Reflexology Reduces PMS Symptoms

Premenstrual syndrome takes many forms and literally affects each women differently, though 50% of women experience dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain).

Comparing how ibuprofen versus reflexology could potentially help women suffering from this all-too-often debilitating condition, 68 students with primary Dysmenorrhea from the Iranian Isfahan University of Medical Sciences were treated with either a 400 mg of ibuprofen once every eight hours for three days during three consecutive monthly cycles or 10 reflexology sessions at 40 minutes for two consecutive monthly cycles. 

It is important to note that the reflexology group only received two months of treatment, whereas the ibuprofen group had two months. In addition to being "associated with more reduction of intensity and duration of menstrual pain in comparison with ibuprofen therapy," it appeared that reflexology actually promotes healing and not just pain management.

It was discovered that, during the third month when only ibuprofen was given (and no reflexology), the long-term healing effects of reflexology continued on and still surpassed the pain management quality of ibuprofen even though zero treatments were performed!