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Reflexology

Scotty B

Critical Thinker
Scotty B
Joined
Jan 12, 2007
Messages
446
Hello all. Just signed up and this is my first post. I have a question that I could use some help with. I emailed the folks at Skeptics Guide and Skeptoid and Dr. Dunning suggested I go here. Anyway, here's a copy of the email:

I live in a small (pop. 4,000ish) town in Iowa. About two years ago a fitness center was built (the Chickasaw Wellness Complex, CWC), which I think is pretty good for a town of our size. I've got a membership and have thus far been satisfied. However a (cover) story this week in our local paper was about the new 'Reflexologist' now employed at the CWC. I have typed up and attached the article.
My issue is this: I would like to submit a letter to the editor refuting the article and exposing reflexology for what it is, pseudoscience. The reason I am emailing you then is that I need some help. I need some information and resources as well as talking points for my letter. Please help!

And here's the article:

What is Reflexology?

As part of the Lighten up Iowa Kick-off Celebration held at the Chickasaw Wellness Complex on Thursday, January 4, Chantal Papousek, a Lay Minister of Reflexology, introduced area residents to Reflexology.
According to information supplied by Chantal, Reflexology, or zone therapy, is the practice of stimulating points on the feet and hands, in the belief it will have a beneficial effect on some other parts of the body, or will improve a person’s general health – helping a body heal from acute and chronic conditions, help reduce pain, stress and the effects of stress on the body such as high blood pressure.
The most common form is foot reflexology. Practitioners believe the foot to be divided into a number of reflex zones corresponding to all parts of the body, and that applying pressure to tight areas of a person’s foot will stimulate the corresponding body part, thus causing it to begin healing itself.
After a medical history assessment, in a Reflexology treatment Chantal first conducts a “Thumb Walk”, pointing out tender areas of the bottom of a person’s feet. These areas are documented and treatment is focused on them.
A machine called “The Drummer” is then used on the bottom and top of the feet, similar to massage machines. The Drummer can stimulate areas deeper and more effectively than fingers.
Chantal graduated from the Modern Institute of Reflexology with a 4.0 grade point average and recently became certified as a Lay Minister of Reflexology.
She has been married for 14 years and has a 12-year-old son. The family resides in Fredericksburg.
Reflexology treatments can be arranged with Chantal at the Wellness Complex.
For more information, contact her at the wellness complex, 641-394-5433 or by e-mail at cwc@new-hampton.k12.ia.us.

Ok so that's it. Hope someone can help!

Thanks,
Scotty B
 
Wiki has some good info, as does Stephen Barrett,MD, of quackwatch.org.

quote from quackwatch:

"The Bottom Line
Reflexology is based on an absurd theory and has not been demonstrated to influence the course of any illness. Done gently, reflexology is a form of foot massage that may help people relax temporarily. Whether that is worth $35 to $100 per session or is more effective than ordinary (noncommercial) foot massage is a matter of individual choice. Claims that reflexology is effective for diagnosing or treating disease should be ignored. Such claims could lead to delay of necessary medical care or to unnecessary medical testing of people who are worried about reflexology findings."
 
i think it is so cute and quaint to lay out her credentials as being married with a son and having a 4.0 GPA. and good lord, if someone did believe that there might be something scientific to reflexology, i would sincerely hope that the "La Minister of Reflexology" would throw up some red flags to even them dimmest reader.
 
Isn't it amazing just how many woo therapies claim that all problems are down to a single cause:

Many Victorians believed that all medical problems stemmed from the nose.
Anton Mesmer said you weren't getting enough magnetism. That one's still goingstrong.
Quack 1930s therapists recommended radioactive radon-water for everything.
Chiropractic says they're due to problems with the spine.
Reiki blames everything on wrinkled energy fields.
Scientology relies on exorcising amnesiac alien spirits.
Urine therapists claim you're not taking the piss enough. :)

Real medicine doesn't feel the burning need to posit a single cause for every malady, yet its "non-holostic" approach seems to cure more people of more ailments than any of the above.
 
Look here, it has some good references, too.
http://www.skepdic.com/reflex.html

As for persuading people- good luck. You should try to get hold of Kurt Butler's book Lying for Fun and Profit. He describes a long push to get rational approaches to quackery into the mainstream.
 
I think The Skeptic's Dictionary should be required reading at school. My copy's more than a little dog-eared now.
 
If there's something wrong with your foot, how would reflexology treat it?
 
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