Reflexology and Asthma

- by Theresa Klepper

     Time and time again I see children with the same symptoms; a phlegmy cough and tight, short breaths. Doctors who are all too familiar and all too quick to diagnose it as asthma and prescribe chemicals to a still developing Respiratory system. What is a self-healing, all natural, extremely effective solution? Say it with me people, Reflexology! By all means, don't go off my word alone. Let's check out the research.

    One study performed in Jiangsu Province of China, marked the effect of Reflexology on Infantile Bronchial Asthma. The study was comprised of 45 patients, 25 boys and 20 girls. The children aged from 5 months-7 years old with an average age of 3.8 years old. The range of the disease in each patient was 3-63 months. The treatment entailed a 40-50 minute session of Reflexology every day for a duration of 12 weeks. At the end of the course, all 45 cases were healed of all clinical symptoms of the disease. (Hui-xian, Duanmu. Health Center for Women and Children. Haimen Jiangsu Province, China. www.pacificreflexology.com/abstract/Respiratory )

    Another study, this one by the National Institute of Health, had slightly different results. The study was performed with a total of 40 adults. Twenty adults were put into a Placebo group and 20 into the real treatment group. Each group received Reflexology treatments daily for 10 weeks. The results were the same for both groups. The objective lab data (peak flow measured morning and night and spirometry tests) didn't change. However, the patients quality of life, symptoms, bronchiole sensitivity to the histamine and beta2 histamine all improved.

    The results of the second research project demonstrate that both groups benefited from Reflexology. Once again, it is uncertain whether the disease is helped because of the boost to the immune system, boost of oxygen and reduction in stress, or is it due to strictly working the lung/throat/bronchiole reflexes. We see that within 10 weeks the patient's bronchioles became much more sensitive to the histamine i.e. less medication needed. Not only was less medication needed, but the symptoms decreased at the same time i.e. even while intaking lesser amounts of medication, the symptom of the disease is also decreasing. It's possible that over a larger portion of time, patients would experience more effects on the objective lab data. (National Center for Biotechnology Information. National Institute of Health. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11266233 )

    There are several more cases of Respiratory diseases including Upper Respiratory Tract Infection, pnemonia, asthma, bronchitis, or bronchial asthma all being helped significantly by Reflexology. In these cases, it could be the fact of working the lung and bronchiole reflex areas that aid in recovery. It could also be the immune system boost and increased levels of oxygen throughout the body that help recovery.

    No one wants to feel restricted while breathing, let alone to see your child having difficulty breathing. Yet why introduce chemicals to still developing lungs when our bodies have an incredible capacity to heal themselves? Pressing on certain reflex points initiates the body's self-healing potential. We can heal ourselves with a little foot rub!

******Reflexology should never be used as an emergency treatment for asthma but as a regular (daily or weekly) treatment plan to reduce asthmatic symptoms. ******