According to The Mail reflexology works better if performed on the face than it does on the feet because the face is nearer to the brain
The brain is the control centre of the body and the face is much closer to it than the feet are, so face reflexology can work faster than foot reflexology,’ says leading facial reflexology practitioner Nikke Ariff.
Some would say that the Mail when used as toliet paper is more effective than when read, since what is written is then in contact with a similar substance.
A brief interjection.
I second that emotion regarding the DM.
As for reflexology, feet or face, I love it. Well, let's call it a foot massage instead. Yep, Especially the feet. In fact I trade foot rubs with my daughters. It is one of the most relaxing and stress relieving alternatives to alcohol that I know.
Just a minor clarification though. I do not believe that it can cure or prevent any physical illness. I do not believe that it can stop you smoking. I do not believe...well, that it does anything than potentially release serotonin and dopamine. Pebble, be interesting to know if such a direct cause/effect has been shown in relation to reflexology/foot massage.
Feels great, but anyone reading this, don't be fooled by the evidence free claims of magical properties of the feet. Other bits of the body feel good when rubbed. Doesn't mean there is anything mystical going on!!
I always understood that Foot reflexology was based on the body being mapped onto the feet so that a therapist could not only diagnose body problems from probing the feet but also treat them too. I have seen this on TV in the past though I don't think I could come up with a reference.
however, if this is the case, then moving from feet to face has to be BS so far as I can see unless their are claims that they can manipulate the cranial nerves by face massage treating other parts that cannot be reached from the feet.
Of course it is obviously bogus as a treatment though if people like a foot or face massage that is fine but it ought to be described as such without silly health claims.
Originally Posted by Dubious Dick
Able to find remarkably little:
Negative:
Effect of Massage on Serum Level of -Endorphin and
β-Lipotropin in Healthy AdultsJANE A. DAY,
RICHARD R. MASON,andSARAH E. CHESROWN
We conducted this study to evaluate the effect of massage on the levels of
endogenous opiates in peripheral venous blood. The results were based on
findings from 21 healthy, adult volunteers. After separation by sex, the volunteers
were assigned randomly to either the Control Group (n = 11) that rested but
received no massage or the Experimental Group (n = 10) that received a 30-
minute complete back massage. We found no significant pretreatment or posttreatment
difference in bloodβ-endorphin or β-lipotropin levels between the
groups. The results indicate that massage did not change significantly the
measured serum levels of β-endorphin or β-lipotropin in our healthy subjects
without pain. A follow-up study using patients experiencing acute or chronic back
pain is recommended. Massage is used routinely in the treatment of such patients,
and endogenous opiates are recognized as a possible mechanism for pain relief.
Key Words: Endorphins, Massage, Pain.
Positive (just about):
Gen Pharmacol. 1989;20(4):487-9.
Increase of plasma beta-endorphins in connective tissue massage.
Kaada B, Torsteinbø O.
Laboratory of Clinical Neurophysiology, Rogaland Central Hospital, Stavanger, Norway.
Abstract
1. Connective tissue massage produces relief of pain and increases microcirculation in a number of vascular beds. 2. The concentration of plasma beta-endorphins has been measured in 12 volunteers before and 5, 30 and 90 min after a 30-min session of connective tissue massage. 3. There was a moderate mean increase of 16% in beta-endorphin levels from 20.0 to 23.2 pg/0.1 ml (P = 0.025), lasting for about 1 hr with a maximum in the test 5 min after termination of the massage. 4. It is assumed that the release of beta-endorphins is linked with the pain relief and feeling of warmth and well-being associated with the treatment.
Think its all rubbish:
Eur J Appl Physiol. 2007 Jul;100(4):371-82. Epub 2007 May 5.
The effect of physical therapy on beta-endorphin levels.
Bender T, Nagy G, Barna I, Tefner I, Kádas E, Géher P.
Polyclinic of Hospitaller Brothers of St. John of God, Budapest, Hungary. bender@mail.datanet.hu
Abstract
Beta-endorphin (betaE) is an important reliever of pain. Various stressors and certain modalities of physiotherapy are potent inducers of the release of endogenous betaE to the blood stream. Most forms of exercise also increase blood betaE level, especially when exercise intensity involves reaching the anaerobic threshold and is associated with the elevation of serum lactate level. Age, gender, and mental activity during exercise also may influence betaE levels. Publications on the potential stimulating effect of manual therapy and massage on betaE release are controversial. Sauna, mud bath, and thermal water increase betaE levels through conveying heat to the tissues. The majority of the techniques for electrical stimulation have a similar effect, which is exerted both centrally and--to a lesser extent--peripherally. However, the parameters of electrotherapy have not yet been standardised. The efficacy of analgesia and the improvement of general well-being do not necessarily correlate with betaE level. Although in addition to blood, increased brain and cerebrospinal fluid betaE levels are also associated with pain, the majority of studies have concerned blood betaE levels. In general, various modalities of physical therapy might influence endorphin levels in the serum or in the cerebrospinal fluid--this is usually manifested by elevation with potential mitigation of pain. However, a causal relationship between the elevation of blood, cerebrospinal fluid or brain betaE levels and the onset of the analgesic action cannot be demonstrated with certainty.
Although Edzard Ernst tested 3 reflexologists against 12 people with known conditions and they couldn't diagnose the conditions.
This is true of much CAM (just think of chiropractic) - making claims way beyond what the practice can actually achieve (if anything at all).
Many years ago I was given a reflexology foot manipulation by a girlfriend (didn't last), and I can tell you it is far from pleasant, and not a "foot rub". It's more like this: she presses into the soles of your feet with the tips of fingers and/or thumbs, searching all over until she finds a spot where you recoil in pain, and then she proceeds to concentrate on this painful spot, delving in deeply and grinding the offending spot in order to break up some imaginary crystals that are somehow connected to a region of the body or an inner organ which is supposedly malfunctioning (whether the crystals are a result of the malfunction or the cause of it, I don't recall). I put up with this maltreatment for a short while until I called it off. I had naively expected to be receiving a pleasurable foot rub, but this rudely woke me up to the sort of bs she was getting into. It was the first time I had heard of reflexology, and she was explaining what she thought she was doing only after she started torturing me, instead of pleasuring me, as I had been expecting... a disappointing end to what was initially a very pleasant acquaintance... and before you say it, this wasn't her breaking up with me... she just believed this shit she was being taught was real! I left her house two days later, and have never seen her again.
I tried editing my post to add the following, but it didn't save. After trying twice to do it that way, I'm having to post it as a separate post:
PS Could it be that the pain causes the release of opiate-analogues in the hormonal system, thus fooling the dupes into thinking something beneficial is happening? Obviously massage doesn't do this, as it is pleasurable (or at least not deliberately painful in the way this deep pointy manipulation is.)
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