There are many myths being circulated on the internet about reflexology and in today’s post, we’ll unwrap some of these myths so the truth about therapeutic reflexology may be revealed.
Myth #1: Reflexology can help you stop your medication
Therapeutic Reflexology is not a replacement for medical treatment and therefore a reputable and registered therapeutic reflexologist will never tell a patient to stop using their medication. Patients cannot merely stop using medication as it may be very dangerous and if a patient wants to go off medication, he or she should visit a medical doctor to facilitate such a process; a good rule of thumb, is to go to the same doctor that prescribed the medication in the first place in order to facilitate such process. However, the therapeutic reflexologist will never tell a patient to stop using medication; that is irresponsible and dangerous.
Therapeutic Reflexology may assist the body to balance itself and when that happens, the body may need less of a specific medication and the dosage may need to be adjusted, but once again, that is not the place of the therapeutic reflexologist, but of a medical doctor. When a patient visits a therapeutic reflexologist with the purpose of trying to lower the dosage of medication, the therapeutic reflexologist will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team alongside your doctor, but never will the therapeutic reflexologist tell a patient or even hint to a patient to stop medication or to lower a dosage of medication; that should be done by a trained doctor. The therapeutic reflexologist will only assist the patient by providing therapy, but will never advise on the usage of medication as it falls outside the scope of practice for therapeutic reflexology.
Myth #2: Reflexology is dangerous during pregnancy
Therapeutic Reflexology is known for assistance with infertility and many women became pregnant during reflexology treatment and thereafter continued the treatment throughout the pregnancy to assist with morning sickness, backache, stress relief, overall wellbeing and even pain relief during the delivery.
Therapeutic Reflexology does not cause any harm and merely assists the body to be balanced.
When a patient has a problematic pregnancy or had a miscarriage before, it is advisable for the patient to get a medical doctor, preferably an obstetrician and gynaecologist’s permission before receiving therapeutic reflexology during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester.
Myth #3: Reflexology can cause harm like a heart attack
Therapeutic Reflexology does not cause any harm but merely assists the body to function optimally. Therapeutic Reflexology is an excellent healthcare modality to alleviate stress and to be used as a preventative healthcare method which should rather help in preventing conditions like heart attacks instead of instigating it. Therapeutic Reflexology is a non-invasive therapy and as a result, offers therapy that is preventative in nature and not causing any harm in the body.
Myth #4: Reflexology is a good method of diagnosis
Therapeutic Reflexology is a therapeutic healthcare modality and not a diagnostic modality; that means, that therapeutic reflexology cannot be used for diagnostic purposes. In South Africa, Therapeutic Reflexologists are registered and regulated by the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA) as a therapeutic modality with a clear scope of practice indicating that no form of diagnosis is allowed to be made. Only diagnostic practitioners like medical doctors, homeopaths and naturopaths are allowed to diagnose conditions.
A therapeutic reflexologist has the ability to assess a patients overall wellbeing and through reflexology may determine if there are any blockages in order to customise the therapeutic reflexology treatment accordingly, but that is not a diagnosis and will never be portrayed as a diagnosis to any patient.
Myth #5: Reflexology is just a foot massage
Therapeutic Reflexology is much more than just a foot massage, although it may include some foot massage techniques during the treatment. Therapeutic Reflexology is a recognised healthcare modality in South Africa that is formally regulated by a statutory council, the AHPCSA. Therapeutic Reflexology is, therefore, a healthcare modality in its own right and not just a foot massage.
What differentiates Therapeutic Reflexology from foot massage, is the fact that in a massage the therapist usually works on the muscles, but in therapeutic reflexology, the therapist works specifically on the reflexes or nerve endings. It is a different line of treatment, but very relaxing and beneficial to overall wellbeing.
Myth #6: Reflexology treats specific conditions
Therapeutic Reflexologists have a specific scope of practice to work in as provided by the AHPCSA making it clear that already diagnosed conditions may be treated, however, it is not the treatment of a specific condition, but instead a treatment of a person that may be dealing with a specific condition.
That sounds like mere wordplay, but it is not the therapeutic reflexologist that treats any condition. The therapeutic reflexologist treats the patient by helping the body to relax, which creates an optimal environment for the body to heal itself or at least attempts to balance itself in the midst of any healthcare condition. The therapeutic reflexologist helps to create an optimal environment for healing instead of actually treating a specific condition; it is ultimately the body that does the work due to its innate ability for balance and healing.
Conclusion
There are many myths about reflexology, but therapeutic reflexology is a recognised and highly regulated healthcare modality in South Africa that is non-invasive and very beneficial for people. If you have any doubt about therapeutic reflexology or have any questions, do not hesitate to contact a properly qualified and registered therapeutic reflexologist; we are always there to answer your questions, but the best way to get any question answered, is to experience therapeutic reflexology for yourself and to bust all the myths.
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Christo A. Scheepers: Therapeutic Reflexologist
Dip.T.R.(Cum Laude) [IARAMT]
AHPCSA: A11945
Pr. No.: 1080000737453
Tel. 072-800 7243