The House of Lords' Select Committee on Complementary and Alternative Medicine described reflexology as follows: 'A system of massage of the feet based on the idea that there are invisible zones running vertically through the body, so that each organ has a corresponding location in the foot. It has also been claimed to stimulate blood supply and relieve tension.'
*Reflexology is of moderate popularity compared with other CAM treatments.
*It is not possible to give a firm indication of whether it is effective or not because of the quantity and quality of research so far. More trials are needed. However, it should be remembered that lack of evidence for efficacy is not the same as evidence for lack of efficacy.
*Reflexology is unlikely to do any significant harm.