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Reflexology is a non-invasive, complementary therapy that is based on the theory that, by applying controlled pressure to certain reflex zones in the palm and foot, channels along the ner-vous system are stimulated, thereby facilitating energy pathways that may be blocked or congested.
Open Journal PUBLISHERS Editorial Suffering from Pain: Reflexology as an Advantageous Adjuvant to Palliative Care * Chelli Levi, CR; Michael Silbermann, PhD* The Middle East Cancer Consortium, 45 Yotam Street, Haifa 34675, Israel * *Corresponding author Michael Silbermann, PhD The Middle East Cancer Consortium, Israel; E-mail: cancer@mecc-research.com Article information th th th Received: May 27 , 2020; Accepted: May 27 , 2020; Published: May 27 , 2020 Cite this article Levi C, Silbermann M. Suffering from pain: Reflexology as an advantageous adjuvant to palliative care. Palliat Med Hosp Care Open J. 2020; 6(1): e1-e2. doi: 10.17140/PMHCOJ-6-e009 eflexology is a non-invasive, complementary therapy that is pattern of repetitive stress stemming from by people’s lifestyles. based on the theory that, by applying controlled pressure to R certain reflex zones in the palm and foot, channels along the ner- We believe that the coordination and collaboration be- vous system are stimulated, thereby facilitating energy pathways tween this alternative therapy and mainstream medicine provides a that may be blocked or congested.
beneficial avenue which may enhance and maintain general physi- cal health via decreasing anxiety and stress.5 The reflex zone is the region in zone therapy that illus- trates its interconnection with all parts of the body. It is hypoth- Since the late 1970’s, studies have been conducted to as- esized that there is an invisible pathway which runs along the body sess the efficacy of behavioral and relaxation approaches to con- vertically, from the top of the head down to the tips of the fingers trolling nausea/vomiting, anxiety and other side effects associated 1,2 with chemotherapy; it has become apparent that reflexology and and toes, while each zone represents a specific area of the body. A recent study in India examined the effectiveness of foot massage foot massages can be considered a supportive treatment when on the reduction of pain among cancer patients undergoing pallia- used in combination with traditional medical treatments; this ap- tive care. The findings revealed a highly significant improvement in proach should be executed by an expert, qualified professional to 3 help cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy to feel better and the degree of their pain as compared with that of control patients. cope better with their disease.6 Reflexology is currently being considered as a comple- mentary therapy, widely used in palliative care to alleviate a prob- The modern vision of palliative care involves the man- lem without necessarily determining its underlying cause in order agement of emotional and spiritual needs of patients and their rel- to improve a patient’s emotional, physical, psychological and spiri- atives. This is particularly relevant for developing countries, where 4 extended families are still prevalent, religious values still strong tual health and to upgrade the patient’s value of life. and religious practices still common.7 Palliative care in general, and Reflexology does not cause any harmful effects as long as reflexology in particular, indeed represent unique approaches for necessary preventions are taken for patients with special medical communities and countries with both high- and low-tech medicine conditions such as blood clot disorders, cancer and heart failure. to cope with pain and suffering arising from various illnesses. Therefore, it is imperative that reflexology practitioners take their We recognize that the presence of reflexology services, clients’ overall health condition into consideration. Furthermore, regardless of the age of the patient, has the potential to carry in- practitioners should ask about and listen to their clients regarding trinsic values to far corners of global health care, including person- their health status, which may be influenced by a variety of factors al dignity, maintaining hope for healing and bearing witness. The such as their psychological and emotional well-being. It is crucial latter is the practice of actively listening and not shying away from to build a trustful rapport between reflexologist and client, through 4 difficult conversations, bad news or the unknown. It also means empathy, leading to a meaningful therapeutic relationship. Any on- sharing personal experiences so that patients realize that they are going reflexology treatment strives to reduce stress levels which, in not alone in this journey.8 turn, increases the quality of life as it is one way to interrupt the cc Copyright 2020 by Silbermann M. This is an open-access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), Palliat Med Hosp Care Open J. 2020; 6(1): e1-e2. doi: 10.17140/PMHCOJ-6-e009 CONFLICT OF INTEREST 7(3): 327-331. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.08.008 The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest. 5. Quinn F, Baxter GD, Hughes CM. Complementary therapies in the management of low back pain: A survey of reflexologists. Com-