Kunz and Kunz as referenced in medical literature

Evidenced Based Reflexology Research: For Health Professionals and Researchers https://a.co/d/53jRk2q 

From Japan, Egypt and Israel to Malaysia, India, Turkey and China there is recent reflexology research to be discovered. And, Kunz and Kunz written works are a source of information as listed in the references of nineteen studies in these and other countries.

Take a tour of the world of research. A link to the full study or abstract is indicated for 18 of the 19 following studies.

I. Miura, N.,  1, Akitsuki, Y., Sekiguchi, A. et al. “Activity in the primary somatosensory cortex induced by reflexological stimulation is unaffected by pseudo-information: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study.” BMC Complement Altern Med 13, 114 (2013). PMID: 23711332 (Full study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3668141/)

Reference:

Kunz K, Kunz B: “Understanding the science and Art of reflexology." Alternat Complement Ther. 1995, 1: 183-186. 10.1089/act.1995.1.183.

Researchers from: 

Department of Information and Communication Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tohoku Institute of Technology, Sendai, Japan.

II. Elsayed, Amira, Kandeel, Nahed, El-Aziz, Wafaa, “The Effect of Foot Reflexology on Physiological Indicators and Mechanical Ventilation Weaning Time among Open-Heart Surgery Patients” American Journal of Nursing Research. 2019, 7(4), 412-419 DOI: 10.12691/ajnr-7-4-2 (Full study http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajnr/7/4/2/index.html) 

Use of Kunz material to conduct study:

“The reflexology procedure was performed by the primary investigator. The steps of foot reflexology technique were adopted from Kunz and Kunz. [31]… as well as contributing to selection of “ … the points on the planter surface of the foot which may be responsible for stabilization of physiological indicators and reduction of ventilation dependence were chosen” [16, 30, 31, 32.]. 

Reference:

[31] Kunz, B. & Kunz, K. Complete Reflexology for Life, Dorling Kindersley Limited Publishing, United States 2007

Researchers from: 

Critical Care and Emergency Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt

III. Mohamed Abd Elrhman El Saied El Hoty, 1, Zinab Hussien Ali 2, Abd Elkawy,

Abd Allah Elmoghazy, 3, “Effect of Reflexology on the Severity of Foot Pain and Quality of Life on Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis” IOSR Journal of Nursing and Health Science Volume 9, Issue 4 Ser. III (Jul. – Aug. 2020), PP 23-35 (Full study: http://iosrjournals.org/iosr-jnhs/papers/vol9-issue4/Series-3/C0904032335.pdf)

Use of Kunz material to conduct study:

“The steps of foot reflexology technique were adopted from (Kunz & Kunz, 2007).” 

Reference:

Kunz, B., & Kunz, K., (2007): Complete reflexology for life, 1st Ed, Dorling Kindersley Limited publishing, United States.

Researchers from:

1 Assistant Lecturer of Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Helwan University, Egypt. 

2 Professor of Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Helwan University, Egypt. 3 Assistant Professor of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University,

Egypt

IV. Dolatian M, Hasanpour A, Heshmat R, Alavi Majd H, (Department of Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran) ”The Effect of Reflexology on Pain Intensity of Labor” Journal of Advances in Medical and Biomedical Research, Fall 2010 , Volume 18, Number 73, Pages 52-61 PMID: 22737514 (Full study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3371987/)

Use of Kunz material to conduct study:

“The work method (for the research study) was done based on the reference book of reflexology [Barbara and Kevin Kunz. Reflexology health at your fingertips. USA. Newyork(sic). Uk publishing; 2003.] and approved by a specialist in reflexology.”

Researchers from:

Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

V. Attias, Samuel, 1,2, Sivan, Keren, 3, Avneri, Ofri, 1, Sagee, Avigail, 1, Ben-Arye, Eran, 4, 5, Grinberg, Ofra, 6, Sroka, Gideon, 5, 6, Matter, Ibrahim, 5, 6, Schiff, Elad, 1, 3, 7, “Analgesic Effects of Reflexology in Patients Undergoing Surgical Procedures: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2018 Aug;24(8):809-815. PMID: 29883188 (Abstract: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29883188/)

Reference:

Kunz B, Kunz K. The Complete Guide to Foot Reflexology. North Charleston, South Carolina: Create Space Independent Publishing Platform, 2011:2-3.

Researchers from:
1 Complementary and Integrative Surgery Service, and the Surgery Department, Bnai-Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel .
2 School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel .
3 Internal Medicine Department, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel .
4 Integrative Oncology Program, The Oncology Service and Lin Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, Haifa, Israel .
5 Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel .
6 Department of General Surgery, Bnai-Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel .
7 The International Center for Health, Law and Ethics, Haifa, Israel .

VI. Yaser Abbaszedeh, 1,  Atefeh Allahbakhshian, 2,  Alehe Seyyedrasooli, 3, Parvin Sarbakhsh, 4, Sakineh Goljarian, 5, Naser, Safaei, 6, “Effects of Foot Reflexology on Anxiety and Physiological Parameters in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: A Clinical Trial,” Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2018 May;31:220-228. PMID: 29705459 (Abstract: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29705459/)

Reference:
B. Kunz, K. Kunz, Complete Reflexology for Life, Penguin, 2007.

Researchers from:

1-6 Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

VII

Stephenson NL, Swanson M, Dalton J, Keefe FJ, Engelke M. Partner-delivered reflexology: effects on cancer pain and anxiety. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2007 Jan;34(1):127-32. doi: 10.1188/07.ONF.127-132. PMID: 17562639. (Abstract: https://onf.ons.org/onf/34/1/partner-delivered-reflexology-effects-cancer-pain-and-anxiety)

Reference:

Kunz, K., & Kunz, B. (1999). Medical applications of reflexology: Findings in research about safety, efficacy, mechanism of action and cost-effectiveness of reflexology. Albuquerque, NM: Reflexology Research Project Press.

Researchers from: 

School of Nursing, East Carolina University, US

VIII.
Stephenson NLN, Dalton JA, “Using Reflexology for Pain Management: A Review,” Journal of Holistic Nursing. 2004;21(2):179-191. PMID: 12794960dos:10. 1177/0898010103021002007

Reference:
Kunz, K., & Kunz, B. (1999a). Hand Reflexology Workbook. Albuquerque, NM; Reflexology Research Project Press

Researchers from:
School of Nursing, East Carolina University, US

IX. Krishna Dalal, 1, V. Bharathi Maran, 1, Ravindra M. Pandey, 2, Manjari Tripathi, 3, “Determination of Efficacy of Reflexology in Managing Patients with Diabetic Neuropathy: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial”, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2014, PMID: 24527055 (Full study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3913279/)

Reference:

K. Kunz and B. Kunz, The Complete Guide to Foot Reflexology (Revised), Reflexology Research Project, Albuquerque, NM, USA, 1993.

Researchers from:

1 Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110 029, India.

2 Department of Biostatistics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110 029, India.

3 Department of Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110 029, India.

X. NH Embong, a, YC Soh, a, LC Ming, ab, TW Wong, c, “Revisiting reflexology: Concept, evidence, current practice, and practitioner training” Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, Volume 5, Issue 4, October 2015, Pages 197-206 PMID: 26587391 (Full study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4624523/)

References:

B. Kunz, Reflexology Health at Your Fingertips: Hands-on Treatment for Vitality and Well-being

(2003), p. 160

Kunz K., Kunz B. “Understanding the science and art of reflexology.” Altern Complement Ther. 1995;1:183–186.

Researchers from: 

a Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

b Brain Degeneration and Therapeutics Group, Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences CoRe, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

c Non-Destructive Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research Centre, iPROMISE, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

XI.

NH Embong, YC Soh, LC Ming, TW Wong, “Perspective on reflexology: A qualitative approach” Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, Volume 7, Issue 3, July 2017, Pages 327-331, PMID: 28725628 (Full study:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5506646/)

Reference:

K. Kunz, B. Kunz, “Understanding the science and art of reflexology” Altern Complementary Ther, 1 (3) (1995), pp. 183-186

Researchers from:

See above, X.

XII. Tahereh Bahrami, MScN, 1, Nahid Rejeh, PhD, MScN, BScN, 2, Majideh Heravi-Karimooi, PhD, MScN, BScN, 2 Seyed Davood Tadrisi, MScN, 3, Mojtaba Vaismoradi, PhD, MScN, BScN, 4, “The Effect of Foot Reflexology on Hospital Anxiety and Depression in Female Older.” International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork—Volume 12, Number 3, September 2019 PMID: 31489059 (Full study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6715326/)

Reference:

Kunz K, Kunz B. The Complete Guide to Foot Reflexology (revised). Albuquerque, NM: Reflexology Research Project; 1993.

Researchers from: 

1 Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran

2 Elderly Care Research Center, Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran 

3 Faculty of Nursing, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 

4 Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Nord University, Bodø, Norway

XIII. Simin Sharifi1, Ali Navidian2, Mozhgan Jahantigh1 and Abouzar Shamsoddini Lori3  “Investigating the Impact of Foot Reflexology on Severity of Fatigue in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Clinical Trial Study,” Medical Surgical Journal 7 (1), July 2018 (Full study: https://sites.kowsarpub.com/msnj/articles/81634.html)

Reference:
Kunz K, Kunz B. The Complete Guide to Foot Reflexology. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 2011. 147 p.

Researchers from:
1 Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Community Nursing Research Center, Zahean University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
2 Department of Psychiatric Nursing, Pregnancy Research Center, Zahean University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
3 School of Nursing and Midwifery, Zahean University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran

XIV. AM El-Bandrawy, 1, WM Kamal, 1, HO Ghareeb, 2, “Effect of foot reflexology adjunct to paced respiration on vasomotor symptoms during menopause: randomized-controlled trial,”  Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy 2018 Volume 23 Issue 2, Pages 77-84 (Full study: https://www.bfpt.eg.net/article.asp?issn=1110-6611;year=2018;volume=23;issue=2;spage=77;epage=84;aulast=El-Bandrawy)

Reference:

Kunz B. 2003 Reflexology Health at Your Fingertips: Hands-on Treatment for Vitality and Well-being, Dorling Kindersley, p. 160

Researchers from: 

¹ Department of Physical Therapy for Woman’s Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
² Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

XV. Unlu A, a, Onder K, b,  Ozgodan M, b, “Reflexology and cancer: Meta-Analysis,” Journal of Oncological Sciences (2018), (Full study: http://www.journalofoncology.org/uploads/pdf/93746059200994.pdf)

Reference:

Kunz B. Reflexology Health at Your Fingertips: Hands-on Treatment for Vitality

and Well-being. 2003:160.

Researchers from:

a Cay State Hospital, Ministry of Health, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey

b Memorial Antalya Hospital, Oncology Department, Antalya, Turkey

XVI. Y Lee, 1, Q Pan, 3, Y Du, 2,  L Zhang, 4, C Li, 5, M Hu, 6, M Li, 3, “A Case Study: Effects of Foot Reflexotherapy in an Infant with SensoriNeural Hearing Loss,” Journal of Acupuncture and Meridan Studies, Volume 13, Issue, April 2020, Pages 61-65 (Full study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4624523/)

Reference:

K. Kunz, B. Kunz, “Understanding the science and art of reflexology,” Alternative Compl Ther, 1 (3) (1995), pp. 183-186, 10.1089/act.1995.1.183

Researchers from: 

1 Foreign Language Department of North Sichuan Medical College, China

2 Hearing Center, Otolaryngology, Head & Neck North, Sichuan Medical College Affiliated Hospital, China

3 Nursing Department of North Sichuan Medical College, China

4 LanTu Rehabilitation Center of Special Education School of Nanchong City, China

5 Special Education, School of Nanchong City, China

6 College of Foreign Languages of Shandong, University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China

XVII. BB Kaya, M Sahin,  “Public knowledge about traditional and complementary medicine,” The European Research Journal, 2019 - researchgate.net

Reference:

Kunz K., Kunz B. Understanding the science and art of reflexology. Altern Complement Ther 1995;1:183-6

Researchers from: 

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Erenköy Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey

XVIII. R. Nalini, 1, Jissy Jocob. 2, “Effectiveness of reflexology on premenstrual syndrome among students.” Int. J. Adv. Nurs Management 3(2): April- June, 2015; Page 139-144. (Abstract: https://ijanm.com/AbstractView.aspx?PID=2015-3-2-15)

Reference:

Kunz K and Kunz B. The complete guide to foot reflexology (revised). Albuquerque, NM: Reflexology Research; 1993.

Researchers from:

1 Principal, Kamala College of Nursing, Salem, Tamilnadu
2 Doing Masters in Addiction Studies, Dublin Business School, Dublin, Ireland

XIX. Sei-Young Oh, 1, Ok-Soon Park, 2, Myung-Yi Woo, 3, “Effects of Qi Hand Reflexology on Autonomic Nervous System Activity and Physical Resistance to Stress in Inpatients,” Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing 2010;17(4): 531 (Abstract: https://j.kafn.or.kr/journal/view.php?number=643)

Reference:

Kunz, B., & Kunz K., (2001) Hand Reflexology  workbook: How to work on someone’s hands, A: RRP Press

Researchers from:

1 Seoul Women’s College of Nursing

2 Seoul Women’s College of Nursing

3 St. Paul Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea

XX Denise Tiran, Harry Chummun, The physiological basis of reflexology and its use as a potential diagnostic tool, Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, Volume 11, Issue 1, February 2005, Pages 58-64

Reference:

Kunz K, Kunz B. Ground breaking research in acupuncture to impact reflexology. 1998. Online available http://www. reflexology-research.com/howto.html.

Areas of study for their Reflexology Research Project include documenting reflexology techniques and ideas; how reflexology works in the nervous system; a data base of research studies in reflexology (500 and counting); the structure and function of the foot as well as the activities of standing and walking; and reflexology paths. These topics and more have been explored and experienced, described and written about in books for self reflexology users, family reflexologists, professional reflexologists and health professionals. Kunz and Kunz Web presence includes: a popular Web site and newsletter as well as active participation in social media--Facebook, blog, forums and Twitter.

Our story

People always ask how we got started in reflexology. Kevin tells them how he was walking down the aisle of a book store and found a book on reflexology. It’s one of life’s little moments where we always wonder what would have happened if he’d been walking down another aisle. 

For Barbara it was experiencing the results of Kevin’s work. His work provided a solution to her sinus headache problems and was the beginning of Barbara’s interest. For her, development of self applied reflexology techniques and hand reflexology techniques followed.

Our on-going in depth exploration of reflexology was launched by a question Barbara asked a client while she was doing reflexology on his hands. The question was “Jimmy, are you moving your fingers?” His answer was, “No, Kevin is.” That was quite a surprise. Our client was a quadriplegic paralyzed from the neck down. Yet, his moving fingers had interrupted Barbara’s work. As it turned out, Kevin’s reflexology work on Jimmy’s left foot had prompted the fingers of Jimmy’s right hand to move. Why? The answer took a year to research and realize. The discovery was to change everything for us. We discovered reflexology’s value is in the pressure it provides to the feet and hands. Just as vitamins serve as nutrients, such pressure application provides nourishment to the body and creates healthful changes. We were off on our journey to work with further clients and make more discoveries. 

It’s been a forty-year, never-ending fascination with reflexology. Every pair of feet and set of hands are unexplored territory waiting to be discovered. The greatest excitement and reward has been helping others. Every one of our 22 books is an effort to research and explain about how and why to use the incredible healing tool of reflexology.

We invite you to come along, to start your own journey, helping yourself and others feel better.