Will applying pressure to certain points on your hands and feet help cure ailments such as chronic pain? Good question.
The practice of applying pressure to your hands and feet is known as reflexology and was introduced as an alternative method of treatment in the US in 1913.
According to reflexologists, your body can be divided into 10 zones, with your sections of your feet sharing the same zones as different parts of your body. Stimulating those zones by applying pressure on certain points on your feet could help ailments you may have in those particular zones.
Those who have used reflexology have reported many benefits including increased relaxation, a reduction in chronic pain and improved mental health.
However, random clinical trials looking at the benefits of reflexology have come up with mixed results. In general, the studies show that reflexology is not better than “random chance” at healing ailments, even though patients report benefits.
It is recommended you not try reflexology if you have healing foot fractures, unhealed wounds on your feet, or active gout since it could aggravate these conditions.
The best way to find out about this alternative method of treatment is to try it for yourself and see if it works for you; however, beware of practitioners who try to tell you that it will help cure cancer or extend the length of your leg, as there is no scientific proof that reflexology can help in such areas.
At the very least, reflexology can provide a really nice foot massage!
