Is Reflexology a Scam?

Sometimes I get asked the question, 'is reflexology a scam?', so I thought I'd write a blog update about reflexologists and reflexology and try and get to the bottom of this problem.

Here are the main points people make supporting the idea of reflexology being a scam:

• It doesn't have any medical backing whatsoever
• Doctors, medical experts, and other sensible people keep criticising it
  
• Reflexologists are generally quite kooky new age hippy types
  
• The ideas behind it conflict with lots of proven, peer-reviewed medical concepts. Eg:
  • The notion that Qi (life energy or some such thing) exists in the first place
  • That this Qi flows around the body
  • That 'blockages' in this flow cause health problems
  • That you can unblock these blockages and fix the problems
  • ..By massaging feet for £25+/hour
    

And here is the evidence supporting reflexology:

• It's quite relaxing and maybe that helps somehow
  
• Some people believe in Qi and if people believe in something it must be true
• Chinese people have believed in Qi for ages and use it as the basis for loads of traditional medicine
  
• Maybe science isn't right all the time or even most of the time

...Personally, I'll let you make the decision over whether you think reflexology is a scam or not. There's plenty of evidence on either side! I don't know if I could ever be totally sure.