A reflexologist who attended the course last September has recently contacted me after successfully using RLD to help a client with ME. She wrote . . . . . . .
"I have been applying your methods to my client suffering with ME. I have seen this lady for quite a few months now. At first I discovered she had cauliflower type nodules all along her spine reflex. After "popping" them, the area became inflamed and puffy. As you can imagine I was alarmed and this was quite a painful process for her. I used your technique thinking it was worth a try. I was able to "move" this puffiness along the spine and drain it off through the thoracic duct. I continued until I was satisfied that she was balanced and I had achieved the outcome I wanted... The majority of her ME symptoms dissipated and over the past weeks and months she has some energy and doesn't use as much pain relief. I am confident that I can help people with your fantastic work. I just wanted to thank you!!!
I replied with details of my own findings from successfully using RLD when treating clients with fibromyalgia. ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia are notoriously difficult to treat and this would make an interesting research study.
Gosh this is so exciting!!!! someone who doesn't think I'm mad!!! and you have got me thinking more clearly about how it all links together and all the systems that may well be affected.
I found that S3,4,5 has a thick "fibrous" inflammation present in both feet but more predominate in her left foot. The nodules started at L5/4 all the way up to T2/1 but seemed more clustered and painful in the L4-3-2. The cauliflower nodules were firmly attached to the nerves and took some persuading to loosen them and reduce them, kind of like when releasing a trapped nerve. Things have been improving and her ME symptoms have dissipated with every treatment she has. She finds they start to return a few days before her next two week treatment. She also finds that for a few days after the treatment she feels energised.
The following information is about existing research into reflexology and fibromyalgia. Effects of reflexology on Fibromyalgia symptoms: A multiple case study (Gunnarsdottir and Peden-McAlpine 2010) aimed to explore the effects of reflexology on pain and other symptoms in women with Fibromyalgia (FM).
A qualitative multiple case study design was used to do a systematic and inductive study of reflexology. The methodology chosen aimed to interpret the subjective experiences of each individual participant and to evaluate multiple case studies collectively. Multiple case study design allowed for individually based treatments. Participants (n=6) received a course of 10 weekly reflexology sessions, provided by one reflexologist to avoid inter-rater reliability. During the first session all reflex areas of the feet were worked. Subsequent sessions allowed 45 minutes for a generic treatment and additional time to stimulate individual problem specific reflexes.
Data were collected through interviews, observation and a diary. The interview aimed to explore a deeper understanding of individual experience of reflexology on their symptoms, specifically pain.
Participants completed a symptom diary for 13 weeks, starting one week before the intervention and finishing two weeks after the last session. They recorded reflections on quality of sleep, medication intake, sensations of pain and any other aggravating factors or benefits. Experiences of pain were marked on a diagram of the body and rated using Numerical Ratings Scale (NRS) 0-10, corresponding to the amount of pain experienced.
Data analyses were both within case and cross case. All data within case were reviewed to describe the experience of reflexology on pain and symptoms. Individual pain scores according to the diary were graphed for visual analysis. Cross cases data were analysed by reading the individual reports and identifying common themes, uniqueness, confusions and contraindications.
Data from the diaries indicate pain as the most prevalent symptom. In four of the cases pain was reported to decrease in severity and to become more isolated during the study. It is suggested that other health problems or FM symptoms responded to reflexology during the study.
The study concludes that reflexology may help to decrease the experience of pain in FM sufferers, suggesting that multiple case study analysis brings insight into the experiences of the cohort.
The authors conclude that reflexology may be used to provide a caring presence, showing compassion, combined with a feeling of doing something that may help a patient. This questions whether the reflexology or the therapeutic relationship is the affecter. As all data collected were subjective, any therapeutic relationship may contribute to the placebo effect, which could influence the results
Gunnarsdottir T.J. and Peden-McAlpine C Effects of reflexology on Fybromyalgia symptoms: A multiple case study. Complementary Therapy in Practice 16 (2010) 167-172
A qualitative multiple case study design was used to do a systematic and inductive study of reflexology. The methodology chosen aimed to interpret the subjective experiences of each individual participant and to evaluate multiple case studies collectively. Multiple case study design allowed for individually based treatments. Participants (n=6) received a course of 10 weekly reflexology sessions, provided by one reflexologist to avoid inter-rater reliability. During the first session all reflex areas of the feet were worked. Subsequent sessions allowed 45 minutes for a generic treatment and additional time to stimulate individual problem specific reflexes.
Data were collected through interviews, observation and a diary. The interview aimed to explore a deeper understanding of individual experience of reflexology on their symptoms, specifically pain.
Participants completed a symptom diary for 13 weeks, starting one week before the intervention and finishing two weeks after the last session. They recorded reflections on quality of sleep, medication intake, sensations of pain and any other aggravating factors or benefits. Experiences of pain were marked on a diagram of the body and rated using Numerical Ratings Scale (NRS) 0-10, corresponding to the amount of pain experienced.
Data analyses were both within case and cross case. All data within case were reviewed to describe the experience of reflexology on pain and symptoms. Individual pain scores according to the diary were graphed for visual analysis. Cross cases data were analysed by reading the individual reports and identifying common themes, uniqueness, confusions and contraindications.
Data from the diaries indicate pain as the most prevalent symptom. In four of the cases pain was reported to decrease in severity and to become more isolated during the study. It is suggested that other health problems or FM symptoms responded to reflexology during the study.
The study concludes that reflexology may help to decrease the experience of pain in FM sufferers, suggesting that multiple case study analysis brings insight into the experiences of the cohort.
The authors conclude that reflexology may be used to provide a caring presence, showing compassion, combined with a feeling of doing something that may help a patient. This questions whether the reflexology or the therapeutic relationship is the affecter. As all data collected were subjective, any therapeutic relationship may contribute to the placebo effect, which could influence the results
Gunnarsdottir T.J. and Peden-McAlpine C Effects of reflexology on Fybromyalgia symptoms: A multiple case study. Complementary Therapy in Practice 16 (2010) 167-172
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