I came across a couple of interesting articles with the title: Reflexology ‘improves heart efficiency’, claim researchers. These researchers have found that reflexology can make the heart pump more efficiently thinking they have found the first scientific evidence that reflexology does have a physical effect on the body.
Reflexologists understand this in both theory and through personal experiences of witnessing changes in our clients. Most Reflexology practitioners do not have the equipment and scientific background to conduct a study like the Team at Stirling university.
Reflexology have long believed that the body is mapped out on the feet and by using certain massaging techniques on particular points, a reflexologist can improve circulation and blood flow in the body. Stirling University was interested enough in reflexology claims like this to conduct a study.
Jenny Jones, PhD researcher from Stirling University and Professor Steve Leslie a cardiologist conducted the study. They tested the upper left ball of the sole of the foot, where the reflex to the heart is located in reflexology. They found that when patients underwent the treatment there was a recorded change in heart function. They also found that if the treatment was conducted in another part of the foot, there was no change.
“In our experiment with healthy people there was an inexplicable change in the heart function which occurred only when the heart reflex point area was massaged. We have no idea what caused this change, so we have applied for funding to investigate this further.”
It is so exciting to be a Reflexologist today since Reflexology is getting more recognition from the scientific community which are lending great findings into this realm of natural healing.
Here are the links to the Articles I came across:
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-reflexology-affects-hearts-non-cardiology-patients.html
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/reflexology-treatment-affects-heart-functions.18146487
