Dear RiEN members
It gives me much pleasure to be able to announce that after a lot
of hard work by Arve the new RiEN website is up and running.
We’re updating information as fast as we can.
This new site is easy to update and very cost effective!
Please go to the article by Arve
for details on how you can update your own organisation’s
information. What a great
gift to end the year with – a user friendly website!
Apologies to you all for the delay in sending out the last newsletter,
this one comes hot on
its heels and on time. I’ve got some fascinating statistics about our last
newsletter that was
sent out via mailchimp:141 newsletters were sent out, 4 bounced due to
incorrect email addresses,
66 were opened, 71 unopened as of 25 November!What can I say!
In this newsletter we have some excellent contributions by members. Is there
something you’d like
to share with RiEN members? If so send in your article for the Newsletter.
Together let’s make the
Newsletter the voice of members. Let’s use it as a way to keep up to date
several times a year rather
than trying to catch-up once a year at the AGM.
Have you booked your accommodation yet for the 2012 AGM and the
Conference in Luxembourg?
If not I recommend you do so before space runs out!
There’ll be elections coming up at the next AGM for the posts of Treasurer
and Secretary, see below
for more information.
Whilst Una is on holiday, I’ll be looking after her inbox.
Best wishes for a Happy Christmas and a fabulous 2012
Louise Vaughan-Arbuckle
Finding Scientific Research
Tracey Smith
From the last newsletter you now know what research is and isn’t. But
how do you find it?
It is always useful to know what research has been carried out regarding
reflexology in your own
country, to do this you need to carry out a literature search of your specified
topic/area of interest,
to determine any previous positive or negative research published. It is
important to define where
you look however as there will be lots of information on the web that will not
be of the same standard
as described last time.
Where should your search begin?
A large number of electronic databases now exist which greatly simplify the
search process and enable
you to access references and specific articles related to your area of research.
Traditional print sources such as books, journals, directories etc. are obviously
still useful,
but the advent of the internet has made research information readily available from
across the world.
Search engines
There are many indexing and searching strategies employed by electronic
databases to find what you
are looking for on the world-wide web. This wide variety of access methods can
prove to be tricky when
attempting to isolate specific data on a specialist subject, and it can be rather like
looking for a ‘needle
in a haystack’!
For instance, if you just entered: ‘search for: “Reflexology” ’ in your internet
service provider’s
‘Search Box’ you could be presented with a thousand and one web sites
which happen to have
the term ‘Reflexology’ somewhere in the title e.g. books, merchandise,
charts, organisations etc.
Some of these sites may be of use, but most will not, and you could spend
hours sifting through
them all.
This is where subject search engines come in! By choosing an appropriate
subject search engine
you immediately pinpoint what you really want.
So search engines enable you to narrow-down your search to onlyinclude
those areas of interest which
match your research needs, and to enable you to by-pass the many
thousands of sites that are totally
irrelevant. The best search engines for finding scientific research into reflexology
are the medical search engines or portals. These will be the ones that Doctors
and scientists use but beware– not all will specifically recognise reflexology as a
search term and you can receive a list of many thousands of
irrelevant scientific papers.
In the UK we have a national library that holds all publications produced in the UK.
This library, the
British Library (http://direct.bl.uk) also recognises reflexology as a search term and
so will provide a
list of scientific research. This list has been the basis of the research list that the
AoR holds for many
years. Unfortunately, the electronic listing only holds up to 7 years worth of data
and so inevitably the
older titles fall off the end of the list. The AoR list has research going back to 1993
because we have
been compiling it from the information available over the last 10 years.
Tips for finding research in your country
· Start today: the earlier you start the longer your list will be.
· Do you have a national library?
· Do they hold all publications?
· Can you access the scientific journals through the internet?
· If so – try searching for reflexology – if you get a list of irrelevant research then
reflexology is not recognised.
· If you get a list of relevant research – then look at the journals – are they
peer reviewed?
· If they are then well done! You have started your research list for your
country.
If you don’t have a national library then the search becomes more difficult.
You may have to find specific journals that publish CAM research and just
keep an eye on them for reflexology publications.
RiEN will be providing space on the website for the uploading of such lists in
the near future. It would be great if you could get hold of the full study and
get a translation of the research – like I provided at the meeting last year of
the German research. Buying research papers can be expensive however,
especially if you download them from the internet. Again in the UK because
we have the central library we can get our local libraries to order the research
from the main one. It is a much cheaper but much slower method but it does
mean we can get hold of the full research papers.
Documented Reflexology History
Spiros Dimitrakoulas – Hellenic Association of Reflexologists
www.spiros-reflexologia.blogspot.com
Two years ago, I began systematically to research ancient Hellenic medical
texts to support my interest
in the creation of an original Ancient Hellenic “Massage” modality. My
intention was/is to learn and to
put the possible modality deservedly among the other hundred or so v
ariations of massage.
“It was impossible that Hippocrates did not use massage as a means to
heal”, the only question was,
had he documented it?
It turns out that I was correct, and my persistence has been rewarded
up till now with two documented
passages that include specific instructions on “rubbing”, and many
references of Hippocrates advising
its use scattered in the Hippocratic Corpus.
Fate would have it, that in order to study and understand Hippocrates
approach to “rubbing” (trip-sis),
I would have to read books that where written five centuries after his
time in the capital of the empire
that conquered his country, Rome.
Thanks to the writings of Romans and Greeks (Celsus, Galen, Asklipiadis,
Philostratus, Stephanus)
Hippocratic medical knowledge, was spread out to the Roman Empire
and the Middle East, where
it evolved and was preserved so we can study today.
Somewhat hidden amongst general instructions on “rubbing”, Reflexologists
will find interesting the
presence of specific references to “rubbing” of the limbs accompanied by
the effects they produce in
each situation. The resemblances between the goal of the practice of
Reflexology and that of the
previously mentioned instructions Celsus records in the book, De Medicina, are striking!
Reflexology has changed and evolved a lot since Eunice Ingham’s time,
and many more changes and
challenges are in front of us. For example, in many countries Reflexologists
are subject to scrutiny for
health claims or suggestions they make. Is it not important that we have a
valid documented history
also? I find it very unfortunate to read in published research papers that
Reflexology is 2000 years old,
in another 4000 years old, that it originated in Asia or Egypt. As for Asia,
there are no reliable references
to support this claim, and unfortunately according to Egyptian academic
cycles, only we the
Reflexologists believe that the well-known hieroglyphic is proof of Reflexology.
Personally, I still believe it is!
We are all part of RiEN, we have many things in common, one is that we are
all European and thus
everyone’s medical system more or less has been influenced by Hippocrates
school of thought. I do
not intend to belittle anyone’s contribution to Reflexology, everyone is needed,
but also valid facts are
needed to stand on and proceed. Europe and the world in general is going
through economic turmoil,
I think some added solid ground will do all of us some good, especially if
we restrain unsupported
references that the best Reflexologists are from Asia because that is where
it supposedly began.
In research circles, a lot is said about placebo and the influence of the
individual’s belief system on the
outcome of any treatment. Do you know in which European country
homeopathy is most effective? The
answer is Germany, why? Because its modern founder is Hanneman who was
German, the same
applies to acupuncture, guess where in the world it is most effective?
…..easy wasn’t it? Do you think
as European aborigines it is in our (clients) favour to support and promote
this righteous history claim?
Finally I would like to share with you that in Greece, Reflexologists have
been accepted to work
voluntarily in a University Hospital’s Pain Clinic in Athens (Aretaieio Hospital)!
I was happily surprised
to see their (the doctors) positive – consensus reaction when I mentioned
the passages from Celsus
book, De Medicina, in the introductory presentation I gave them.
Please feel free to share the following information with your
members, or publish it in your
associations magazine, newsletters, websites etc. everything is
copyright free,
as is “true knowledge”.
Following is the text with the immediate passages of interest in bold
letters, after that is an
introduction to Celsus and the book De Medicina, following that are
the links to take you to the
online sources (books) copyright free!
p176-177 14Now concerning rubbing, Asclepiades as if he were the inventor
of the practice has
treated it in his volume, entitled "Common aids," at such great length, that,
though making mention
only of three such aids, namely, Rubbing, Water-drinking, and Rocking,
yet he has taken up the
greatest part with the first-named subject. Now on such matters recent
writers ought to have credit
where they have made discoveries, or where they have rightly followed others;
yet we must not omit
to attribute to their true authors teaching found among the more ancient writers.
2And it cannot be
disputed that Asclepiades has taught when and how rubbing should be practised,
with a wider
application, and in a clearer way, although he has discovered nothing which had
not been comprised
in a few words by that most ancient writer Hippocrates, who said that rubbing,
if strenuous, hardens
the body, if gentle, relaxes; if much, it diminishes, if moderate, fills out. It follows,
therefore, that in the
following cases rubbing should be employed, when either a feeble body
has to be toned up, or one
indurated has to be softened, or a harmful superfluity is to be dispersed,
or a thin and infirm body
has to be nourished.3Yet when examined with attention (although this
no longer concerns the
medical man) the various species of rubbing may be easily recognized
as all dependent on causing
one thing, depletion. For an object is toned up when that is removed, which,
by its presence was the
cause of the laxness; and is softened when that which has been producing
induration is abstracted;
and it is filled up, not by the rubbing itself, but by the nutriment, which
subsequently penetrates by
some sort of dispersal to the very skin itself after it has become relaxed.
4The cause of the different
results lies in the degree.
Now there is a great difference between anointing and rubbing. For it is
desirable that even in acute
and recent diseases the body should be anointed and then gently stroked,
but only during remissions
and before food. But prolonged rubbing is unsuitable in acute and increasing
troubles, unless it be in
madness to procure sleep.5Yet a prolonged illness and one declining from
its primary vehemence loves
this aid. I am quite aware that some say that the need for any aid is during
the increase of diseases,
not when diseases are tending to end of themselves. But this is not the case.
For a disorder, even
although it will end of itself, may be expelled yet more speedily by adopting
the aid. 6An aid is
necessary on two accounts, both that health may be regained at the earliest
possible179 moment,
and that what remains of the disease may not again become exacerbated
from however slight a cause.
Possibly the disease may have become less grave than it had been, yet is
not completely got rid of,
but some remnants of it persist, which the application of a remedy disperses.
7But while rubbing is r
ightly applied after a disorder has been lessened, yet it should never be
applied whilst a fever is
increasing: but if possible after the fever has entirely left the body, or if not,
at least when it has
remitted. Sometimes, moreover, rubbing should be applied to the body all over,
as when a thin man
ought to put on flesh; sometimes to a part only, either because weakness
of the limb actually
rubbed demands it, or that of some other part.(referral – cross reflexes)
8 For both prolonged
headaches100 are relieved by rubbing of the head, although not at the height
of the pain, and any
partially paralysed limb is strengthened by itself being rubbed.
Much more often, however, some
other part is to be rubbed than that which is the seat of the pain; and
especially when we want
to withdraw material from the head or trunk, and therefore rub the
arms and legs. (Reflexology)
9Neither should we listen to those who would fix numerically how many
times a patient is to be stroked;
for that is to be regulated by his strength; and if he is very infirm fifty strokes
may possibly be enough,
if more robust possibly two hundred may be made; then an intermediate
number according to his
strength. Hence it is that the hand is to be passed even fewer times over a
woman than over a man,
fewer over a child or old man, than over a young adult. 10Finally, if particular
limbs are rubbed, many
strokes are required p181 and forcible rubbing; both because the body cannot
be as a whole quickly
rendered weak through a part, and it is necessary that as much as possible
of the diseased matter
should be dispersed, whether our aim is to relieve the limb actually rubbed,
or through it
another limb. (referral – cross reflexes) When, however, general bodily
weakness requires that the
rubbing should be applied all over, it should be shorter and more gentle,
just to the extent of softening
the skin, so that the body may be more easily capable of forming new
material from food recently
consumed. 11As I have stated above (II.6.7), a patient is already in a bad way,
when the exterior of
the body is cold, whilst his interior is hot and there is thirst. But even then rubbing
is the only remedy;
if it draws the heat outwards into the skin, it makes possible an opportunity
for other treatment.
Through long contact with Greek culture, and their eventual conquest of
Greece in 27 B.C.
the Romans absorbed many of the Greek ideas on medicine.
Aulus Cornelius Celsus(ca 25 BC—ca 50) Roman encyclopaedist.
Celsus gathered extensive writings from the Greek Empire, translated them
into Roman, and compiled
their vast knowledge into an encyclopedia entitled De artibus (A.D. 25-35).
Originally, this great work
contained five books on agriculture, and other books of unknown length on
military science,
government, history, law, philosophy, rhetoric, and medicine. The only books
to survive, however,
were The Eight Books of Medicine, or De medicina libri octo, the most
comprehensive medical
history and detailed description of medical and surgical procedures ever produced
by a Roman writer.
They were also the first translation of Greek medical terms into Latin terms that
have remained
standard in medicine for 2000 years!
De Medicina draws upon knowledge from ancient Greek works, and is considered
the best surviving
treatise on Alexandrian medicine. This work covers the topics of diet, disease,
pharmacology, therapy
and surgery.
Celsuswas a strict adherent to the teachings of the great Greek physician,
Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.),
and some historians believe much of De medicina's contents came from a vast
collection of writings
of the school of Hippocrates. In fact, in De medicina, Celsus references some
80 Greek medical
writers. His medical philosophy was also influenced by Asclepiades, who
established
Greek medicine in Rome.
The original work was published some time before 47 CE, and it consisted
of eight books.
The subject matter is divided as follows:
· Book I – Diet, hygiene, and the benefits of exercise.
· Book II – The cause of disease, its symptoms and prognosis.
(rubbing of the limbs - Reflexology)
· Book III – Treatment of diseases, including the common cold and pneumonia.
· Book IV – Anatomical descriptions of selected diseases.
· Book V – Medicines, including opiates, diuretics, purgatives and laxatives.
· Book VI – Ulcers, skin lesions and diseases.
· Book VII – Classical operations, such as lithotomy and removal of cataracts.
· Book VIII – Treatment of dislocations and fractures.
De Medicina was known during the Middle Ages, but was later lost up
until the 15th century.
It was the first medical book to be printed, in Florence, 1478.
Text online in English -
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Celsus/2*.html
Original text in Latin - http://www.archive.org/stream/demedicinalibri00daregoog#page/n109/mode/2up
Tip to get a picture of the original text: Once on the page (above) use the
PrtScn button and
then open the paint program and press paste, finally save.
Text in Italian language:
http://www.archive.org/stream/acorneliicelsid00celsgoog#page/n10/mode/2up
Regarding copyright of the digital books
This is a digital copy of a book that was preserved for generations on library
shelves before
it was carefully scanned by Google as part of a project to make the world's b
ooks discoverable online.
It has survived long enough for the copyright to expire and the book to enter the
public domain.
A public domain book is one that was never subject to copyright or whose legal
copyright term
has expired. Whether a book is in the public domain may vary country to country.
Public domain books are our gateways to the past, representing a wealth of
history,
culture and knowledge that's often difficult to discover.
EUROPEAN FOOT REFLEXOLOGY MAP
Orlando Volpe
As you will have noticed in the last newsletter, I am involved in creating
a European foot Reflexology map. The aim of having such a map is to have
one universal document for foot Reflexology and to show it to the political
and medical world. This has been done for example with the acupuncture map.
As you well know all countries in Europe have their own map. Furthermore,
in many cases, there are many other private maps.
There is no problem with this, every one of you can continue to use the
map you like in your own practice, but, with regard to the profession of
foot Reflexology, we need to be united and show that we have a common
foot map. I strongly believe that this can help us to get recognition for
our profession. From a commercial point of view, we, as RiEN would
also have the possibility to publicise our European map in all countries.
Now, to help me in starting this job, I need your collaboration.
First step:
The European map I have in mind will be in English. (Then, those who
want to can translate it into his/her country language). I kindly ask all of
you to send me by e-mail the map you are using in your country in
pdf format. This map has to be translated into English before sending it to me.
On my side, I will send all of you the FIRP map that we are translating
into English. To do this, we have provided the executable files of our map
to a company who work in translating documents. By using the executable
files, they can work directly on the map by simply replacing the Italian
name with the English one. The cost is not high at all.
Once I have collected all the maps, I will start my work comparing them
and I will contact all of you personally via Skype to talk about the map
preparation.
I know this will not be an easy job, but, if we are able to drop through
the windows our ego, we may join in a short period (next AGM meeting)
to have a common document which will represent all of us.
Please if can you can provide me your with your maps translated into
English by January 31, 2012.
My contact details are: Phone: 0039 011 9278526 –
Mobile: 0039 338 2893022 – Skype name: Orlando.Volpe –
Facebook: Orlando Volpe, Torino - Email: orlando.volpe@alice.it
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