Do you have to believe in therapeutic reflexology for it to be effective? This is a question sometimes asked by a patient and in today’s post, we’ll consider this.
When asking such a question, it is usually because of a certain belief that reflexology is only effective if you believe it will work. That is in actual fact a wrong perception because therapeutic reflexology is not about mind-over-matter and it is not based on the placebo effect. Whether you believe in therapeutic reflexology to work or not, it is not affecting the outcome of the treatment.
Similar questions can be asked to put things in perspective for you: Does treatment by your medical doctor only work if you believe it will work? Will surgery only work if you believe it will work? Does physiotherapy only work if you believe it will work?
Similarly, do you really believe that therapeutic reflexology will only work if you believe it will?
Let’s step away from the questions and then look at the reality. Therapeutic Reflexology is a professionally registered and regulated healthcare modality regulated by the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA). The AHPCSA is a statutory council formally regulating complementary healthcare in South Africa based on the Allied Health Professions Act. The AHPCSA does not regulate airy-fairy things but registered healthcare modalities.
Once a therapeutic reflexologist is registered with the AHCPSA, he/she may apply for a practice number from the very same organisation where medical doctors obtain their practice numbers from. With a valid practice number, medical schemes may reimburse therapeutic reflexology treatments; depending on the plan/option that you are on.
Let’s put this all in perspective with yet another question. Do you think practice numbers will be issued for airy-fairy therapists? No, practice numbers are issued to professionally qualified, registered and formally regulated healthcare professionals.
Do you think medical schemes will pay for treatments that will only work if a patient believes in it? No, medical schemes pay for professional healthcare services.
With all this information in place, it is evident that therapeutic reflexology is a professional healthcare modality that may provide you with health and wellness benefits, whether you believe it will or not.
Let’s have a look at why the statement is made that therapeutic reflexology may be effective in your life whether you believe it will work or not.
Well, therapeutic reflexology is a professional healthcare modality known for stimulation on the reflexes (or nerve endings) on the feet of a patient, but other parts of the body can also be worked on like the hands, face, ears, and body. The therapeutic reflexologist provides pressure to the nerve endings which assists the body to relax and in a state of optimum relaxation, the body secretes beneficial chemicals like endorphins that may alleviate stress, reduce pain and increase overall wellbeing. The stimulation of the nerve endings has a positive effect on the body, regardless of the patient’s belief in the treatment or not. This assists the body in aligning itself and healing itself from the inside out or at least attempting to balance itself from the inside out.
The therapeutic reflexologist is merely a facilitator assisting your body to relax and move into balance, often with positive results following and that happens irrespective of your belief in the treatment or not.
Do not misunderstand me; therapeutic reflexology is not a miracle cure, it is merely an effective healthcare modality like many other professional healthcare modalities in South Africa.
Therapeutic reflexology is not dependent on a patient’s belief in its effectiveness or not.
Why not try it for yourself by making an appointment with your therapeutic reflexologist.
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Christo A. Scheepers: Therapeutic Reflexologist
Dip.T.R.(Cum Laude) [IARAMT]
AHPCSA: A11945
Pr. No.: 1080000737453
Tel. 072-800 7243