Foot reflexology in autoimmune diseases: Effectiveness and mechanisms

Figure 1 Mechanisms and potential effects of foot reflexology in relieving autoimmune diseases. A: Hands and feet reflect the entire body, with reflex points corresponding to central and remote organs. Pressure massage stimulates these corresponding organs; B: Reflexology may help release enkephalins, which block pain messages to the brain, reducing pain and anxiety. Magnetic resonance imaging show that foot reflexology (FR) activates cerebral areas (e.g., superior frontal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, right middle temporal cortex); C: Brain and kidney-associated reflexology increases blood flow to these corresponding organs; D: Motor neurons in the feet connect to the brain via the spinal cord, controlling voluntary and involuntary lower limb movement; E: The intestinal microbiome is heavily involved in brain functions. It is hypothesized that FR might affect the "gut-brain" axis. This figure was created in BioRender.com.