Google Website Translator Gadget_________ ATTENTION "Αγγλικά" is ENGLISH !!!!!

Πέμπτη 20 Νοεμβρίου 2014

Ομιλία: ΡΕΛΕΞΟΛΟΓΙΑ, Αυτά που γνωρίζω κι εκείνα που πιστεύω.

Για τους συναδέλφους στην Κρήτη 
Με μεγάλη χαρά και ενθουσιασμό έχω αποδεχτεί την πρόσκληση του Ι.Ι.Ε.Κ. MORFI να σας επισκεφτώ την Κυριακή 7 Δεκεμβρίου και να μιλήσω για την αγαπημένη μας μέθοδο, την Ρεφλεξολογία.
Κατά την διάρκεια της ομιλίας μου σκοπεύω:

- Να κάνω μία σύντομη αναδρομή στην πραγματική ιστορία της Ρεφλεξολογίας, την εξέλιξη της έως σήμερα (ενσωμάτωση της στην ιατρική, νομοθεσία, έρευνες, εκπαίδευση) στην Ελλάδα και σε όλο τον κόσμο, και να μοιραστώ μαζί σας, την πρόταση μου, για το εφικτό, ωφέλιμο (για τους επαγγελματίες και αποδέκτες της υπηρεσίας μας) μέλλον.
Οι πληροφορίες αυτής της ενότητας προκύπτουν από την πολυετή προσωπική ενασχόληση μου με τα δρώμενα γύρω από την Ρεφλεξολογία αλλά και της γνώσεις και εμπειρίες που έχω αποκομίσει ως μέλος του Δ.Σ. του Σωματείου Ελλήνων Ρεφλεξολόγων και ως ο τρέχων Πρόεδρος του RiEN.
- Θα μοιραστώ μαζί σας εμπνευσμένες νέες προσεγγίσεις τις μεθόδου μας τις οποίες αποκόμισα από το παγκόσμιο συνέδριο του ICR, στο οποίο ήμουν ομιλητής, αλλά και το πρόσφατο Ευρωπαϊκό συνέδριο του RiEN που πραγματοποιήθηκε στην Μαδέρα της Πορτογαλίας. Π.χ. Νεύρο Ρεφλεξολογία, Ορθοπεδική Ρεφλεξολογία, η σπονδυλική στήλη στην κνήμη, ήχοι και δονήσεις κατά την εφαρμογή της μεθόδου, έρευνες κ.α.
- Θα σας παρουσιάσω αποσπάσματα της μελλοντικής ομιλίας μου για το παγκόσμιο συνέδριο του ICR που θα πραγματοποιηθεί το 2015 στην Αγγλία. “Αφήστε στην άκρη τους ρεφλεξολογικούς χάρτες και την ενέργεια για λίγο, ας κοιτάξουμε λίγο την ανατομία των ποδιών και την φυσιολογία πίσω από αυτό που κάνουμε.”
- Εργαστήριο πρακτικής εξάσκησης

Θα χαρώ πολύ κατά την πρώτη μου επίσκεψη στο Ηράκλειο να γνωριστούμε και να ανταλλάξουμε απόψεις.
Με εκτίμηση,
Σπύρος Δημητράκουλας
Πρόεδρος του Δικτύου Ρεφλεξολογίας στην Ευρώπη (RiEN)
Εκπαιδευτής Ρεφλεξολογίας του Natural Health Science

Τρίτη 18 Νοεμβρίου 2014

Unfortunately Reflexology "only" got a C in breast cancer patients with quality of life and physical functioning outcomes!

Μία επισκόπηση ερευνών η οποία πραγματοποιήθηκε με το κίνητρο να δημιουργηθούν κλινικές οδηγίες για την χρήση ΣΕΘ από τους ασθενείς καρκίνου του μαστού, βαθμολόγησε την Ρεφλεξολογία με C στον τομέα βελτίωση της ποιότητας ζωής.
Τα αποτελέσματα δεν είναι καθόλου ενθαρρυντικά, είτε για εμάς, είτε για τον κόσμο των ερευνών.
Πως είναι δυνατόν τα καθημερινά θετικά αποτελέσματα της μεθόδου μας, η οποία απολαμβάνει καθημερινά όλο και μεγαλύτερη αποδοχή, να μην επαναλαμβάνονται στις κλινικές δοκιμές.
Που θα βρεθούν και άλλα εκατομμύρια για να γίνουν έρευνες, ποιος θα τις κάνει - αξιολογήσει? Το υπάρχον σύστημα "έρευνας" έχει αποτύχει.
Τελικά, τι είδους έρευνες θα πρέπει να κάνουμε, μήπως έρευνες των οποίων τα αποτελέσματα θα διαφωτίσουν τους επαγγελματίες?

Going through the supplementary data I was very disapointed to read in all cases that there is insufficient evidence, except for one case!
We got a C grade and the recommendation that "Reflexology can be considered for improving quality of life among breast cancer patients.
Once again, after so much effort and enthusiasm, after all the money spent, with so many difficulties in raising more needed money to conduct even more research, with the existing problems current research is being conducted and published, I question if we are on the right track.
How can it be that Reflexology is being utilized more and more by the public, but research does not reproduce the everyday Reflexologists results?
And what kind of research should we be involved in, maybe research that will enlighten Reflexologists themselves.
Oh well I guess it could have been worse.

Experts say more than 80 percent of breast cancer survivors in the United States rely on some form of complementary or integrative therapies such as vitamins, acupuncture, meditation, massage, and yoga.
Despite their widespread use, there has been little rigorous research to see if these practices are helpful or harmful.
To address this void, Dr. Heather Greenlee, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, developed a new set of clinical practice guidelines on the use of integrative therapies.
She presented her guidelines at a recent meeting of the Society for Integrative Oncology.
Greenlee and her colleagues reviewed nearly 5,000 articles published between 1990 and 2013. From this, researchers reviewed 203 separate randomized control trials of the various interventions.

http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/11/06/alternative-therapy-guidelines-issued-for-breast-cancer-survivors/77032.html

The new guidelines come from the Society for Integrative Oncology, researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, and the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center with colleagues at MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and other institutions in the United States and Canada. More than 80 different therapies were analyzed by the researchers.
Meditation, yoga, and relaxation with imagery were found to have the strongest evidence supporting their use. They received an "A" grade and are recommended for routine use for anxiety and other mood disorders common to breast cancer patients. The same practices received a "B" grade for reducing stress, depression, and fatigue, but are also endorsed for most patients with breast cancer.
Acupuncture received a "B" grade for controlling chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and can be recommended to most patients. More than 30 interventions, including some natural products and acupuncture for other conditions, had weaker evidence of benefit due to either small study sizes or conflicting study results, and received a "C" grade.
These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute Monograph (2014; doi:10.1093/jncimonographs/lgu041) and were presented at the 11th International Conference of the Society for Integrative Oncology in Houston, Texas.
A number of interventions did not have sufficient evidence to support specific recommendations. "This does not mean that they don't work, this means that we don't yet know if they work, in what form, or what dose is the most effective. The vast majority of therapies require further investigation through well-designed controlled clinical trials," said Greenlee.
http://www.oncologynurseadvisor.com/the-society-for-integrative-oncology-sio-and-co-researchers-issue-a-report-card-on-complementary-therapies-for-breast-cancer/article/383467/

Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Use of Integrative Therapies as Supportive Care in Patients Treated for Breast Cancer

http://jncimonographs.oxfordjournals.org/content/suppl/2014/09/22/lgu041.DC1


Κυριακή 16 Νοεμβρίου 2014

Take the Sting Out of Alternative Medicine Costs

Spotty insurance coverage means you'll often be stuck with the bill. Here's what you need to know
about the costs and benefits of four common natural-healing strategies.

A visit to a chiropractor, acupuncturist, or other nontraditional healer has become increasingly commonplace; more than a third of Americans use some form of complementary or alternative medicine, according to the National Institutes of Health. But even though a growing number of studies suggest that these treatments can be beneficial for many patients, insurers are still reluctant to cover all types of alternative medicine, often leaving you on the hook for the costs.

You may consider that money well spent, especially if you suffer from chronic pain. “Combined with traditional medicine, alternative therapies are important treatment tools,” says Dr. Marc Brodsky, medical director of the Center for Integrative Medicine and Wellness at Stamford Hospital in Stamford, Conn. These common approaches have research to back up their effectiveness. Still, they don’t work in every case. The key is figuring out when shouldering the cost pays and when it doesn’t.

The power of reflexology on children with special needs

I would like to share with you my reflexology therapy approach. My name is Lorraine Senior; I am a teacher with over twenty years’ experience and a qualified reflexologist. I would say that it is my extensive background of working with children with autism, ASD, neurological impairment, learning difficulties and complex health needs and their family’s combined with my experience as a qualified Reflexologist that helped me to create a simple but effective approach drawn from original reflexology theory and practice.
The approach uses non-invasive, safe and simple relaxation techniques involving the hand and foot delivered in a repetitive flowing routine that support the idea of Reflexology. The aim of the therapy is to induce relaxation, improve mood, relieve tension, and encourage social interaction, increase receptiveness and support individual well being. Providing reflexology therapy on a regular basis using FRT Approach has been seen to alleviate the stress and tension particularly in the moment and observation, reflection and evaluation by therapist and staff is ongoing with its continued and increasing use and development in school.
http://www.specialneedsjungle.com/the-power-of-reflexology-on-children-with-special-needs/

Reflexology Path Official Opening in Launceston, Tasmania

Enjoy these great photos of the official opening of The Reflexology Path in Launceston Tasmania. 

The Path was opened on the 24th Of October 2014 by Mayor Albert Van Zetten. 
Ivan Dean was Master of Ceremonies. Pamela Skeggs spoke about the benefits of reflexology for improved health and wellbeing. Gaye Webb and Eunice Campbell provided professional reflexology treatments to The Mayor of Launceston and to Councilor Robin McKendrick.

Photos supplied to us by Michele Bailey
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.735597926495046.1073741832.106263356095176&type=1





The 10 Stuff-Ups We All Make When Interpreting Research

http://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/10-stuff-ups-we-all-make-when-interpreting-research

Understanding Research

https://theconversation.com/au/topics/understanding-research

Ιαματικός τουρισμός στην Ελλάδα?

Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a teetotal vegetarian who practices yoga daily, has said he wants the world to make Ayurveda "a way of life" -- and in doing so expand India's share of the growing global market for holistic medicine.
Earlier this month he appointed India's first minister for Ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and homeopathy -- known as the AAYUSH ministry -- and has also called for an international yoga day.
"Call it whatever -— Ayurvedic medicines or herbal medicines or traditional medicines –- the global market is estimated at about $100 billion today," former health minister Harsh Vardhan told a recent conference on Ayurveda in New Delhi.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asia/443640/india-seeks-to-cash-in-on-global-demand-for-ancient-remedies

Σάββατο 15 Νοεμβρίου 2014

Alternative therapies associated with reduction in cancer-related pain and anxiety, Allina researchers find

Προσθήκη λεζάντας
For reducing pain, therapeutic body massage, reflexology, acupressure and acupuncture were most effective. For reducing anxiety, no significant difference was found among the therapies.
The data also revealed that women and younger patients were most likely to receive the therapies, and that body massage was the one most commonly chosen.
“These findings are really important as we start moving into a patient-centered realm of how medical care is provided,” said Dusek. “We’re trying to do the best for patients clinically with all the best that Western medicine can provide, but the psychosocial and emotional parts of the patients are also important.”
“We’re thrilled that these are low-toxic, low-risk and relatively low-cost solutions to managing pain and anxiety in an acute care setting, which is very challenging,” he added.
The alternative therapies used in the study included bodywork (head massage, body massage and reflexology), mind-body and energy therapies (meditation and guided imagery) and traditional Chinese medicine (acupressure, acupuncture and Korean hand therapy). These services were offered at no charge to the patients, as they are to all hospitalized cancer patients at Abbott, said Dusek.
http://www.minnpost.com/second-opinion/2014/11/alternative-therapies-associated-reduction-cancer-related-pain-and-anxiety-al

Watch: large male lion loves a foot massage

There is nothing weird about Justin Fernandes giving his best friend Taariq a foot massage, except for the fact that his best friend is a fully grown male lion


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2820581/Animal-keeper-South-Africa-filmed-giving-lion-sweet-utterly-shocking-paw-massage.html


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/11224665/Watch-large-male-lion-loves-a-foot-massage.html

Παρασκευή 14 Νοεμβρίου 2014

Did you know that reflexology treatments are covered by all major health insurance companies?

Did you know that reflexology treatments are covered by all major health insurance companies...

so you can claim back some of the costs? Thankfully our health insurance providers are recognising the important role that holistic therapies play in looking after your health. 
If you are you a member of Aviva, Laya Healthcare, GloHealth or VHI, you can claim back some of the costs of your reflexology treatments with me. 
For example some plans allow;
Aviva & VHI
Between €25 and €40 back on reflexology for between 7 & 12 visits.
GloHealth
€25 back per visit for reflexology treatments on some plans.
Laya Healthcare
50% off costs of a combination of up to 12 reflexology treatments.
So, if it’s reflexology for fertility, during pregnancy or a soothing treatment for your overall wellbeing you are after - why not make it more affordable?!
All you have to do is check your health insurance policy to see if this is covered in your plan.

India PM Modi appoints Yoga minister

Imagine a Reflexology minister....
http://www.euronews.com/2014/11/10/india-pm-modi-appoints-yoga-minister/
Narendra Modi, India’s PM since the victory of his BJP party last May, has appointed a ‘Minister of Yoga’ after a large government reshuffle on Sunday.
Modi, a strict vegetarian who practices yoga daily, hopes to revive the ancient tradition, according to news agency AFP.
Last September, the conservative Hindu leader asked the UN General Assembly to consider a World Yoga Day. The practice “allows to discover the sense of unity between oneself, the world and nature,” Modi told the UN. While in the US, he also lauded the merits of yoga to Barack Obama.
A result of the government revamp, the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), formerly a prerogative of the Health ministry, in now an independent ministry. Former Tourism minister Shripad Yesso Naik in now in charge with promoting traditional Indian medicines and practices.
Modi beefed up his right-wing government on Sunday by appointing 21 new ministers, the AFP reports, with the aim of speeding up reforms to revive the faltering economy.
He added four new ministers to his cabinet, and 17 junior ministers for a 66-member strong government including Modi himself.