Kunz (2008) where they looked into 168 different research studies and abstracts from around the world:
Better blood circulation in kidneys and intestines
Positive effects in the kidney functioning and dialysis patients
Blood pressure was decreased and lowered anxiety
Pain reduction in several conditions e.g. peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, kidney stones, osteoarthritis
Help with migraine/tension headaches
Reduce fatigue
Promote digestion
Increase blood flow to lungs, liver, stomach, pancreas, kidney, and small intestines
Reducing postoperative symptoms
Improve symptoms of sinusitis
Brendstrup, E & Launse, L. (1997). Headache and Reflexological Treatment. The Council Concerning Alternative Treatment, The National Board of Health, Denmark.
Choudhary, S., Kumar, G., & Singh, K. (Spring 2006). Reflexology reduces the requirement and quantity of pain killers after general surgery. Reflexology Across America. Retrieved from Reflexology Association of America website.
Choudhary, S. & Singh, T. (n.d.). Efficacy of reflexology in prevention of post-operative nausea vomiting. Retrieved from Reflexology Association of America website.
Dalal K, Maran VB, Pandey RM, Tripathi M. (2014). Determination of efficacy of reflexology in managing patients with diabetic neuropathy: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014:84303
Ebadi A, Kavei P, Moradian ST, Saeid Y. (2015). The effect of foot reflexology on physiologic parameters and mechanical ventilation weaning time in patients undergoing open-heart surgery: A clinical trial study. Complement Ther Clin Pract., 21(3):188-92.
Ernst, E., Posadzki, P., & Lee, M. (2011). Reflexology: An update of a systematic review of randomised clinical trials. Maturitas 68, 116-120.
Gordon, J., Alder, E., Matthews-Smith, G., Hendry, I., & Wilson, D.(November 2010). The effectiveness of reflexology as an adjunct to treatment in childhood idiopathic constipation: A single line randomised controlled trial (The SOCC Project). Paper presented by Amy Kreydin at the Reflexology Associaton of Canada Conference, Winnipeg, British Columbia.
Healey, D, et al. (2002). Nasal Irrigation for the Alleviation of Sinonasal Symptoms. Presented Sept 25 at the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
Frankel, B.S.M. (1997). The effect of reflexology on baroreceptor reflex sensitivity, blood pressure and sinus arrhythmia, Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 5, 80-84.
Hodgson, H. (2000). Does reflexology impact on cancer patients' quality of life?" Nursing Standard, 14(31), 33-38.
Hudson BF, Davidson J, Whiteley MS. (2015). The impact of hand reflexology on pain, anxiety and satisfaction during minimally invasive surgery under local anaesthetic: A randomised controlled trial. Int J Nurs Stud. S0020-7489(15)00231-X
Kim, J-I., Lee, M., Kang, J., Choi, D., & Ernst, E. (2010). Reflexology for the symptomatic treatment of breast cancer: A systematic review. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 9. 326-330. doi: 10.1177/1534735410387423.
Kim M.S. et al. (2001). Effects of hand massage on anxiety in cataract surgery using local anesthesia. J Cataract Refract Surg, 27(6):884-90.
Koç T., Gözen D. (2015). The Effect of Foot Reflexology on Acute Pain in Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Worldviews Evid Based Nurs. Jul 28. [Epub ahead of print]
Kunz, B. & Kunz, K. (2008). Evidence-Based Reflexology for Health Professionals and Researchers: The Reflexology Research Series.
Manzanares, J. (September 2007). The science behind reflexology deposits. Paper presented at the International Council of Reflexologists, Anaheim, California. Retrieved from Reflexology Association of America website.
McCullough JE, Liddle SD, Sinclair M, Close C, Hughes CM. (2014). The physiological and biochemical outcomes associated with a reflexology treatment: a systematic review. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.2014:502123.
Milligan, M. et al. (2002). Int J. Oalliat Nurs, 8(10), 489-96.
Nazari F, Shahreza MS, Shaygannejad V, Valiani M. (2015). Comparing the effects of reflexology and relaxation on fatigue in women with multiple sclerosis. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 20(2):200-4.
Piquemal, M. (September 2005). Global effect of reflexology on blood flow. Paper presented at the International Council of Reflexologists, Amsterdam and summarized by Christine Issel for the ICR Newsletter (Vol. 15, No. 1, March 2006, pp 18-19), reprinted at the Reflexology Association of America website.
Rahbar, M., Wyatt, G., Sikorskii, A., Victorson, D., & Ardjomand-Hessabi, M. (2011, in press). Coordination and management of multisite complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies: Experience from a multisite reflexology intervention trial, Contemporary Clinical Trials. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2011.05.015.
Sikorskii, A., Wyatt, G., Victorson, D., Faulkner, G., & Rahbar, M. (2009). Methodological issues in trials of complementary and alternative medicine interventions, Nursing Research 58(6), 444-451.
Song HJ, Choi SM, Seo HJ, Lee H, Son H, Lee S. (2015). Self-administered foot reflexology for the management of chronic health conditions: a systematic review. J Altern Complement Med., 21(2),69-76.
Stephenson, N.L. et al. (2000). The effects of foot reflexology on anxiety and pain in patients with breast and lung cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum, 27(1), 67-72.
Sudmeier, I., et al. (1999). Anderund der nierendurchblutung durch organassozilerte reflexzontherapie am fuss gemussen mit farbkodierter Doppler-sonograhpie. Universitatsklinik fur Innere Medizin, Inssbruk, Austria. Forsch Komplementarmed, 6(3), 129-34.
Testa, G.W. (2000). A study on the effects of reflexology on migraine headaches. Accessed on May 24, 2007.
Ying, Ma. (1998). Clinical observation demonstrated the influence upon arterial blood flow in the lower limbs of 20 cases with type II diabetes mellitus treated by foot reflexology. China Reflexology Symposium Report, China Reflexology Association, Beijing, 97-99.
Weil, A. (January, 2002). The Saline Solution? Self Healing, p 2.
Williamson et al (2002). Randomised controlled trial of reflexology for menopausal symptoms. BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 109 (9) p 1050-1055.
Wyatt, G., Sikorskii, A., Bush, R., & Mukherjee, R. (2010). Team science of nursing, engineering, statistics, and practitioner in the development of a robotic reflexology device, Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology, 8(1),14-19. doi: 10.2310/7200.2009.0017
Wyatt, G., Sikorskii, A., Rahbar, M., Victorson, D., & Adams, L. (2010). Intervention Fidelity: Aspects
of complementary and alternative medicine research, Cancer Nursing, 33(5), 331-342. doi: 10.1097/NCC.0b013e3181d0b4b7
Yadav V, Bever C Jr, Bowen J, Bowling A, Weinstock-Guttman B, Cameron M, Bourdette D, Gronseth GS, Narayanaswami P. (2014). Summary of evidence-based guideline: complementary and alternative medicine in multiple sclerosis: report of the guideline development subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology. 82(12):1083-92.