Research& Evidens

Research and evidence for reflexology and ear acupuncture

There is now a wealth of research studies showing positive effects of reflexology for pain, anxiety, distress, sleep disturbances during cancer treatment side effects, and pain and fatigue in MS, among others.

A research about RLD, reflexology lymfdrainage for breastcancer survivers with lymphoedema.

 A research in the UK investigating the complementary use of reflexology treatment in infertility treatments for both men and women.

There is  functional MRI study at the University of Minnesota examining reflexology treatment with healthy volunteers and stroke patients. It is expected to be published in the spring 24.

If you want to read about research in reflexology, you can find it on PubMed/reflexology, foot reflexology research.

These are some links I have found. There is evidence for pain, sleep problems, anxiety, distress, nausea, fatigue, PMS, menstrual pain, menopausal symptoms, depression, among others. But more and better quality of research is needed.
 

Research and evidence for reflexologi och öronakupunktur

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35179756/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38032640/ 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23059433/Conclusion: Reflexology massage applied to the upper part of the left foot may have a modest specific effect on the cardiac index .

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35613519/ Abstract

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8233263/  PMS

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18346622/ Lower back pain 2008

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31987235/ Multiple scerosis, constipation (2021)

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38289312/ Postoperativ pain, abstract

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33615535/ Sleeping problems (2019)

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33789252/ MS, Pain, fatigue, quality of life

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38001461/ Coronarangiografi, fatigue, anxiety, pain, hand reflex, 2023

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22310867/ Fatigue, sleep, pain, 2011

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37820220/ haemodyalisis patients, fatigue 2023

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37162156/ Fatigue and radioterapi, 2023, integrtet cancer therapi

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33615535/ Impact: Foot reflexology is a non-invasive and convenient intervention and regularly receiving foot reflexology can be considered complementary therapy to improve the sleep quality of adults with sleep disturbances. Furthermore, healthcare providers can actively press the solar plexus and heart zones to alleviate sleep disturbances when performing foot reflexology.

Keywords: foot reflexology; meta-analysis; sleep disturbances; sleep quality; systematic review.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34738909/ Conclusions: This study's results indicate that foot reflexology provides significantly better management of acute nausea severity and decreased consumption of antiemetic drugs in patients with lung or digestive cancer. In order to fulfill patients' desires to use nonpharmacological treatments and complementary and alternative medicines in hospitals, foot reflexology could be provided as a complementary intervention to conventional antiemetic drugs. Foot reflexology did not result in adverse effects. To assess the benefits of foot reflexology in routine practice, a larger study with several health care centers would be needed with a cluster randomized controlled trial.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31780002/ menopause, depression

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17003953/ detrusor overactivity

Research ear acupuncture, auricular terapie, acupressur

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33186824/ the efficacy of acupuncture was superior to that of placebo acupuncture in treating insomnia. Types of acupuncture therapy and placebo may underestimate the efficacy of acupuncture in different ways.

Keywords: Acupuncture therapy; Efficacy; Insomnia; Placebo; System, Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32186108/Effect of hand-ear acupuncture on chronic low-back pain: a randomized controlled trial. 
  Conclusion: Both of the hand-ear acupuncture and standard acupuncture modes have beneficial and persistent effectiveness against cLBP compared with the usual care. Furthermore, hand-ear acupuncture is significantly more effective than the standardized acupuncture, especially in the long term.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28395101/Ear Acupuncture for Immediate Pain Relief-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Preoperative anxiety management: acupuncture vs. pharmacological treatment - A prospective study.’

Conclusions: Acupuncture is a safe and well-tolerated procedure that reduces preoperative anxiety. Both somatic and auricular acupuncture are more effective than pharmacological treatment in the intraoperative period. AA is easier to implement than SA.

Efficacy and Safety of Auricular Acupuncture for Depression: A Randomized Clinical Trial.Conclusions and relevance: The results of this randomized clinical trial suggest that SA over 6 weeks is safe. Although there was no statistically significant difference between groups for the primary efficacy outcome, patients receiving SA did experience greater symptom remission at 3 months. A larger sample size and longer intervention are needed to further evaluate the efficacy of SA for depression.

Important

Reflexology and ear acupuncture do not diagnose or cure diseases. They are used as complementary and for health-promoting wellness and do not replace medical treatment or advice.

If you feel ill, it is important that you first contact your doctor or healthcare center.

I work therapeutically, which means that I do not prescribe any medications or perform other purely medical procedures