✨ Myth 10: You have to "believe" in it for reflexology to work
- Tanya
- Aug 31
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 10
❌ The Myth
“You have to believe in reflexology for it to work.” This assumption can put people off trying reflexology – as if it only “works” for those who are open-minded or spiritually inclined.
✅ The Reality
You don’t need to “believe” in reflexology to experience its benefits. Just as you don’t need to believe in gravity for it to exist, reflexology works through physical touch and the body’s natural responses.
Even people who describe themselves as sceptical often find that, after a few sessions, they:
Sleep more deeply
Feel calmer and more relaxed
Notice subtle but positive shifts in wellbeing
🌿 The Power of the Experience
Part of what makes reflexology so effective is the experience of a treatment session:
The calm environment, with essential oils and gentle sounds 🌿
Time away from daily distractions ⏳
The healing power of touch and therapeutic presence 🤲
Having someone to talk to, who listens without rushing 💜
These elements are powerful contributors to wellbeing and self-care. Reflexology places you at the very centre of your health journey.
🌿 Beyond the “Extras”
But here’s the fascinating part: reflexology has been shown to work even in sterile, clinical settings, with no music, no oils, and minimal interaction. This demonstrates that while the nurturing environment enhances the experience, the reflexology techniques themselves have measurable effects on the body.
📖 Research Spotlight
Effects of Reflexology on Anorexia and Sleep Quality in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy(Akbari M. et al., 2024, Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res, 29(3), 337–342)
This clinical trial compared reflexology with a touch control group — described as a “placebo treatment without exerting pressure on the reflex points.”
👉 The challenge? Reflexology often uses gentle or very light pressure in certain techniques. This raises an important question:
Where does the line between “light touch” and “no intervention” actually lie?
Despite this difficulty in designing a true sham treatment, the results were clear:✨ Reflexology produced a statistically significant improvement in both sleep quality and anorexia symptoms compared to the control group.
This shows that reflexology is effective beyond the “placebo effect,” even when tested under carefully controlled conditions.
🌿 Why This Matters
Reflexology doesn’t rely on belief – it works through the nervous system and the body’s natural ability to rebalance.
The environment and therapist relationship enhance the experience, but the treatment itself has measurable impact.
Even in sceptical or clinical contexts, reflexology supports improvements in sleep, appetite, pain, and overall wellbeing.
💜 In Summary
Reflexology doesn’t depend on belief. Whether you’re open, sceptical, or somewhere in between, it works through physical responses in the body.
It’s both a nurturing experience and a scientifically supported therapy. Reflexology has been shown to improve sleep, ease anxiety, reduce pain, and support wellbeing – no matter what you believe.
✨ And as my husband once said: “If you don’t ‘believe’ it, just enjoy it because it feels amazing!”
That really sums it up. You don’t have to understand every mechanism or subscribe to a particular philosophy — you can simply come along, relax, and let the experience speak for itself.
