PMS and Reflexology

I believe PMS is the condition where reflexology has enjoyed the most success. Through my own experience, I have seen at least some and in many cases all of the symptoms associated with PMS alleviated through a course of 4-6 treatments.

Here's a theory on how reflexology works. There are thousands of nerve endings close to the skin's surface on the feet and hands. It is believed that applying pressure on various reflex points stimulates nerve impulses to the brain, quick-starting or invigorating "lines of communication" between the brain and various parts of the body. One good analogy is that a reflexology treatment is like rebooting a computer – the body’s nervous system is being ‘rebooted’.

The endocrine system (i.e. hormones) is closely related to the nervous system. Any improvement in the functioning of the nervous system will have a beneficial effect on hormonal balance in the body - thus helping to rectify hormonal imbalances which occur pre-menstrually.

Research

Research undertaken in 1993 and published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology showed reflexology to reduce women's PMS symptoms by 46% during eight weeks of treatment. This was a controlled clinical study of 38 women with PMS, half of whom received reflexology and the other half receiving a placebo "sham" reflexology.

Oleson, Terry and Flocco, William, "Randomized Controlled Study of Premenstrual Symptoms Treated with Ear, Hand, and Foot Reflexology," Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1993;82(6): 906-11