Reflexology Research & Science
Does reflexology work? The honest answer from 808 peer-reviewed studies: the evidence is mixed and mostly early-stage. 245 are randomized controlled trials and 221 are systematic reviews or meta-analyses. The strongest signals are for relaxation, anxiety, and pain, not for curing disease. Every study is below, graded by evidence strength and pulled from PubMed.
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Sleep Disorders in Connective Tissue Diseases-Coexisting Diseases or Disease Components?
This comprehensive review examines the complex relationship between sleep disorders and rheumatic diseases, supported by findings from the latest research articles. It encompasses various rheumatic conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and systemic sclerosis. The review reveals the bidirectional relationship between sleep disorders and these diseases, emphasizing their impact on disease progression and quality of life. Conventional and alternative therapeutic interventions for connective tissue diseases are presented, focusing on improving sleep quality and alleviating rheumatic symptoms. The role of pro-inflammatory cytokines and their potential modulation through pharmacological agents is also discussed. In the treatment of sleep disorders, various options are proposed, such as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, physical activity, dietary modifications, and alternative approaches like reflexology and acupuncture. Thus, this review offers a nuanced understanding of the connection between sleep disorders and rheumatic diseases, supported by evidence from diverse studies. Such an approach is particularly important because it enhances sleep quality for overall patient well-being in the holistic management of rheumatic conditions.
strong evidenceEvidence-based review of therapies at the menopause
Background and Objective The highest level of scientific evidence available for each therapy for menopausal symptoms was sought, for example, systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Results There is reasonable evidence that some symptoms are modified by lifestyle, for example, cessation of smoking, exercise, reduction of alcohol, diet and alleviation of psychosocial stress. No complementary medicine, for example, phytoestrogens, black cohosh, herbal or homeopathic medicines or complementary therapies, for example, acupuncture, yoga, chiropractic manipulation, reflexology or magnetic devices have a greater effect than the usual placebo effect seen in quality blinded RCTs. Some have potential side-effects. So-called 'bioidentical hormones' have no evidence-base and potential for harm. None of the above therapies have evidence of efficacy and long-term safety. Selective serotonin and noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitors ameliorate vasomotor symptoms and sometimes menopausal depression better than placebo. The most effective therapy for menopausal (oestrogen) deficiency symptoms is oestrogen which is the main component of hormone replacement therapies (HRT). Compared with placebo HRT is highly effective in relieving hot flushes, night sweats, dry vagina and dyspareunia. It also improved joint pains, sexuality and sleeplessness and reduced subsequent fractures in RCTs. The increased risk of oral HRT for thromboembolism is small around menopause, for those without thrombotic risk factors, and is not elevated with non-oral routes. Cardiovascular disease may be reduced when HRT is initiated near menopause. Breast cancer risk increases after several years with the use of oral HRT containing progestogens at an annual rate of 8/10 000 (<0.1%). No increase in breast cancer risk was seen with oestrogen-only HRT.
Mental Health Promotion Through Nursing Interventions Focused on Anxiety, Sleep and Well-Being: A Scoping Review
Anxiety is more prevalent than other mental disorders and maintains a bidirectional relationship with sleep disturbances, negatively affecting well-being and overall mental health. This scenario underscores the need to strengthen and qualify nursing practice in addressing these outcomes. This study aimed to map how nursing has developed care for adults and older people through interventions related to anxiety, sleep quality and well-being. A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Searches were performed between November and December 2025 across 11 data sources: CINAHL, Cochrane Library, LILACS, MEDLINE/PubMed, SciELO, Scopus, EBSCO Open Dissertations, Web of Science, CAPES Catalogue of Theses and Dissertations, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar, in addition to reference list screening. Sixty-four studies were included. Although the search covered the period from 2010 to 2025, eligible publications were identified between 2011 and 2025, predominantly clinical trials conducted in Iran and Turkey. Thirty-one occurrences of interventions were identified, representing different modes of application of a smaller set of nursing-implementable strategies targeting anxiety, sleep and well-being. Integrative and complementary therapies predominated, including aromatherapy, music therapy, reflexology, acupressure, therapeutic touch, massage, relaxation techniques, Reiki and yoga. Other interventions comprised spiritual support, environmental adjustments (lighting, noise, temperature control), guided imagery, group counselling and self-care programmes, reinforcing nursing's holistic approach. Sleep quality was the most investigated outcome, mainly through environmental control during hospitalisation. However, considering sleep, well-being and anxiety, multicentre studies, further investigation into spirituality and the nursing process and research prioritising well-being and anxiety disorders as primary outcomes are still needed.
Mind-Body Interventions for People With Cancer: Evidence, Innovation, and Implementation
Many people with cancer (PWC) continue to experience persistent biopsychosocial and existential challenges across the cancer care continuum. Symptoms such as anxiety, depression, cancer-related fatigue and pain, sleep disturbance, fear of cancer recurrence, cognitive impairment, and reduced quality of life remain highly prevalent during and after treatment, underscoring the need for interventions that address both psychological and physiological dimensions of distress. Mind-body interventions encompass a diverse group of practices that explicitly target the bidirectional relationship between mental and physical processes and are increasingly incorporated into integrative oncology as adjuncts to standard care. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on mind-body interventions for improving biopsychosocial outcomes in adult PWC. We review guideline-recommended interventions including mindfulness-based interventions, yoga, tai chi and qigong, relaxation therapies, hypnosis, music therapy, acupuncture, acupressure, massage, reflexology, and aromatherapy; as well as emerging modalities such as psychedelic-assisted therapy, biofield therapies, nature-based interventions, and mindfulness-based approaches for sexual dysfunction. For each intervention, we summarize target symptoms, treatment-phase considerations, and the quality and limitations of the supporting evidence. Finally, we discuss future directions with an emphasis on improving methodological rigor, elucidating mechanisms of action, expanding implementation and access, and extending research across diverse populations and all stages of cancer care, including survivorship and end-of-life contexts.
Complementary and alternative medical therapies in multiple sclerosis--the American Academy of Neurology guidelines: a commentary
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) is common, but its use has been limited by a lack of evidence-based guidance. In March 2014, the American Academy of Neurology published the most comprehensive literature review and evidence-based practice guidelines for CAM use in MS. The guideline author panel reviewed and classified articles according to the American Academy of Neurology therapeutic scheme, and recommendations were linked to the evidence strength. Level A recommendations were found for oral cannabis extract effectiveness in the short term for spasticity-related symptoms and pain and ineffectiveness of ginkgo biloba for cognitive function improvement in MS. Key level B recommendations included: Oral cannabis extract or a synthetic cannabis constituent, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is probably ineffective for objective spasticity improvement in the short term; Nabiximols oromucosal cannabinoid spray is probably effective for spasticity symptoms, pain, and urinary frequency, but probably ineffective for objective spasticity outcomes and bladder incontinence; Magnetic therapy is probably effective for fatigue reduction in MS; A low-fat diet with fish oil supplementation is probably ineffective for MS-related relapses, disability, fatigue, magnetic resonance imaging lesions, and quality of life. Several Level C recommendations were made. These included possible effectiveness of gingko biloba for fatigue; possible effectiveness of reflexology for MS-related paresthesias; possible ineffectiveness of the Cari Loder regimen for MS-related disability, symptoms, depression, and fatigue; and bee sting therapy for MS relapses, disability, fatigue, magnetic resonance imaging outcomes, and health-related quality of life. Despite the availability of studies evaluating the effects of oral cannabis in MS, the use of these formulations in United States may be limited due to a lack of standardized, commercial US Food and Dr
Body-Centered Interventions for Psychopathological Conditions: A Review
World-wide, billions of dollars are spent each year on body-centered interventions to alleviate both physical and psychological pathologies. Given the high demand and increasing popularity of body-centered interventions, there is need for a systematic organization of empirical evidence associated with body-centered therapies. This article reviews the psychological effects of body-centered interventions on emotional well-being, including both self and other-administered (receptive) therapies. Theory behind body-centered interventions rely upon the bidirectional communication pathway between the brain and body. We investigated the bidirectional communication pathway between the brain and body by evaluating evidence across multiple body-centered therapies. The research reviewed includes studies that investigate effects of massage therapy, reflexology, acupuncture, functional relaxation, emotional freedom technique, Rolfing, yoga, tai-chi, and dance/movement therapy on psychological conditions across the lifespan. Results demonstrated that overall, massage therapy, tai-chi, dance/movement therapy, functional relaxation, reflexology, acupuncture and emotional freedom technique seem to alleviate stress, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and facilitate pain reduction. Of these, the most robust evidence available was for massage therapy, indicating it is an effective intervention for numerous age groups and populations. Rolfing and reflexology had the least amount of support, with few studies available that had small sample sizes. Although these conclusions are limited by scarcity of high-quality empirical data and contradictory findings, available evidence indicates that body-centered interventions can be effective in reducing psychopathology and supports the proposed mechanism of the bidirectional pathway between the brain and body: the body holds the potential to influence the mind. Integrating body-centered therapies in both clinical settings and as self-care could
Treatment of overactive bladder in women
The Vanderbilt Evidence-based Practice Center systematically reviewed evidence on treatment of overactive bladder (OAB), urge urinary incontinence, and related symptoms. We focused on prevalence and incidence, treatment outcomes, comparisons of treatments, modifiers of outcomes, and costs. We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL. We included studies published in English from January 1966 to October 2008. We excluded studies with fewer than 50 participants, fewer than 75 percent women, or lack of relevance to OAB. Of 232 included publications, 20 were good quality, 145 were fair, and 67 poor. We calculated weighted averages of outcome effects and conducted a mixed-effects meta-analysis to investigate outcomes of pharmacologic treatments across studies. OAB affects more than 10 to 15 percent of adult women, with 5 to 10 percent experiencing urge urinary incontinence (UUI) monthly or more often. Six available medications are effective in short term studies: estimates from meta-analysis models suggest extended release forms (taken once a day) reduce UUI by 1.78 (95 percent confidence interval (CI): 1.61, 1.94) episodes per day, and voids by 2.24 (95 percent CI: 2.03, 2.46) per day. Immediate release forms (taken twice or more a day) reduce UUI by 1.46 (95 percent CI: 1.28, 1.64), and voids by 2.17 (95 percent CI: 1.81, 2.54). As context, placebo reduces UUI episodes by 1.08 (95 percent CI: 0.86, 1.30), and voids by 1.48 (95 percent CI: 1.19, 1.71) per day. No one drug was definitively superior to others, including comparison of newer more selective agents to older antimuscarinics. Current evidence is insufficient to guide choice of other therapies including sacral neuromodulation, instillation of oxybutynin, and injections of botulinum toxin. Acupuncture was the sole complementary and alternative medicine treatment, among reflexology and hypnosis, with early evidence of benefit. The strength of the evidence is insufficient to fully inform choice of these trea
Through Massage to the Brain-Neuronal and Neuroplastic Mechanisms of Massage Based on Various Neuroimaging Techniques (EEG, fMRI, and fNIRS)
Introduction: Massage therapy delivers structured mechanosensory input that can influence brain function, yet the central mechanisms and potential for neuroplastic change have not been synthesized across neuroimaging modalities. This mechanistic review integrates evidence from electroencephalography (EEG), functional MRI (fMRI), and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to map how massage alters human brain activity acutely and over time and to identify signals of longitudinal adaptation. Materials and Methods: We conducted a scoping, mechanistic review informed by PRISMA/PRISMA-ScR principles. PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate were queried for English-language human trials (January 1990-July 2025) that (1) delivered a practitioner-applied manual massage (e.g., Swedish, Thai, shiatsu, tuina, reflexology, myofascial techniques) and (2) measured brain activity with EEG, fMRI, or fNIRS pre/post or between groups. Non-manual stimulation, structural-only imaging, protocols, and non-English reports were excluded. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted study, intervention, and neuroimaging details; heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis, so results were narratively synthesized by modality and linked to putative mechanisms and longitudinal effects. Results: Forty-seven studies met the criteria: 30 EEG, 12 fMRI, and 5 fNIRS. Results: Regarding EEG, massage commonly increased alpha across single sessions with reductions in beta/gamma, alongside pressure-dependent autonomic shifts; moderate pressure favored a parasympathetic/relaxation profile. Connectivity effects were state- and modality-specific (e.g., reduced inter-occipital alpha coherence after facial massage, preserved or reorganized coupling with hands-on vs. mechanical delivery). Frontal alpha asymmetry frequently shifted leftward (approach/positive affect). Pain cohorts showed decreased cortical entropy and a shift toward slower rhythms, which tracked analgesia. Som
Therapeutic Massage for Cancer Survivors: An Umbrella Review
This umbrella review aimed to synthesize the evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the effects of therapeutic massage for cancer survivors. Three bibliographic databases were searched from inception to May 1, 2025. Two independent reviewers screened the titles and abstracts of 493 records and retrieved 28 full-text systematic reviews. Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews-2 (AMSTAR-2) was used for quality assessment. Qualitative syntheses were performed to compile the effects of therapeutic massage on cancer-related pain, fatigue, anxiety, sleep, quality of life, and other outcomes. Measures of effect sizes of these outcomes were extracted and summarized. Fifteen systematic reviews with meta-analyses published between 2014 and 2024 were included in this umbrella review, containing 175 primary studies. For quality assessment, three studies were evaluated as moderate quality, eight as low, and four as critically low. Massage therapy, reflexology, acupressure, and auricular acupressure were reported in the included reviews. Overall, therapeutic massage demonstrated positive effects in alleviating cancer-related pain, reducing fatigue and anxiety, improving sleep and quality of life, and managing treatment-related side effects, such as nausea and constipation. Adverse events were uncommon and mild. Therapeutic massage appears to be a safe and effective complementary intervention for managing a range of cancer-related symptoms. Despite promising findings, methodological limitations of existing reviews highlight the need for rigorously designed studies and standardized protocols to inform clinical practice.
Integrated Treatment of Breast Cancer-related Lymphedema: A Descriptive Review of the State of the Art
Upper limb breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a chronic and severe condition affecting a significant percentage of breast cancer survivors. Even though its physiopathology is well-known, there is no worldwide consensus on BCRL evaluation and a gold-standard treatment. This narrative review aims at providing a brief descriptive overview with regard to BCRL treatment modalities. We conducted a literature search within the PubMed database, and 33 articles out of 56 were selected, including reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses aiming find the most updated evidence regarding BCRL treatment modalities. Physical exercise (aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, aquatic therapy), bandages, and intermittent pneumatic compression were shown to be most effective in BCRL patients, in terms of swelling reduction in the acute-intensive phase. Furthermore, physical exercise was beneficial also as a maintenance tool. Manual lymphatic drainage demonstrated efficacy in preventing secondary lymphedema if applied immediately after breast cancer surgery or in early phases of BCRL or as a maintenance tool. Complementary procedures such as acupuncture, reflexology, yoga and photo-biomodulation therapy did not show conclusive results in BCRL treatment. Surgery was shown effective in managing symptoms (liposuction), preventing (lymphaticovenular anastomosis) and treating BCRL (vascularized lymph node transfer). BCRL is still a challenging condition either for breast cancer survivors and clinicians, deeply impacting patient functioning and quality of life. Due to the lack of globally accepted criteria in evaluating BCRL, to date a gold standard treatment for this widespread issue is still needed.
Efficacy of complementary interventions for management of anxiety in patients undergoing coronary angiography: A rapid systematic review
Coronary angiography (CAG) is an invasive and anxiety-provoking procedure for many patients. Psychological problems, especially anxiety, are the main concern of nurses taking care of these patients before the procedure. This rapid systematic review aimed to assess the efficacy of interventions for management of anxiety in patients undergoing CAG. In this study, all published, peer-reviewed, English-language interventional studies from 2009 to 2018 were identified in a search of Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases. The relevant studies were assessed using a quality assessment checklist. All included studies were assessed by 2 researchers. Finally, 15 studies with 1,312 participants that evaluated the effects of complementary methods on management of anxiety in patients undergoing CAG were included. The findings of this rapid systematic review suggested that complementary and nonpharmacological methods, such as music therapy, reflexology, Benson's relaxation technique, aromatherapy, guided imagery, and yoga, could be used effectively for management of anxiety in patients undergoing CAG.
'Complementary ENT': a systematic review of commonly used supplements
To assess the evidence surrounding the use of certain complementary supplements in otolaryngology. We specifically focussed on four commonly used supplements: spirulina, Ginkgo biloba, Vertigoheel and nutritional supplements (cod liver oil, multivitamins and pineapple enzyme). A systematic review of the English and foreign language literature. in vivo human studies. animal trials, in vitro studies and case reports. We also excluded other forms of 'alternative medicine' such as reflexology, acupuncture and other homeopathic remedies. Lack of common outcome measures prevented a formal meta-analysis. Three studies on the effects of spirulina in allergy, rhinitis and immunomodulation were found. One was a double-blind, placebo, randomised, controlled trial (RCT) of patients with allergic rhinitis, demonstrating positive effects in patients fed spirulina for 12 weeks. The other two studies, although non-randomised, also reported a positive role for spirulina in mucosal immunity. Regarding the use of Ginkgo biloba in tinnitus, a Cochrane review published in 2004 showed no evidence for this. The one double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that followed confirmed this finding. Regarding the use of Vertigoheel in vertigo, two double-blind RCTs and a meta-analysis were identified. The first RCT suggested that Vertigoheel was equally effective in reducing the severity, duration and frequency of vertigo compared with betahistine. The second RCT suggested that Vertigoheel was a suitable alternative to G. biloba in the treatment of atherosclerosis-related vertigo. A meta-analysis of only four clinical trials confirms that Vertigoheel was equally effective compared with betahistine, G. biloba and dimenhydrinate. Regarding multivitamins and sinusitis, two small paediatric pilot studies reported a positive response for chronic sinusitis and otitis media following a course of multivitamins and cod liver oil. Regarding bromelain (pineapple enzyme) and sinusitis, one randomised, mul
Does reflexology work? Common questions
Is reflexology scientifically proven?
No. The most careful reviews conclude reflexology isn't a proven treatment for any specific medical condition. What the research more consistently supports is relaxation and short-term relief of anxiety and pain. We track 808 studies here, graded by evidence strength, so you can judge for yourself.
Does reflexology actually work?
It depends what you mean. For curing or treating a disease, the evidence doesn't support it. For helping people relax and feel less anxious or in less pain during a session, a number of small studies are positive, including 245 randomized controlled trials and 221 systematic reviews or meta-analyses in this library.
Is reflexology a pseudoscience?
Reflexology's core idea, that specific points on the feet map to distant organs, isn't backed by anatomy or physiology, and that's why critics call it pseudoscience. The relaxation and comfort people feel during a session are real, though. It's best understood as a complementary relaxation practice, not a medical treatment.
What is reflexology best supported for?
The strongest and most consistent evidence is for relaxation and short-term reduction in anxiety and pain, plus some cancer-care symptoms like nausea and fatigue. Evidence for treating specific diseases is weak. Use the evidence-strength filter to sort studies by how solid they are.
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