Why are many Catholics against reflexology?

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I can’t remember the priests name. He was Irish, thin and roughly in his fifties. He sang with a guitar. The old lady travelling with him was called Breda…this much I can remember. It was all held in someone’s house. This couple had a very large kitchen/extension and there was at least fifty people there. I didn’t know them. We said a few rosaries, Breda then gave a talk for about an hour and then the priest said mass,gave Eucharistic etc. Lots of singing also. It started at 8 and didn’t end until about 1.30. Friendly people but all her warnings have frightened me.

She started her talk by saying ‘There is someone in this room who practices new age. I don’t know who you are but you need to stop’. I felt she was talking to me.
 
as long as the church isnt against it and i doubt they could be, there is no basis in how they could, also the same techniques for the hands with pressure points for healing.
linda
 
Lookingforanswers1 said:
A speaker told the crowd to avoid the following - reiki, reflexology, transcendendal meditation, yoga, Pilates and kinesiology.
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I suspect she was just making that up. I don’t think you’ll find any reliable Catholic source for any of those warnings, except insofar as they might involve acceptance of Hinduism or other religions.
 
I never heard of reflexology. In my search I found this from Mayo Clinic
What is reflexology
In says in part:
Several studies funded by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health indicate that reflexology may reduce pain and psychological symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, and enhance relaxation and sleep. Studies also show that reflexology may have benefits in palliative care of people with cancer.

Reflexologists claim that reflexology also can treat a wide variety of medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes and cancer. However, scientific evidence is lacking to support these claims.

Reflexology is generally considered safe, although very vigorous pressure may cause discomfort for some people.
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I think you’ve got Catholics mistaken for JW. There’s nothing morally or spiritually wrong with it from what I can tell. I myself use reflexology on occasion.
 
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Thanks for advice everyone. I feel much better and relieved that I can continue to practice. Like I said before reflexology is a complementary therapy. I have never made claims to cure anyone. I have only practiced on my family and they love it. I would never steer anyone from conventional medicine or give unqualified advice.
 
Foot massage is one thing, after all, the feet have muscles. Moving and releasing energy blockages via pressure points on the feet (or hands or ears) is quite another
 
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Presumably there is a medical body to register with, so are you a registered practitioner? if so look what they teach if it is just muscular and you adhere to their teaching then fine.

On the other hand is there are a standardised training I just googled ‘catholic and reflexology’ keywords and came up with this http://www.womenofgrace.com/blog/?p=11439 it suggests there is no regulation by law, in which case you may well have to convince Catholics that ‘your training’ is purely muscular.’ And that being an alternative medicine therapy it is not mixed with any hint of new age therapy.
 
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Could link to papers or abstracts that show its efficacy as an effective treatment for whatever it’s meant to help with?

As for why Catholics would be against it I can see two main reasons;
  1. Most Catholics are not anti-science.
  2. Every article I’ve seen refers to Qi (Chi) which is not a scientific term and comes from Eastern religions.
https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Reflexology
 
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A reflexologist can not legally practice in Ireland or England without being a member of the NRRI. There are different ways to train. I undertook a year long diploma. I saw the Women of Grace website myself but felt they were dismissive of everything holistic. I could be wrong however.

Let’s say the reflexology is purely ‘energy’ work - It works because it activates Chi/energy and this energy stimulates the tissues and cells…I don’t mean to offend but what exactly is wrong with this ‘energy’? I didn’t create it, God did. It was present in the persons body before the reflex points were stimulated. No spiritual aspect or ritual instigated before therapy. Why exactly is it wrong?
Is this the same energy that is present in Tai Chi and acupuncture? The Chinese, Japanese, Egyptian and Native American tapped into this, but it is present in all our bodies. We have an electric and magnetic field around us. Perhaps we have another invisible energy body within us that science can not yet touch or prove so it is dismisses as quackery or a dangerous spiritual practice. Perhaps there is a scientific explain for it, but science is not so advanced - if it can not see or touch it then it doesn’t exist. We think we are advanced medically but doctors today scoff at western medical practices carried out only 100 and 200 years ago. In 500 years time perhaps doctors will look back at medicine of 21st century and cringe at our lack of knowledge and mistakes.

Edit to add - I’m not sure if reflexology works because of ‘energy’. Christians reflexologists believe it is the stimulation of reflex point and nerves that promote blood flow and remove toxins.
 
You have to have an interest in the scientific method to understand why reflexology is based on false premises. For example, say your mother finished having a treatment by you. She then goes to another reflexologist who likewise claims she will “balance” your mother’s “energy.”

When do you know her energies are balanced? Could she experience too much reflexology and experience unbalanced energy?

Also, the originator divided the body into ten zones. Why not fifteen zones? How did he find the areas on the feet that correspond to the body?

Now say your mother was less stressed after your treatment. The next day, your sister- who took no training in reflexology- does a simple foot massage on your mother. She gets better results. To what can we attribute this? Maybe your mother just feels more comfortable with her. Maybe the placebo effect is at hand, or foot.

It’s difficult to imagine you may have wasted one year studying reflexology. But stay open to that possibility.
 
God heals through people too. Jesus is a prime example of God healing through His Son
 
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Lookingforanswers1 said:
Edit to add - I’m not sure if reflexology works because of ‘energy’. Christians reflexologists believe it is the stimulation of reflex point and nerves that promote blood flow and remove toxins.
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The problem with the “energy” concept is that first, it is not scientifically proven and is less likely to be scientifically supported than the Christian view you note above (promoting blood flow, etc.); and that second, it is similar to some concepts of Eastern religion and New Age religion.

I am not terribly bothered by similarity to the Eastern religions myself. However, I find the Christian viewpoint on reflexology to be more sound, as well as less likely to concern any Catholics.
 
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