Clinical Observation on Treatment of Migraine with Reflexology.
Moderate EvidenceIn Plain Language: reflexology for migraines, explained
| 60 cases, both male and female, ages 16-60, with migraines from 6 months to 10 years, were divided into 2 groups: A treatment group and a control group each with 30 patients. The treatment group was given 20-30 minutes of foot reflexology daily for 2 weeks; and after 2 sessions, 3 cases were healed, 22 cases were relieved, and 5 cases had no results with a total success rate of 83.33%. The control group were given only conventional medicine and 2 cases were healed, 18 cases were relieved, and 10 cases had no results with a total success rate of 66.67% including fatigue in all cases, insomnia in 5 cases, dry mouth and nausea in 3 cases. Results: foot reflexology was more successful. Conclusion: | Foot reflexology was found to be effective for the relief of migraines.
Key Findings: what this randomised trial found about migraines
- ✓Foot reflexology administered daily for 2 weeks achieved an 83.33% success rate in treating migraines, compared to 66.67% for conventional medicine alone.
- ✓The reflexology treatment group experienced complete healing in 3 cases and relief in 22 cases out of 30 patients after 2 sessions.
- ✓Conventional medicine treatment was associated with adverse effects including fatigue in all cases, insomnia in 5 cases, and dry mouth and nausea in 3 cases.
What This Means for You
This modest-quality study suggests reflexology may help relieve migraines better than medication alone, though larger, more rigorous studies are needed to confirm the benefit.
What This Means for Practitioners
Daily foot reflexology sessions for 2 weeks showed superior outcomes to conventional medicine alone in migraine relief, supporting reflexology as a complementary treatment option.
Study Design: how this randomised trial was run
Reflexology for migraines: common questions
Does reflexology help with migraines?
This modest-quality study suggests reflexology may help relieve migraines better than medication alone, though larger, more rigorous studies are needed to confirm the benefit.
What did this study find?
Foot reflexology administered daily for 2 weeks achieved an 83.33% success rate in treating migraines, compared to 66.67% for conventional medicine alone. The reflexology treatment group experienced complete healing in 3 cases and relief in 22 cases out of 30 patients after 2 sessions. Conventional medicine treatment was associated with adverse effects including fatigue in all cases, insomnia in 5 cases, and dry mouth and nausea in 3 cases.
How strong is this evidence?
This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence moderate. It covers 60 participants. It was published in Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.
Related Research
Efficacy of foot reflexology in reducing migraine pain: a randomized controlled trial
Spinal manipulations for migraine: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.
Myofascial Release for the Treatment of Tension-Type, Cervicogenic Headache or Migraine: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Physical treatment of migraine.
The psychosocial impact of migraines on women and alternative therapies for migraine management
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