A pilot study exploring the effects of reflexology on cold intolerance
Preliminary EvidenceIn Plain Language: reflexology, explained
Cold intolerance is an inability to tolerate cold temperatures and is accompanied by symptoms including headache, shoulder discomfort, dizziness and palpitations. The current study was performed to examine whether reflexology therapy affected cold intolerance in human subjects and whether the treatment was systemically effective. Ten female volunteer examinees with subjective feelings of cold were examined. After a 5-minute foot bath, 10 minutes of reflexology therapy was performed on their left foot. Skin temperature and blood flow were estimated before and after treatment, together with an interview concerning their feelings of cold and daily habits. In addition, how the recovery rate was affected by the application of a chilled-water load was also estimated. Along with significant increases in skin temperature and blood flow compared with pre-treatment at the bilateral points of KI-1, LR-3, and BL-60, a faster recovery after the application of the chilled-water load was also seen in the lower limbs on both sides. From these results, we conclude that reflexology has systemic effects and is an alternative method for treating cold intolerance.
Key Findings: what this pilot study found
- ✓Reflexology therapy on the left foot produced significant increases in skin temperature and blood flow at bilateral acupuncture points KI-1, LR-3, and BL-60 compared to pre-treatment measurements.
- ✓Participants who received reflexology treatment demonstrated faster recovery of skin temperature following application of a chilled-water load, suggesting improved cold tolerance.
- ✓A single 10-minute reflexology session following a 5-minute foot bath produced measurable systemic effects on thermoregulation in female subjects with cold intolerance.
What This Means for You
While this small pilot study suggests reflexology may help with cold intolerance symptoms, the evidence is preliminary and based on only 10 people, so more research is needed before drawing firm conclusions.
What This Means for Practitioners
This pilot suggests reflexology targeting KI-1, LR-3, and BL-60 points may have systemic warming effects worth exploring further with larger, controlled studies.
Study Design: how this pilot study was run
Common questions about this study
What does this study mean in practice?
While this small pilot study suggests reflexology may help with cold intolerance symptoms, the evidence is preliminary and based on only 10 people, so more research is needed before drawing firm conclusions.
What did this study find?
Reflexology therapy on the left foot produced significant increases in skin temperature and blood flow at bilateral acupuncture points KI-1, LR-3, and BL-60 compared to pre-treatment measurements. Participants who received reflexology treatment demonstrated faster recovery of skin temperature following application of a chilled-water load, suggesting improved cold tolerance. A single 10-minute reflexology session following a 5-minute foot bath produced measurable systemic effects on thermoregulation in female subjects with cold intolerance.
How strong is this evidence?
This is a pilot study and we rate its evidence preliminary. It covers 10 participants. It was published in Journal of acupuncture and meridian studies. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.
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