Sometimes when it comes to cancer treatment, we are either all western medicine approach (chemotherapy, radiation and surgery) or all alternative/ natural approach.  Whichever path is taken, Reflexology is a therapy that could make the road a lot easier and more comfortable.

A recent study performed in Israel on 58 women undergoing breast cancer treatments, particularly radiation, shows promising results for how Reflexology can significantly improve patient comfort level and quality of life during their treatments. (1)  The results of the study, in which the women received 1 Reflexology treatment per week for 10 weeks were pretty astounding.  The women receiving Reflexology treatments experienced the following:

• Significantly lower levels of fatigue
• Quality of life did not deteriorate as it did in comparison with women who did not receive Reflexology treatments
• Drastic improvement in quality of sleep
• Marked improvement in pain levels

So What is Reflexology?

Reflexology is a gentle, natural method of assisting the body to attain a state of homeostasis by stimulating energy reflex points on the feet. The feet have over 7,000 nerve endings, which correlate with different organs and areas of the body. By working the different reflexes on the feet, specific organs, systems, glands and regions of the body can be stimulated to balance or function more optimally.

Reflexology has also been known to assist with:

• Stress
• Headaches/Migraines
• Anxiety/Depression
• Sleep Problems
• Allergies
• Autoimmune Issues / Chronic Pain
• Back Problems
• Digestive Problems
• Hormone Balancing
• Infertility/Endocrine Imbalances
• Skin Conditions
• Circulation
• Lymphatic Flow
• Musculoskeletal
• Arthritis
• Neurological System
• Detoxing
• Chronic Fatigue

This study did not include the addition of Clinical Aromatherapy, which has many noted benefits of its own. Imagine the benefit of combining the two!  And if Reflexology has this benefit during radiation treatment, it must have a profound effect on the body for other health concerns and general well-being too!

References

(1). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28440664