Why are many Catholics against reflexology?

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That’s a whopping big document. Can you point me to the portions which pertain to the current dialog? Many thanks. 🙂
 
Do a search on the topic, you also mentioned Chiropractic, search for that term.
 
They are against traditional Christian beliefs. I never said specifically that it was a mortal sin however.
 
Yes, I think so because of the belief in Qi. I’m not entirely sure if the catholic church has made a dogmatic decision regarding it however.
 
A very well thought out piece. I couldn’t find a way to do search criteria so just read the whole thing. I particularly liked this bit; The mere use of the term New Age in itself means little, if anything. The relationship of the person, group, practice or commodity to the central tenets of Christianity is what counts. This sums up the whole issue as it pertains to the original post. Doing what some “new agers” do is not inherently wrong. Intent is what should be looked at. Are we wishing to lead some astry in what we do? If not, then the practice of reflexology and a whole host of others is harmless in a spiritual sense.

Many thanks for the link. 🙂
 
Lookingforanswers1 said:
Are they are all condemned
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Well they’re a bunch of pagans
Lookingforanswers1 said:
think the drug companies in the states are the worst sinners if all.
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Because they use science and study not superstitious nonsense? All western medicine does is figure out what part of nature has a certain desirable effect and then isolates and mass produces it. That way you’re not having to go down and scrape a birch tree to get aspirin.
 
If you are using a PC or a Chromebook, simple CTL-F opens a “Find” box for searching 🙂
 
BartholomewB said:
A friend of mine, then aged about 40, suffered from chronic bursitis. He went from one doctor to another without ever achieving any lasting improvement. After several years, he was persuaded to try acupuncture, which he didn’t believe in, just as he didn’t believe in homeopathy or any other “alternative” medicine. Acupuncture worked. It cured his bursitis.

I have never known personally anyone who tried reflexology treatment, but what from what I’ve been told about it , it seems to be in the same category as acupuncture – that is, you’re not required to “believe” in any theoretical explanations. You’re just treated by a reflexologist, and either it works or it doesn’t. Just as when you have a headache you take an aspirin, and either it works or it doesn’t. You don’t have to “believe” in anything, you just have to swallow a pill.
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Many complaints are “self-limiting”: they just get better over time. People may believe that the last therapy tried for the ailment was the one that worked, but that may not be scientifically accurate.

 
So an update - I spoke to two priests about this. The first said it was incorrect to label all alternatives as dangerous and that his own niece was a yoga teacher. He told me to go with my gut. If I felt it was ok. He said if done correctly that reflexology could be incorporated into a Catholic life. Reflexology in the right hands is ok.

The second priest said the same thing. As long as my intentions were to do good then it was ok. It said that if something improves health or mind then he can’t fault it. He advised to to say a prayer before hand if I was worried. He told me he knew of Jesuit priests who practice yoga purely to stretch their muscles and as part of exercise regime. He said it’s unhelpful to branch all alternatives together as dangerous practices - some are very beneficial to Catholics.

I came across this link last night. Apparently reflexology helped to ease the symptoms Pope John Paul II had. Father Josef from Switzerland is an advocate of the therapy.

http://www.fjmreflexology.com
 
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In the case I mentioned here, there is no doubt about the outcome. We met every day at work, both before and after his cure. In this case, at least, acupuncture worked.
 
I did but it is an extremely long document that is vague and ambiguous. I am none the wiser after looking at it. It doesn’t specifically answer my question.
 
I agree that reflexology in itself is morally neutral but I would be cautious of any advice that begins with “if you feel it’s ok” or “go with your gut.” We rely on our conscience a bit too much these days I think, as a Church. That’s how many people end up justifying contraception, fornication, etc. Often our conscience is not informed enough to go with our gut. But, in this case, I think you are good. 😀

Practical question: how many weekly sessions before you can expect to notice any difference in health?
 
I believe what is in contradiction to our faith is that in reflexology, like yoga, has a spiritual element that is not of God but points to a invisible life force centered on the body. it is the spiritual element that is contrary to our faith. We as Catholics do everything for the glory of God and God is not put at the source of this energy. It’s as if this were the Darwinism of meditative fitness. It’s also not proven to be an effective.

Here’s what I pulled up something on Wikipedia on it.

Reflexology’s claim to manipulate energy (Qi) is unsupported by science; there is no scientific evidence for the existence of life energy (Qi), ‘energy balance’, ‘crystalline structures,’ or ‘pathways’ in the body.[1]

In Trick or Treatment? Alternative Medicine on Trial , Simon Singh states that if indeed the hands and feet “reflect” the internal organs, reflexology might be expected to explain how such “reflection” was derived from the process of Darwinian natural selection; but Singh says that no argument or evidence has been adduced.[[11]](Reflexology - Wikipedia

We have life energy in our bodies because the Holy Spirit bringing life to it. This reflexology is not teaching that.

Can I recommend you Google Pietra Fitness?
 
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Generally six weekly sessions are recommended, but if you are reasonably healthy I would go with between 4-6. I noticed a difference with only one session.

It is also important to get a good reflexologist with good reputation. Some give nothing more than a foot rub, others are thorough, professional and know how to accurately and correctly hit all appropriate reflexes for maximum benefit.
 
In any economy, there are people who are looking for a way to improve their lot with minimal effort. Everybody tries to find a way to make more money. In this case, somebody has a few aches and pains, and is in need of some attention. And somebody else steps in to provide. In the big picture, money was exchanged and nobody got hurt, so perhaps it’s okay from a spiritual standpoint.
 
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