Going over the news in 2018, once again it was a year with positive but also with a bit of negative news.
Reflexology on its own as a modality did quite good, there was research, there were conferences with high attendance, around the world we noticed the integration of reflexology in hospices, chemotherapy clinics and palliative care, and definetely a lot of very good publicity.
As a method belonging to the realm of CAM, probably one of the smallest groups, we too will be affected by policies around the world that will no longer cover our services either through national nor (suprisingly) private health insurance. Even though for Reflexology these referalls and reimbursements were very low, still as an expanding and growing profession I imagine many would favor working with clients whose treatments would be covered by insurance.
It is a statistical fact that CAM use is growing steadily all around the globe, this is mostly observed in countries with very good economies and countries with very bad. Recipients of CAM are paying for these treatments with out of their pocket money. There were some excellent examples of these treatments being offered by a few countries through their national health systems but this will not be the case in 2019. Most western countries, with the exception of Switzerland and Denmark have put all CAM on the "chopping block". For policy makers it is unscientific and considered pseudoscience, if citizens want to receive CAM they can pay for it, or if lucky receive it for free from volunteers. What makes it even more interesting is that some private insurance companies also will cease to cover CAM.
This in turn might have an effect on association membership numbers (and might have already), one reason to pay your membership fee is in order to be registered so as to finally be reimbursed by private or national insurance.
Every action causes a reaction.
Research is always good and we definetely had interesting research papers published this year. Not so suprisingly, again this year the research came from countries you would not expect like Iran and Turkey. What has happened in countries like Denmark, the US and the UK?
Following the statistics of all the articles and posts I find it a bit disapointing that most reflexologists do not enjoy a research article as much as a post about a "new" reflexology chart. The numbers speak for themselves!
I know that a picture equals 1000 words but the same goes for articles that have to do with legislation or regulation in our profession.
Maybe this is because reflexology is most effective in its simplicity and this is enough for us. Maybe this is because in order to be a reflexologist the most important element is to have love for reflexology and humanity.
Following the statistics of all the articles and posts I find it a bit disapointing that most reflexologists do not enjoy a research article as much as a post about a "new" reflexology chart. The numbers speak for themselves!
I know that a picture equals 1000 words but the same goes for articles that have to do with legislation or regulation in our profession.
Maybe this is because reflexology is most effective in its simplicity and this is enough for us. Maybe this is because in order to be a reflexologist the most important element is to have love for reflexology and humanity.
And it is true that reflexologists have this!
I honestly hope that it will be enough for 2019 and for many years to come ahead.
I honestly hope that it will be enough for 2019 and for many years to come ahead.
So let's begin our countdown of 2018's top 10, this list was compiled on one hand because of what you the readers enjoyed or were interested in the most, and on the other hand because of their importance, the latter being sublective of course.
Once we shared it, this chart got loads of likes, shares and interaction. It must be the artistic element that appeals to reflexologists.
9. is the Reflexology Association of Canada.
We have noticed major changes in the way they conduct buisness and extend to them a thumbs up. Great new website, great videos promoting reflexology for members and non members to share, a magazine that is free for everyone and many more. I especially enjoyed on their webpage that they include various reflexology approaches and are not confined to classic foot reflexology. Of course there are other associations that also did good work but RAC showed the way this year.
Good work and keep it up!
https://www.reflexologycanada.org/en/refresh-reflexology-magazine/
8. In Greece Reflexology training is being offered to prisoners in order for them to acquire new skills with the hope and purpose to prepare them for the outside world when they have completed their sentences.
It is going well, not perfect but well. Time is different in prison, so maybe even if its been 3 months already we are still in the early beginning. Many things we take for granted outside prison, inside they are not taken.
The training is to last for 2 years, and I can tell you it is a unique experience. The class is once a week.
Through donations books and charts have been offered
We have received encouraging words from everywere and are thankfull for this.
7. The story of one man's journey to surviving cancer, and, through his treatment of reflexology, getting his feeling back and now walking again really got your attention.
According to the article "It was whilst I was in hospital that I heard about the charity Full Circle Fund Therapies which delivers innovative programmes of support for hospitalised adults and children through evidence-based mind-body treatments. I went to them to undergo reflexology, massage and some meditation.
The charity helped me immensely during my time in hospital. Having friendly therapists to interact with on a regular basis really helped with staying sane during the monotony of a ward. The therapies helped me relax and take my mind of my troubles, and in the case of the massage, really helped reduce the pain in my back during my recovery from paralysis. Finally, and probably most importantly, during the paralysis, the reflexology kept my legs muscles twitching and moving, provided with me invaluable hope that I would walk again, and I like to think was partly responsible for my recovery from that paralysis after two months of nothing – after all, it was during a reflexology session that I had my first hint of movement in a toe and knee – the therapist had continually reminded me to keep visualising the movement."
6. The Worlds First Museum of Reflexology honouring the life and work of Eunice Ingham.
In September Anthony Porter informed us of this news from his blog.
"Ignacio Sanchez in conjunction with Dwight Byers will be opening a museum of reflexology in the U.S. It will be based mainly on the life and work of Eunice Ingham (The Mother of Reflexology) Her nephew Dwight Byers has supplied all of her reflexology artefacts, most of which have never been seen before. The museum will chronicle the history of the development of reflexology up to and beyond the contribution which Eunice Ingham made."
5. What do Australia, England, Spain, some states in the US and some Canadian provinces, and the Netherlands have in common?
In a nutshell these were countries that offered CAM through their national health systems and/or through private insurance. As of 2019 this will no longer be the story. Policy makers have concluded that there exists no scientific evidence to validate tax payers money going to such treatments. CAM supporters are trying to fight back, for example Homeopath's in England went to court but lost, the others are trying to get people to sign petitions. If there ever was a year of petitions in favor of CAM 2018 is that year.
And though it seems a full scale war on CAM is in progress, there do exists examples from these same countries that not all share policy makers opinions.
For example the Massachusetts legislature passed a landmark opioid bill that includes help for people with pain. One highlight of the new law is mandated public and private insurance coverage for complementary pain treatments.
In Spain were they are planning to ban alternative medicine in health centres at the same time the Colegio Oficial de Enfermería de Barcelona is offering courses in Reflexology and other CAM methods.
There was also a petition from Reflexologists in Texas requesting to separate the Reflexology profession from massage. What do these nice massage people want...? They are different modalities, leave us alone.
4. Influencers
If you are a reflexologist or a CAM therapist then I feel you will like this category.
Turkey is rapidly advancing in CAM.
All year long positive articles , 1 for reflexology were coming up. Besides that reflexology is being integrated more and more by the day and a lot of research is being done. And they are beyond just looking into the wellness tourism area where reflexology is included.
During the International Traditional and Complementary Medicine Congress First Lady Emine Erdoğan, who is known for her personal support for traditional and complementary medicine, was the congress's honorary president.
Tourism provides employment to the poorest of the poor. Gram seller earns something, auto-rickshaw driver earns something, pakoda seller earns something, and tea seller also earns something. - Narendra Modi
If you are a reflexologist or a CAM therapist then I feel you will like this category.
“It must be considered that there is nothing more difficult to carry out, nor more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to handle, than to initiate a new order of things.”
― The Prince
― The Prince
Turkey is rapidly advancing in CAM. All year long positive articles , 1 for reflexology were coming up. Besides that reflexology is being integrated more and more by the day and a lot of research is being done. And they are beyond just looking into the wellness tourism area where reflexology is included.
During the International Traditional and Complementary Medicine Congress First Lady Emine Erdoğan, who is known for her personal support for traditional and complementary medicine, was the congress's honorary president.
In a keynote
speech at the congress, First Lady Erdoğan said traditional and complementary
medicine is not an alternative to modern medicine, rather, as its name implies,
complementary.
"Medicine
is as old as humanity but the problem is that modern medicine has severed its
ties to the past and ignores this vast experience."
They are definetely growing in this direction.
Tourism provides employment to the poorest of the poor. Gram seller earns something, auto-rickshaw driver earns something, pakoda seller earns something, and tea seller also earns something. - Narendra Modi
In June respected PM Marenda Modi shared in a video some wellness practises. This got a lot of attention and applause. ...he also inaugurated a Naturopathic Wellness Centre in New York then, ...and did dawn exercises with 50.000 people on international yoga day.
With the coordination and support of the AYUSH ministry, India plans to play a major role in the world health/wellness sector.
The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy, (AYUSH) was formed with effect from 9 November 2014.
The Prince of Wales. A true supporter of CAM and Reflexology.
In December Prince Charles visited City Hospice Cardiff. The Prince of Wales opened the new hospice in 2005 and has been the patron since 1998. During his visit he took the oppurtunity to chat with reflexology patients and volunteer reflexologist's.The Chinese
The World Health Organisation is including a chapter on China’s ancient medicine programme in its influential book classifying thousands of diseases. This took time to do, they want to see TCM theory and practice win greater acceptance in world medical circles so it can claim a share of the US$50 billion global medicine market.
On that note, Beijing is establishing 30 overseas TCM centres in countries along the route of its massive infrastructure plan, the “Belt and Road Initiative”.
By 2020, the government also seeks to register 100 TCM products and set up 50 international TCM cooperation model centres.
As TCM acquires legal status from Belt and Road countries, it is expected to evolve into a booming industry by 2030, according to the plan.
Tian Kan, a Nanjing University professor of Chinese medicine, said winning acceptance from the WHO might help spread the practice of TCM worldwide, but does not guarantee that non-believers can be converted to TCM users.
“The spread of TCM in the Western world does not rely on being recognised by local drug regulators but on the experience and recommendations of patients,” Tian said.
3. Research
There were papers published this year and we know of ongoing projects which is always good. The one that really got your attention was
Aromatherapy and Reflexology Drastically Reduce Pain, Anxiety in Cervical Cancer treatment
Here are two more in case you missed them.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1744388118303311?via%3Dihub
2. France
The profession of reflexologist was registered by the state in the National Directory of professional qualifications (RNCP). The professionals area of action have been difined to be wellness, stress management and sustainable health.
I for one favor this evolvement very much, it is the best way to go forward as a profession.
1. Anthony Larkin “The Foot Man”
passed away.
Every day I go through the news looking for anything reflexology related.
It is a sad day when a obituary comes up that has to do with a reflexologist.
I always read it and stare at the persons picture, I try to undertsand what kind of reflexologist they were. One common thing they all have is that they loved reflexology, another is that they had to put up a fight for reflexology.
For this I respect them all and never forget.
Anthony I had met over a yahoo group, when that means of communication was what was available.
I remember him through the discussions as very helpfull and a passionate reflexologist. A big influence worldwide. He was proud of having the biggest collection of reflexology books.
I for one favor this evolvement very much, it is the best way to go forward as a profession.
1. Anthony Larkin “The Foot Man”
passed away.
Every day I go through the news looking for anything reflexology related. It is a sad day when a obituary comes up that has to do with a reflexologist.
I always read it and stare at the persons picture, I try to undertsand what kind of reflexologist they were. One common thing they all have is that they loved reflexology, another is that they had to put up a fight for reflexology.
For this I respect them all and never forget.
Anthony I had met over a yahoo group, when that means of communication was what was available.
I remember him through the discussions as very helpfull and a passionate reflexologist. A big influence worldwide. He was proud of having the biggest collection of reflexology books.
http://www.anthonylarkin.com/book-list/foreign-language-reflexology-books/
The National Register of Reflexologists (Ireland) of which he was a co-founder, describe him as one of the greatest pioneers of reflexology. His hard work and passion to reflexology has resulted in huge success of this therapy in Ireland.
Something not at all well known is written in his obituary, I thnik it is a nice way to remember Anthony and a great message to begin 2019, ...with humbleness.
I wish you a great reflexology year, with much health, happiness and love.
- Spiros Dimitrakoulas
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