Alternative Medicine: Reflexology

[KeyserXSoze]

For sciatica good osteopaths and chiropractors can work wonders - they can manipulate to help and give good exercise to you. Yoga is also good, and proper massage and reflexology.

But as with all complementary therapies, make sure whoever you go to has proper accreditation (there will be a national association or some such that can provide a list of people who have training) ...

Current laws in this area are very lax - which means in many country anyone can set up as a healer with no or little training at all. So always check they have full training. Let the buyer beware!

Keyser 'I know a few reflexology moves myself' Soze

 

[inkedmagiclady]

Keyser 'I know a few reflexology moves myself' Soze

*Sits in chair, removes shoes and (clean and brand new) socks, presents nice, soft , cute feet.*

Ok I'm ready.

 

[KeyserXSoze]

*Sits in chair, removes shoes and (clean and brand new) socks, presents nice, soft , cute feet.*

Ok I'm ready.

I hope you are not easily tickled. My hands are very cold.:eek!!!!:

Seriously, though, real reflexology can be a most relaxing, pleasurable experience. Whether it heals or not I could not say.

 

[ramonmercado]

UK Complementary Healthcare Regulator Opens Register To Reflexologists
26 Aug 2009

The Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) opens its register on Monday 24th August 2009 to reflexology practitioners which means that members of the public will be able to choose their registered reflexologist in the knowledge that they meet national standards of conduct and competence.

Launched with government backing through the Department of Health who recently said, "if patients choose to use complementary or alternative therapy, the Government's advice is to choose a practitioner registered with a reputable voluntary registration body such as the CNHC", the register opened in January 2009. Members of the public who use complementary healthcare will for the first time be able to verify that their reflexologist is registered with the first UK wide regulator.

The voluntary register will open over the course of this year to a wide range of complementary and natural healthcare practitioners. Reflexology is the fourth discipline for which the register has opened this year, joining massage therapy, nutritional therapy and aromatherapy.

By registering with the CNHC, reflexology practitioners will be seen as meeting the 'gold standard' within their field and will be entitled to display the quality mark which is given to practitioners upon registration.

Maggie Dunn, CEO of the CNHC explained: "We are delighted that CNHC is today opening its register to reflexology practitioners. Members of the public who use or are interested in using reflexology will be able to check whether the practitioner they're seeing is registered with the CNHC."

Continues Maggie, "Public safety is paramount and it is vital that practitioners meet the CNHC minimum standards of qualification and/or experience and in addition, they are signed up to a rigorous code of conduct. Not only will people looking for a reflexologist have peace of mind but practitioners too will benefit through increased public confidence"

Reflexology is the physical act of applying pressure to the feet and hands using a variety of hand techniques. It is based on a system of zones and reflex areas that reflect an image of the body on the feet and hands. Reflexology practitioners believe that such work may bring about a physical change to the body, or improve general health.

Throughout the rest of 2009, the Register will be opened to further disciplines, as they become ready and wish to register, and include: Yoga therapy, Shiatsu, Alexander technique, Bowen technique, Cranial therapy, Naturopathy and Reiki.

For further information about registration, visit http://www.cnhc.org.uk

Notes

The Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) was established as a voluntary register in April 2008 with the purpose of protecting the public by means of a voluntary register for complementary and natural healthcare practitioners.

The CNHC's function is:

To establish and maintain a voluntary register of complementary healthcare practitioners in the UK who meet its standards of competence and practice
To make the Register of practitioners available to the general public and to educate them about the CNHC quality mark as a quality standard
To operate a robust process for handling complaints about registered practitioners
To work with professional bodies in the complementary healthcare field to further develop and improve standards of professional practice
The Register has been launched with government backing through the Department of Health.

Source
Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council
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Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/161819.php

 

[ramonmercado]

No Convincing Evidence Reflexology Works, Australia
07 Sep 2009

An extensive review has failed to find good evidence which convincingly demonstrates reflexology (a practice involving applying pressure to, or, massaging feet) is an effective treatment for any medical conditions.

Details of the review, conducted by Dr Edzard Ernst, Director of Complementary Medicine at the Peninsula Medical School in the United Kingdom, were published in the Medical Journal of Australia.

"There is little doubt that a foot massage is pleasantly relaxing, however specific medical claims should always be supported by sound evidence," Dr Ernst said.

"In the case of reflexology, this unfortunately does not appear to be the case."

Dr Ernst searched six electronic databases and identified 217 trials related to reflexology.

After the methodological quality of the trials was assessed by two independent reviewers, all but 18 randomised controlled trials were excluded from the review.

Of these 18 remaining studies, 12 failed to show convincingly that reflexology is an effective treatment, five suggested positive effects and the direction of one result was unclear.

"The methodological quality was often poor, and sample sizes were generally low," Dr Ernst said.

"Most higher-quality trials did not generate positive findings."

Dr Ernst warned patients against using reflexology as a diagnostic tool.

"Most proponents of reflexology would argue that this method is free of risks," he said.

"However, if used as a diagnostic tool, it will generate false-positive and false-negative diagnoses. Moreover, if employed as an alternative therapy to treat serious conditions, reflexology can be life-threatening."

The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.

Source
Australian Medical Association
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http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163145.php