Many question what is the benefit of being a member of an association, the benefit of being a RiEN member?
Today we will prove to you that there exists the benefit of acquireing knowledge.
Knowledge is out there, it is being networked, the "other" question today is "Are you taking advantage of it?".
If you are not RiEN (a member through your national association), then what are you?
Now back to our question.
This question has been asked many many times in the past, and it will definetely be asked over and over again in the future.
We as the RiEN, would like to add to the exisitng available information two interesting
examples of scientists and physicians requesting this "Reflexology Diagnosis".
The first one was presented by Leila Eriksen (RiEN research group) during our RiEN
AGM in 2008 (Paris May 10th). She spoke to us about the "Exceptional case history
registry" by NIFAB and NAFKAM and here.
Nifab.no is NAFKAMs (Norway’s National Research Center in Complementary and Alternative Medicine) website for providing the Norwegian population with evidence-based information about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
On page 12 of the documents Leila provided us, you can read
The Reflexologists record should contain:
(3rd bullet) Description/evaluation of the client and the clients disease/problems (a reflexological diagnose)
For more information on this, please contact Leila here
http://www.leilaeriksen.dk/da-DK/Velkommen/Engelsk-tekst.aspx
Secondly, having personally attended The First International Symposium on Reflexology and Cancer (ISRAC 2008) Israel Oct. 29th to Oct. 31st 2008. we remember very well one of the exceptional presentations by Dr. Bibiana Carrasco Domínguez.
You can read her presentation titled Treating Children and Adolescents With Cancer in the Hospital Environment here.
Dr. Carrasco towards the end of her presentation said, "We inform the physicians and nurses of annything important we find (in the feet during their reflexology application). In some cases we found pain on a reflex where there was no correspondance to body pain or site of tumor. Upon describing these finbding to the physicians they explained to us that this "area" is where they suspect metatstasis. In other cases a decrease of felt pain in the reflex zone of the liver coincided with an improvement of Liver enzyme tests. With time, the physicians listen with an increasing interest to the information we provide them with."
It is not our intention to answer this question, rather it is to stimulate research into this question.
We hope we have helped.
As a side note.
It is against the law around the world and against Reflexology Associations constitutions for a Reflexologist to proceed to an action of diagnosis.
For those who flert with idea, bare in mind that if ever it was proven possible for this to happen, Reflexology would then be considered medicine and our legal status would change. Not necessarily to the better.
Carefull what you wish for, it might happen!
One example of trying to answer this question we can find in 1996, here by William T. Jarvis, Ph.D.
Later on in 2003, was published an interesting article examining again this potential of Reflexology found here.
Correlation study between conventional medical diagnosis and the diagnosis by reflexology (non conventional)
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Reflexology is a non-conventional method for diagnosis and treatment of physical and medical problems by touching or applying pressure on certain areas on the foot surface. The reflexology method is based on the presumption that all body organs and various systems are represented on the foot surface.
AIM:
The purpose of this study was to test the reliability and validity of the reflexological diagnosis method.
METHODS:
Eighty patients from various clinics and departments in the Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, were examined twice by two different reflexologists. The diagnostics that resulted from these examinations were compared with the conventional medical diagnostics of the same patients. In addition, the level of correlation between the two reflexological examinations was tested.
RESULTS:
Out of 18 body systems in 6 a statistically significant correlation was found between the conventional medical diagnosis and the two reflexological examinations. In 4 body systems, there was a statistically significant correlation between the conventional medical diagnosis and one out of the two reflexological examinations. The systems in which correlation was found are characterized by having a defined anatomic region. The examination of the significance of the diagnoses regarding the components of the body systems resulted in statistical significance in only 4 out of the 32 components. Between the two reflexological examinations, a statistically significant correlation was found in 14 out of the 18 body systems, and in only 15 out of the 32 system components.
CONCLUSION:
The reflexology method has the ability to diagnose (reliable and valid) at a systematic level only, and this is applicable only to those body systems that represent organs and regions with an exact anatomic location.
CONCLUSION:
Despite certain limitations to the data provided by this study, the results do not suggest that reflexology techniques are a valid method of diagnosis.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11068346
Despite certain limitations to the data provided by this study, the results do not suggest that reflexology techniques are a valid method of diagnosis.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11068346
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/6109872/the-physiological-basis-of-reflexology-and-its-use-as-a-expectancy
The physiological basis of reflexology and its use as a ... - Expectancy
One in Hebrew also [Correlation study between conventional medical diagnosis and the diagnosis by reflexology (non conventional)] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14518162
Written By Spiros Dimitrakoulas Reflexologist RiEN Board
