The ear as a remote control for the whole body — does reflexology really heal?

Sources: 11 · Article: 19 321 characters

Andrzej Frydrychowski — Refleksoterapia jako skuteczna metoda leczenia
Andrzej Frydrychowski — Aurikuloterapia - refleksoterapia uszu cz. 2
Andrzej Frydrychowski — Aurikuloterapia - refleksoterapia uszu cz. 1
Comparison of two methods of complementary medicine on postoperative pain and anxiety: A randomized clinical trial. · J Educ Health Promot 2023
[Auriculo-electropuncture in rheumatoid arthritis (a double-blind study)]. · Ter Arkh 1987
[The hemodynamic and neurohumoral correlates of the changes in the status of hypertension patients under the influence of acupuncture]. · Ter Arkh 1993
[The laser reflexotherapy of patients with chronic prostatitis]. · Vrach Delo 1991
[Reflexotherapy in patients with ischemic angiopathies of the lower extremities]. · Khirurgiia (Mosk) 2003
[The results of endaural reflexotherapy in patients with vestibulocochlear dysfunction]. · Lik Sprava 1995
Neural networks and the anti-inflammatory effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in depression. · J Neuroinflammation 2020
Complementary therapies in the control of male lower urinary tract symptoms: A systematic review. · Rev Lat Am Enfermagem 2022

Andrzej Frydrychowski explains its effects as the result of stimuli influencing nerve reflexes and the regulation of organ function, but admits that part of the mechanism remains unclear.

As an example, Andrzej Frydrychowski describes sciatica going away after sensitive points on the ear were stimulated, and claims the method may help with many conditions.
In describing the ancient practice of cauterizing the ear, Andrzej Frydrychowski says it supposedly helped in about one third of cases; however, this involved a different way of acting on the ear.

What the authors write

Andrzej Frydrychowski

Reflexology is said to stimulate the body’s self-repair and cause no harm or side effects.

„Reflexology allows us to activate the body’s natural methods of self-healing, such as regeneration, self-repair, and healing itself. It causes no harm and has no side effects. It should complement Western medicine. What more do we need? Isn’t this a wonderful and fairly simple method that anyone can use?”Refl eksoterapia pozwala uruchomić naturalne metody samoleczenia, takie jak: regeneracji, samonaprawy, samouzdrowienia. Nie wyrządza żadnych szkód, nie ma działań ubocznych. Powinna być uzupełnieniem medycyny zachodniej. Czy potrzeba nam coś więcej? Czy nie jest to cudowna i w miarę prosta metoda, którą każdy może się posługiwać?

Refleksoterapia jako skuteczna metoda leczenia

Andrzej Frydrychowski

Andrzej Frydrychowski notes that regulating autonomic processes seems to be the basis for the effectiveness of reflexology and ear acupuncture.

„The effectiveness of this method seems to rest on the regulation of autonomic processes. This takes place in specialized nerve centers in the brain and medulla oblongata, through the regulation of feedback loops. We can understand how the regulatory effect of reflexology and ear acupuncture works by thinking of a “black box”: we know what goes in and what comes out, and can use this to draw conclusions about what happened inside in the meantime.”Podstawą skuteczności tej metody wydaje się regulacja procesów wegetatywnych. Ma ona miejsce w wyspecjalizowanych ośrodkach nerwowych mózgu i rdzenia przedłużonego i odbywa się na zasadzie regulacji sprzężeń zwrotnych. O tym, jak wytłumaczyć regulacyjne działanie refleksoterapii i akupunktury ucha, możemy wnosić na przykładzie „czarnej skrzynki”, o której wiadomo, co do niej wchodzi i co wychodzi, i na tej podstawie wyciągać wnioski o tym, co w międzyczasie stało się wewnątrz.

Aurikuloterapia - refleksoterapia uszu cz. 2

Andrzej Frydrychowski

Andrzej Frydrychowski admits that he does not explain exactly what happens to a stimulus in the nerve centers.

„It is processed “in some way” after reaching the inside of the black box (that is, the nerve centers). This results in the regulation of the stimulation and inhibition of the activity of an organ connected with the part of the ear skin being stimulated and with the relevant centers of the central nervous system responsible for controlling it.”Jest on „w jakiś sposób” przetwarzany, po dotarciu do wnętrza czarnej skrzynki (czyli właśnie ośrodków nerwowych), co owocuje wyregulowaniem pobudzania i hamowania czynności narządu, będącego w związku z fragmentem drażnionej skóry ucha i odpowiednimi centrami ośrodkowego układu nerwowego odpowiedzialnymi za kierowanie nim.

Aurikuloterapia - refleksoterapia uszu cz. 2

Andrzej Frydrychowski

Andrzej Frydrychowski claims that ear reflexology works more effectively than stimulating points on the body, citing practical experience.

„For this reason, an auricular stimulus is presumably perceived as stronger than a body stimulus, because in practice auricular reflexology is more effective than body reflexology. From the cranial nerve nuclei, the C2–C3 spinal autonomic centers and the subcortical structures serving them—that is, the components of the “black box”—the stimulus is sent back to the site being stimulated, to the organs and parts of the body.”Stąd też bodziec aurikularny odbierany jest zapewne jako silniejszy niż korporalny – bo skuteczność refleksoterapii aurikularnej jest wyższa niż korporalnej, co potwierdza praktyka. Z jąder nerwów czaszkowych, rdzeniowych ośrodków wegetatywnych C2 – C3 i podkorowych tworów je obsługujących – czyli tego, co składa się na „czarną skrzynkę”, bodziec odsyłany jest do miejsca drażnienia, do narządów i części ciała.

Aurikuloterapia - refleksoterapia uszu cz. 2

Andrzej Frydrychowski

Andrzej Frydrychowski describes cases of sciatica in which stimulating sensitive points on the ear was said to bring improvement.

„By systematically examining people suffering from sciatica, he found pressure-sensitive spots on the antihelix of the ear on the side affected by sciatica and concluded that stimulating these spots was what relieved the sciatica. These observations showed that, in cases of spinal problems, the body of the ear’s antihelix contains pressure-sensitive spots.”Przeprowadzając systematyczne badania ludzi cierpiących na rwę kulszową, odkrył bolesne uciskowo miejsca na grobelce małżowiny usznej po stronie rwy kulszowej i stwierdził, że likwidację rwy przynosi właśnie ich stymulacja. Doświadczenia te pokazały, że trzon grobelki małżowiny ucha w przypadku dolegliwości kręgosłupa jest terenem występowania miejsc wrażliwych na ucisk.

Aurikuloterapia - refleksoterapia uszu cz. 1

Andrzej Frydrychowski

Andrzej Frydrychowski presents reflexology as a method used in different areas of medicine and notes that it treats the person, not the disease itself.

„Reflexology does not treat diseases—it treats the sick person. It therefore has applications in every clinical field of medicine: ophthalmology, otolaryngology, internal medicine, surgery, urology, gynecology, pediatrics, geriatrics, and the other fields into which medicine has been artificially divided.”Refleksoterapią nie leczy się chorób – leczy się chorego człowieka, a więc znajduje ona zastosowanie w każdej dziedzinie klinicznej medycyny: okulistyce, laryngologii, internie, chirurgii, urologii, ginekologii, pediatrii, geriatrii i w pozostałych dziedzinach, na które medycyna się sztucznie podzieliła.

Aurikuloterapia - refleksoterapia uszu cz. 2

Andrzej Frydrychowski

Andrzej Frydrychowski claims that sensitive spots on the ear may disappear after recovery, and that knowledge of their location is used to treat conditions and pain.

„He observed that areas of unusual pressure sensitivity and pain that appear on the ear during problems affecting different organs and body parts disappear after recovery. Conditions and the pain they cause can therefore be treated in this way.”Zaobserwował, że strefy nadmiernej uciskowej wrażliwości i bólu, które pojawiają się na uchu podczas dolegliwości różnych narządów i części ciała, znikają po wyzdrowieniu. Można więc w ten sposób leczyć schorzenia i likwidować ból przez nie wywoływany.

Aurikuloterapia - refleksoterapia uszu cz. 1

Andrzej Frydrychowski

Andrzej Frydrychowski describes the ancient practice of cauterizing the ear as a method that supposedly helped in about one third of cases, though it had no scientific explanation at the time.

„It turned out, however, that this type of therapy supposedly worked in about 1/3 of cases. Since there was no scientific explanation for these effects at the time, doctors became less interested in the method. Its decline was also encouraged by a statement made in 1855 by Dr. BOLONJE, who explained the pain-relieving effect of ear cauterization as the result of the nonspecific effect of the stimulus itself, with no influence from the site where it was applied (i.e.”Okazało się jednak, że ten rodzaj terapii skutkował podobno w około 1/3 przypadków, a ponieważ nie znaleziono jeszcze wtedy naukowego uzasadnienia tych działań, to zaowocowało to mniejszym zainteresowaniem lekarzy tą metodą. Do jej zapomnienia przyczyniło się wystąpienie w roku 1855 doktora BOLONJE, tłumaczącego przeciwbólowe działanie przyżegań ucha, siłą niespecyficznego działania samego bodźca, bez wpływu na efekt miejsca jego działania (tzn.

Aurikuloterapia - refleksoterapia uszu cz. 1

Andrzej Frydrychowski

Andrzej Frydrychowski presents the effects of reflexology on blood vessels and high blood pressure as a possible benefit, not a confirmed result.

„Restoring disrupted autoregulation could naturally help reverse many disease-related changes and, in many cases, eliminate or greatly reduce the use of medication. The text comes from excerpts of a book on auriculotherapy, in whose preparation the doctor took part.”Przywrócenie zaburzonej autoregulacji mogłoby przyczynić się w naturalny sposób do cofnięcia wielu zmian chorobowych i w wielu przypadkach wyeliminować lub znacznie zmniejszyć stosowanie leków. Tekst pochodzi z fragmentów książki o aurikuloterapii, w której opracowaniu brał udział lek.

Aurikuloterapia - refleksoterapia uszu cz. 2

Andrzej Frydrychowski

Andrzej Frydrychowski claims that massaging points on the foot makes it possible to quickly diagnose and treat damaged organs.

„It is worth printing a map of these zones from the internet and learning them. This will allow us to make a diagnosis immediately and quickly treat damaged organs. The right foot represents the right half of the body, and the left foot represents the left half. The zones for paired organs such as the lungs and kidneys are on both feet.”Warto wydrukować mapkę takich stref z internetu i się ich nauczyć. Pozwoli to nam na błyskawiczne stawianie diagnozy i szybkie leczenie uszkodzonych narządów. Prawa stopa reprezentuje prawą, a lewa lewą połowę ciała. Strefy parzystych narządów takich jak: płuca i nerki znajdują się na obu stopach.

Refleksoterapia jako skuteczna metoda leczenia

Andrzej Frydrychowski

Andrzej Frydrychowski lists point massage, needle insertion, and heating as ways of stimulating reflexology or acupuncture points.

„The gentlest method is massaging points or areas on the skin. A slightly stronger stimulus involves inserting a needle (acupuncture), applying heat to a point (moxibustion), or using a very strong stimulus by pressing on a point with special nails called clavicles.”Najłagodniejszy jest masaż punktów lub pól na skórze. Trochę silniejszy jest bodziec polegający na: wbiciu igły (akupunktura), zastosowaniu nagrzewania punktu ciepłem (moksa) czy zastosowaniu bardzo silnego bodźca w postaci nacisku na punkt, specjalnymi gwoździami zwanymi klawikami.

Refleksoterapia jako skuteczna metoda leczenia

Research from PubMed · Europe PMC

We selected 8 studies with the best, positive results. This is a selection, not a full review of all research.

Total number of studies on this topic in PubMed: 21.

After a cesarean section, both ear acupressure and foot reflexology reduced pain immediately after the procedure, while the benefit of ear acupressure remained after 2 hours.

Aim of the study: Postoperative pain and anxiety are unpleasant situations that are often experienced by women undergoing cesarean section. Since the routine methods of pain relief after surgery is still inadequate, the need for complementary treatments is felt. Foot Reflexology (FR) and Auricular Acupressure (AA) are two of the most popular and safe procedures of complementary and alternative medicine therapies.

Results: The results showed that immediately after the intervention, pain intensity was significantly lower in both AA and FR groups (P < 0.001) compared with the control group. In addition, 2 h after the interventions, pain intensity was significantly lower in the AA group compared with the control group (P = 0.006). However, no significant differences were observed between the FR and the control groups (P = 0.095). In addition, 1 and 2 h after the intervention, anxiety was significantly different between the three groups (P = 0.033 and P = 0.018), respectively. The results of the Tukey test showed that this difference was only between FR and control groups (P = 0.025 and P = 0.017), respectively. AA is more effective in reducing post-cesarean pain while FR effectively reduces post-cesarean anxiety. Therefore, these complementary medicine treatments as easy and noninvasive methods are recommended to be used during labor for improving maternal outcomes.

Comparison of two methods of complementary medicine on postoperative pain and anxiety: A randomized clinical trial. · J Educ Health Promot 2023

Money for the studyuniversity or foundation · Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

Do the authors have ties to companies?no — the authors say so

Did a manufacturer help with the study?NO

Type of studystudy with random allocation to groups (RCT)

Participants101

“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.

In a small study, auricular electroacupuncture was associated with improved symptoms and inflammation measures in most people treated for rheumatoid arthritis.

Aim of the study: A study of the efficacy of auriculo-electropuncture (AEP) by a double blind method was conducted in 16 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Points on the auricle were looked for by means of an device of individual use.

Results: Each patient was given 10 procedures except one patient of the study group in whom treatment had to be discontinued after the 3rd procedure because of the development of phlebitis of the left crural veins. Subjective assessment showed improvement in all the patients of the study group (considerable improvement in 2 patients), in the control group improvement was noted in one patient only, no effect--in 3 patients, deterioration--in 2 patients; objective assessment showed improvement in 6 (considerable improvement in one patient) and in one patient, no effect--in 2 and 2, deterioration in one and 3, respectively. In the study group a positive time course of all 8 indices characterizing a degree of pain and inflammatory activity was noted (it was statistically significant for 7 of them), in the control group a positive time course of 3 indices was noted, 5 indices grew worse.

[Auriculo-electropuncture in rheumatoid arthritis (a double-blind study)]. · Ter Arkh 1987

Money for the studynot stated

Do the authors have ties to companies?not stated

Did a manufacturer help with the study?unknown

Type of studyclinical study in people

Participants16

“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.

A study of 360 people with high blood pressure found lower blood pressure in most patients after acupuncture involving points on the ear and body.

Aim of the study: Course acupuncture with silver needles in auricular and corporal zones with additional effects of acupuncture zones in microneedle pressing produced a hypotensive action in 360 patients with initial essential hypertension.

Results: Course acupuncture with silver needles in auricular and corporal zones with additional effects of acupuncture zones in microneedle pressing produced a hypotensive action in 360 patients with initial essential hypertension. This effect registered in 82.1% of the patients exposed was not the only positive response as there was also a decline in hyperkinetic syndrome with a significant fall in energy consumption, reduction in circadian excretion of adrenaline, inhibition in the activity of plasma renin, normalization of lipid metabolism. The hypotensive effect in the majority of the patients persisted for 12 months. Hyperactivity of plasma renin, hypokinetic and extremely hyperkinetic hemodynamic types set limitations for the method efficacy.

[The hemodynamic and neurohumoral correlates of the changes in the status of hypertension patients under the influence of acupuncture]. · Ter Arkh 1993

Money for the studynot stated

Do the authors have ties to companies?not stated

Did a manufacturer help with the study?unknown

Type of studyclinical study in people

Participants360

“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.

The authors described favorable results of laser reflexology, involving points on the body and ear, in people with chronic prostatitis.

Aim of the study: With the purpose of improving the results of treatment of chronic prostatitis the authors has reflexotherapy (corporal and auricular). It is shown that the used method has advantages over the existing traditional methods.

Results: With the purpose of improving the results of treatment of chronic prostatitis the authors has reflexotherapy (corporal and auricular). It is shown that the used method has advantages over the existing traditional methods. A multiple-criteria mathematical analysis was carried out of the efficacy of laser reflexotherapy in chronic prostatitis and is was found to equal 89%.

[The laser reflexotherapy of patients with chronic prostatitis]. · Vrach Delo 1991

Money for the studynot stated

Do the authors have ties to companies?not stated

Did a manufacturer help with the study?unknown

Type of studyother

“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.

A study of people with ischemic diseases of the limbs described reduced pain and improved symptoms after various reflexology methods.

Aim of the study: Comparative assessment of different methods of reflexotherapy - RT (acupuncture, electroacupuncture, pharmacopuncture and the termopuncture) in treatment of ischemic angiopathies of the lower extremities is presented. One hundred and twenty-four patients with ischemic angiopathies were treated, 86 of them had I - II stage of the disease, 38 - III stage.

Results: Functional examinations revealed equal reaction of peripheral blood flow to different RT methods. Moderate hypocoagulation compared with the baseline was demonstrated. Clinical symptoms (improvement of the general condition, decrease of pain syndrome) and improvement of biochemical and physiological parameters were criteria of successful treatment. The results of the study helped to develop methods of treatment with different variants of RT and to recommend them in clinical practice for combined treatment of this disease.

[Reflexotherapy in patients with ischemic angiopathies of the lower extremities]. · Khirurgiia (Mosk) 2003

Money for the studynot stated

Do the authors have ties to companies?not stated

Did a manufacturer help with the study?unknown

Type of studyclinical study in people

“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.

The study description indicates that endaural reflexology had a beneficial effect on the assessed functions in people with cochleovestibular disorders.

Aim of the study: On the basis of the clinico-neurophysiological evaluation of 120 patients with cochleovestibular dysfunctions a mode of endaural reflexotherapy of the above pathology has been developed. The new treatment modality compares favourably with the existing ones in terms of degree of modulation of cochleovestibular function as well as hemodynamics and brain metabolism.

Results: On the basis of the clinico-neurophysiological evaluation of 120 patients with cochleovestibular dysfunctions a mode of endaural reflexotherapy of the above pathology has been developed. The new treatment modality compares favourably with the existing ones in terms of degree of modulation of cochleovestibular function as well as hemodynamics and brain metabolism.

[The results of endaural reflexotherapy in patients with vestibulocochlear dysfunction]. · Lik Sprava 1995

Money for the studynot stated

Do the authors have ties to companies?not stated

Did a manufacturer help with the study?unknown

Type of studyobservation of people

Participants120

“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.

A review indicates that transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in the ear may be associated with reduced depression severity.

Aim of the study: Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a relatively non-invasive alternative treatment for patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD). It has been postulated that acupuncture may achieve its treatment effects on MDD through suppression of vagal nerve inflammatory responses.

Results: However, the relationship between taVNS and the central/peripheral functional state of the immune system, as well as changes in brain neural circuits, have not as yet been elucidated. In the present paper, we outline the anatomic foundation of taVNS and emphasize that it significantly modulates the activity and connectivity of a wide range of neural networks, including the default mode network, executive network, and networks involved in emotional and reward circuits. In addition, we present the inflammatory mechanism of MDD and describe how taVNS inhibits central and peripheral inflammation, which is possibly related to the effectiveness of taVNS in reducing depression severity. Our review suggests a link between the suppression of inflammation and changes in brain regions/circuits post taVNS.

Neural networks and the anti-inflammatory effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in depression. · J Neuroinflammation 2020

Money for the studygovernment, public institutions · National Natural Science Foundation of China

Do the authors have ties to companies?no — the authors say so

Did a manufacturer help with the study?NO

Type of studydiscussion of other studies

“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.

The review found improved lower urinary tract symptoms in two electroacupuncture studies, but the authors concluded that its effectiveness requires further confirmation.

Aim of the study: to evaluate diverse scientific evidence on the effectiveness of complementary therapies in the control of lower urinary tract symptoms in the adult and aged male population.

Results: a total of 585 records were identified and 12 clinical trials were selected that met the inclusion criteria. The outcomes considered by the studies for analyzing effectiveness of the complementary therapies were validated questionnaires to assess the severity of the lower urinary tract symptoms (sensation of incomplete bladder emptying, frequent urination, intermittent flow, weak flow, pain or difficulty urinating, nocturia and urgency) and urodynamics parameters. The studies analyzed the complementary phytotherapy (n=8) and electroacupuncture (n=4) therapies. Six studies related to phytotherapy showed statistical significance. Electroacupuncture showed a significant improvement in the symptoms in two studies. pytotherapy was effective to control the simptoms related to frequency, urgency, nocturia, incomplete emptying, intermittence, weak flow and effort to initiate urination.

Complementary therapies in the control of male lower urinary tract symptoms: A systematic review. · Rev Lat Am Enfermagem 2022

Money for the studygovernment, public institutions

Do the authors have ties to companies?no — the authors say so

Did a manufacturer help with the study?NO

Type of studyreview of many studies

“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.

Pisaczek does not judge who is right. It shows what was written and where to read it. Every sentence above has its source.