What Scientific Trials Have Been Done With Reflexology?

　　During the last 25 years or so, many different clinical trials have been carried out under scientifically controlled conditions to try to find out whether alternative and complementary therapies actually have any effect on the body. The practioners of the various therapies claim that they do, but for established medicine to accept it, some trial evidence is required.

　　Of the trials that have been done, the conditions that reflexology was found to have a positive effect included stress and anxiety, pre menstrual problems, migraine headaches, foot swelling, such as occurs in pregnancy, multiple sclerosis and some types of cancer pain.

　　The trouble with these studies is that they tend to only have small numbers of participants. One study was done to see if 46 women, shown how to practice reflexology on themselves using foot reflexology charts, felt that their symptoms of clinical depression improved. Most of them did report an improvement, but only 46 people is not enough to be really sure of the result.