Arthritis and Reflexology

Reflexology can often help alleviate the symptoms of arthritis. It works well as pain relief, lessening the need for conventional medication. It has also, in my experience, lessened the frequency and severity of arthritis pain.

Cortisone is the commonly used medication for relief of arthritis pain. It has been suggested that reflexology can help reduce the dependence on cortisone medication by stimulating the reflex areas for the adrenal glands. Applying pressure on certain reflex areas stimulates the body to produce natural cortisone.

Although reflexology cannot claim to cure arthritis, it can help reduce the discomfort. I would recommend an initial course of 6 weekly treatments followed by regular monthly or bi-monthly treatments for maintenance. No matter what the type of arthritis, most people can obtain some relief through these regular visits.

Gout

Reflexology is also helpful for people suffering from gout. Regular treatments will help to restore balance to the kidneys (the organs responsible for getting rid of uric acid) and break up deposits of uric acid crystals that have become concentrated in the feet.

Research

One study was undertaken in China on 15 patients suffering from gout, aged 52 to 82 (average age 68), 12 males and 3 females. Treatment consisted of one 50-minute foot reflexo-therapy treatment followed by six to fourteen 30-minute treatments, as required. The treatment was effective for all 15 patients, based on the criteria: obvious alleviation of arthralgia; capability of walking immediately after treatment; disappearance of joint swelling and normalization of the blood uric acid concentration in blood exam. Pain was alleviated for all 15 patients after their first treatment.

Source: OBSERVATION ON THE THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF 15 CASES OF GOUT TREATED WITH FOOT REFLEXOTHERAPY
By Wu Zhensheng, The Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiading District, Shanghai