Comment on Cancer Care Document

I really appreciate all of your help and your wonderful brochures ~ they were received by the Cancer Institute here with great interest and I have been asked to be a member of their Integrative Program Planning Board.  I have no doubt that your cancer brochures were the greatest help in making that happen!

Appreciatively,

Jan Mariette

To view the Cancer Care Pamphlet click below. 

http://bit.ly/ciqOQj

Up and Coming Trend: Reflexology and Cancer Care

The success of reflexology in cancer care has reached a tipping point. And, it’s indicating an up and coming trend. Research from around the world has documented the positive effects of reflexology when applied to all aspects of the cancer experience. Twenty-two studes from nine countries show that reflexology helps individuals undergoing:
• Chemotherapy: nausea and vomiting, fatigue and anxiety
• Cancer management: pain, anxiety and nausea
• Post operative: pain and anxiety
• Palliative/hospice care: fatigue, quality of life, morale


We are in the process of producing a brochure, Can Reflexology Help with the Cancer Experience? . It should be out next week. 



Kevin Kunz

 http://www.reflexology-research.com 

http://www.dk.com/reflexology 

Tweet me @twitter.com/footreflexology

Facebook www.facebook.com/kevin.kunz 

What’s New in Reflexology Research

What’s new in reflexology research? It’s what’s being researched. The following new studies were conducted in China. Considering these studies one is struck by:

(1) possible reflexology uses in medical care

(2) ever-expanding uses and results sought by a Chinese medical system that has conducted reflexology research for at least 30 years

(3) possible future uses of reflexology in medical systems all over the world

(4) the future job of a reflexologist / hospitalist, a reflexologist who is on call as needed to provide reflexology services to multiple categories of hospital patients, e. g. pre-operative, post operative, cancer care, hemodialysis, birthing, post natal.

New Studies

• While pain and anxiety are subjects of many reflexology studies, 27 and 24 respectively, the new wave of reflexology research tests for pain and anxiety during the colonoscopy procedure; with mechanical ventilation insertion and following post operative after pacemaker installation.

• Reflexology application to those with constipation concerns has been researched previously for individuals in all age ranges: children, college students, middle aged women and the elderly. Recent research has investigated the effect of reflexology on constipation in individuals who have experienced a stroke in one study, coronary heart disease in another, cancer in a third study and dementia in a fourth.

• Easier child birthing has been documented through research and now new research is showing amelioration for the post natal period: reduction in pain after Cesarean section, improved sleep, improved recovery of urination and defecation; lessened depression and anxiety.

• Studies of diabetics has previously shown improved peripheral circulation following reflexology work through testing by tactile response and intensity of symptoms. New studies show peripheral circulation improvements through measurement of motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity.

• Research about the impact of reflexology on the elderly has demonstrated improvements in blood pressure, control over falls, and sleep. New studies show that the application of reflexology positively impacts the hospitalized elderly: vitality in one study and in another study, sleep, fatigue, vital signs and blood sugar levels in the elderly with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

• Physiologic measures: A study of uterine fibroids showed changes in prolactin, testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen. 

Barbara Kunz

http://www.reflexology-research.com 

http://www.dk.com/reflexology 

Tweet me @twitter.com/footreflexology

Facebook www.facebook.com/kevin.kunz 

Dosing, Cancer and Reflexology

“Dose: exact amount of a medicine or extent of some other treatment to be given or taken at one time or at stated intervals.” Webster’s New World Dictionary

Thanks to the work of Dr. Nancy Stephenson, the concept of dosing has come to reflexology. Dr. Stephenson, associate professor of nursing at Eastern Carolina University in Greenville, NC and certified reflexologist, has conducted four studies exploring specific aspects of reflexology work applied to alleviate pain with cancer patients. Through her research she has established “dosing” parameters, how much reflexology is applied to what effect. In addition, she has demonstrated that “partners,” trained family members, can reduce the pain of a cancer patient.

Such work makes Dr. Stephenson’s studies unique among twenty-one studies about reflexology and cancer. All show significant improvements in physical and emotional symptoms of those experiencing cancer, specifically demonstrating that reflexology aids cancer care: lessens pain; decreases nausea, vomiting and fatigue; improves quality of life and quality of sleep; lifts mood; and lessens anxiety and stress.


Dr. Stephenson’s interest in reflexology started during her doctoral studies at the University of South Carolina at Columbia when a committee member suggested she write an article about reflexology. Over the following year, she became certified by the International Institute of Reflexology and then expanded her interest in reflexology to research.

For her doctoral dissertation, Dr. Stephenson “used a crossover design to compare reflexology with usual care in 23 inpatients with cancer.” Her results found a significant decrease in pain and anxiety for those who received a reflexology session compared to those who had not. See (1). For her postdoctoral studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill she studied 36 patients with cancer and “found a significant decrease in pain and anxiety immediately following the intervention (reflexology)… (establishing) a dosage time of 30 minutes.”

In further research of effects and duration, she found that reflexology work created a positive and immediate effect on pain with effects dissipated both at 3 hours and 24 hours after intervention. Such work establishes a frequency of application effectiveness and duration for a 30-minute reflexology session. One could say that, just as a dose of pain medication is administered, so too could be a “dose” of reflexology. Now that Stephenson’s research has established a three hour window of impact, an effective “dose” could be administered every 3 hours. (2)

The importance of Stephenson’s work is in the discussion of dosing in the application of reflexology. While Chinese researchers speak in terms of frequency, duration and intensity in the application of reflexology, encompassing such ideas into the term “dosing” brings reflexology more in line with recognized concepts. Her work specifically addresses cancer care but opens the door for reflexologists to approach their work in any number of situations. After all, a common question for the reflexologist from a client or prospective client is: How long do you think this is going to take? With concrete information from research, the reflexologist can speak with authority to answer the question. (For “dosing” information garnered from research for some 78 health concerns, see Evidence-Based Reflexology for Reflexologists.)


Read More


Barbara Kunz

http://www.reflexology-research.com 

http://www.dk.com/reflexology 

Tweet me @twitter.com/footreflexology

Facebook www.facebook.com/kevin.kunz

Facebook | Breast cancer patients test reflexology -- chicagotribune.com

Can reflexology mitigate the effects of chemotherapy on women with breast cancer? One study hopes to show if this is true or not. 

This is going to be great PR for reflexology when it is released in 2010. However after reading the brief synopsis from the Chicago Tribune it may not be the greatest science. 

This is a research study that is uses "placebo reflexology" or placebo foot massages (whatever that is). These studies never seem to have very clear results. The one saving grace is that there is one group that receives no treatment at all. This simply makes more sense than fake reflexology. 

Placebo reflexology doesn't exist. It is figment of researchers imaginations. It assumes that a practitioner can clearly fake it.  Also it assumes that there "points" on the foot rather than areas that may be stimulated by the fake reflexology. the boundaries seem very thin.  

Or let us go the other way. Isn't the chance for a placebo effect quite high if you think you are receiving the real reflexology even though you are receiving the fake reflexology? Isn't that the very definition of a placebo effect? 

A further issue with these types of protocols is the problem that arises when the practitioners do both the real reflexology and the sham reflexology. The implication of the Chicago Tribune article is that the practitioner is doing both the real and the fake sessions. I hope not. 

The tests are meant to demonstrate whether there is a difference between reflexology and foot massage in addressing certain conditions. Can a practitioner "cross the line" into real reflexology if their heart goes out to a poor cancer victim who happens to be suffering a great deal? They are only human. It might not even be consciously done. 

Or what is the definition of a fake treatment. Is it foot massage or is it simply avoiding the areas traditionally used in reflexology to address these conditions. This isn't as simple as administering a sugar pill. It involves humans.  

This research is also something that has been already been done. There are a fair amount of research done by other researchers on cancer and chemo. But this time the research study will cost three million dollars. That is a lot of money. Perhaps it is because of the size of the study and it's length of 5 years that it so costly. 

Don't get me wrong. I am all for more research and especially in this population. But I am curious what sets this apart from the other studies already done. It has to be good at that price tag. 

I hope I am wrong about this study. I hope it shows something clear cut and defendable as good science. We have seen too many muddled protocols that fail to clearly demonstrate a positive or negative result. 

I really hope I am wrong. Time will tell. 

Kevin Kunz

http://www.reflexology-research.com

http://www.dk.com/reflexology

Top 10 things reflexology can do that medicine can't

© Kurhan. Image from BigStockPhoto.com

We have prepared a series of publications on Evidenced Based Reflexology Research. Here is a preview of some of the results. And don't get the wrong idea. This is not to suggest that reflexology is more than a complementary therapy. But according to research there are things that reflexology is capable of doing that medicine cannot do as well.

Top 10 things reflexology can do that medicine can't

1. Phantom Limb pain
2. Postpartum
3. Diabetes
4. Cancer and chemo
5. Neuropathy
6. Hemodialysis
7. Aids mentally ill providing needed benefits to reflexology work
8. Research showed relief from post traumatic stress syndrome
9. Measures of stress are significantly decreased
10. Immediate feelings of wellbeing

10 things
1. Research shows that reflexology work alleviates and, at times, eliminate phantom limb pain

2. Reflexology is  beneficial for post-partum women including issues such as Anxiety and depression and recovery from Cesarean section.

3. Research shows that reflexology work reduces physiologic measures for diabetics and is an effective treatment for type II diabetes mellitus. Circulation to the feet is improved also.

4. Thirteen studies from seven countries (US, Italy, Japan, China, Switzerland, Korea, United Kingdom) target cancer care and show the benefits of reflexology work including anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain, nausea, and vomiting.

5. Neuropathy Research shows improvement in blood flow rate, time and acceleration within the feet following reflexology work

6. Research shows that reflexology work helps  individuals undergoing hemodialysis: Improves the kidney’s functions with changes in physiologic measures: an increase in red blood cells (to combat anemia concerns), increase in lymphocytes (to help fight infection), and enhances disposal of waste products.

7. Reflexology programs and research shows that reflexology aids the mentally ill, providing needed benefits unique to reflexology work. Mental health workers report that reflexology work furnishes many advantages including facilitating communication

8. Victims of post traumatic stress syndrome experienced relief from symptoms including anger, depression and muscle tension as well as improved sleep patterns, levels of concentration and a lift in overall mood.

9. Measures of stress such as blood pressure, pulse rate and self-reported anxiety are significantly decreased, decreased or lowered.

The last point came from a client. He said when "I go to the doctor I don't know what the outcome will be. But when I see you I always feel better." He said it was a feeling of well being and that is what he paid for.

Kevin Kunz

http://www.reflexology-research.com