Eric, # 1, I was not making a case for Reflexology as a specific treatment for IBS.I was making a comparison where Lulu was making the comparison of the wild possibility of depression being related to the big toe and the wild assumption that one might cut the big toe off to remedy the situation of depression in the head.post: posted 10-30-2002 06:43 PM-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So Tom, what are you saying...depression is in your big toe and all that needs to be done is an amputation of the big toe?LouLou ____________________________________so based on the wild assumption I read, I went on to clarify the real and workable modality of reflexology as a complimentary attempt to bring systematic relief of general malaise as opposed to the toe cutting ritual of self medication.Since LuLu was talking about cutting off toes, either in jest(as I figured) or in actualityI felt that shedding some light on the interconnectedness of body modalities would be a more positive train of thought.After all, LuLu was talking about BIG TOES and BIG TOES are indeed in the area of foot reflexology.However, it appears that I was wrong because those who believe they have ALL the answers to the rules of IBS simply refuse to open their closed minds to the possibilities of other real modalities because one big funded research or another wrote the IBS Bible of modern medicine and all Holistic care.Ya know what Eric, I could care less about the gazillion documents and research articles and whatever.Because ya know what....I've got IBS.I know I have IBS because my Gastroenterologist wrote it on my chart.However, if I might adhere to the strict by the rules assessment of IBS I might not have IBS at all. However, it would appear that now 3 count them THREE Gastroenterologists and a colon surgeon in 2 different states all seem to think that I have IBS.oh but what the heck do they know.So, because I do have medically diagnosed IBS then I can tell you from first hand, this is my body experience, that reflexology and body work work better for my personal control of my bowel malfunctions than hypnosis or any head stuff.Now, take note here, because I don't believe that I have stated this ever so clearly before. However, I am making a point of mentioning it now because you took it upon yourself to point your finger at a modality for what it is not and simply cannot be in the rules of the world according the the high priests of IBS land.So, since the finger was pointed and the modality addressed, then I suppose the proper response might be in the revelation of the silent reality.I'm a physical person.I'm extremely active when I am feeling well in my daily life.Before adhesions in my pelvis required a lifestyle change,I did a lot of very physical things. i rode horses at least 3X a week if not more. So for me, and maybe many like me, it's possible that a physical modality might make a better choice in ones approach to personal therapy to keep the gut cranking and the world turning. afterall, they say that exercise is indeed a part of the whole health descriptive.There are many many ways to handle IBS symptoms, many of which you or others in your field might know little or nothing about.So my contrubution here is as a participant from the level of someone who lives with IBS too.However, to constantly get jumped on for having a real opinion is just tedious.You guys are so busy trying to prove what does not work, you fail to have the open mind of a true researcher who is on the trail of new discoverise.So much for alternative thought.What a constrictive drag.But then,constipation of the bowel is often symptomatic of constipation of the mind so as is in the world of manifet reality, is as the worldof the mind and it's projected reality.But heck, I can say that because I have IBS constipation and I too have had to examine my own outdated Dogma.Or, as in the case of Diarreah, where there may be the explosive ejection of undigested energy and half formed ideas.So yet once again, someone has taken a thought and a response and run over to throw sand on the intellectual fire because horrors, heaven forbid, someone is responding to another and making a point, not in treatment, but in philosophy of the sublime and ridiculous in the form of sarchasm(what I really think the posted comment was about)and how said sarcasm could be dove tailed into a real and useful mode of balancing the two extremes of misinterpreted thought.Post:so you don't forget So Tom, what are you saying...depression is in your big toe and all that needs to be done is an amputation of the big toe?LouLou _____________________________________________My response in full: so you don't forget.Actually, if one looks at the modality of reflexology (foot massage)then it could be said that addressing the big toe in reflexology therapy would have a correlation to the whole head/brain connection. The meaty part of the big toe would be the head area addressed in Reflexology.So while, cutting off the big toe, might be considered a bit drastic, addressing the big toe in the philosophy of Reflexology would be a good choice for self help.______________________________Now, Eric, where in that statement did I say thatself help was specifically the much guarded golden specific of the ever holy IBS?Where in my response did I mention IBS therapy?To which you felt the need to clarify something that was never a part of my statement?__________________________________________your post:so you don't forget.Eric:They have studied Reflexology for IBS. I just would not like to see confusion between the two therapies for IBS as I feel it needs to be calrified on this thread.next statement:However this was one relatively small scale study; further research that,for example, assesses the impact of therapist professional and layversus therapy, is still needed._____________________________________Gosh, Eric, I don't know what needed to be clairified since I was talking about chickens and you were talking about goats.Seems to me that you had more of a need to provesomething wrong that was totally off in another direction and directive.As for IBS and reflexology....the only real point that you made, that was of any clarity as far as I am concerned, is the point that the holy study much touted to negate the unwashed ideas of the cosmic peanut gallery,is indeed, only a small scale study and that the possibility of further research might be needed in the arena of the questionable mythical practice.So Eric, what are you so afraid of?Confusion?You don;t want anyone confused and led down the merry path of the ever indulgent and grotesquely dangerous practice of FOOT RUBS!!!Well, you may just have a point there because what oh what would become of our already agressive tense society if indeed every one had their feet rubbed to the...GOD FORBID...to the point of relaxation.Note I said RELAXATION and not REFLEXOLOGYbecause we don't want any one to be confused between the two and we most certainly don't want to cross any IBS rules about no relaxation for the wicked.Relaxation.What a concept.And regardless of how many tests and electrodes one might subject themselves to, all in the name of proof and science.....who of you can truly say that having a good ol' foot rub wouldn't relax you all, except those of the most Grinchy of Grinch demeanors.And bottom line.....regardless of the ins and outs of the technicality, Reflexology by any name, is indeed, in it's most pure and simple form, one heck of a relaxing, nice, maybe even a little indulgent foot rub.It's WORDS Eric, WORDS.Sometimes meaningless words to satisfy the obsessive need to catagorize and rule.You know, along with my Massage license I also hold a cosmetology license.You know, Cosmetologists can do massage and treat skin.We do it all the time in Salon settings.In addition to the Dermatologist, many many people employ the skills of the Cosmetologist to help in the treatment of skin problems like Roseacea.(just an example)We can do body massage and skin treatments on the level of some pretty clinical and specific work all in the name of Beauty.Yep.There's a whole bunch of procedures and chemicals we get to use with our particular licensing if we just SAY we are doing such... all in the name of beautifying the body and the skin.Much of what we do does border on medical.Infact, it is the Plastic Surgeon who employs a Cosmetologist for work in good Plastic Surgery practices.But we do, all we do, in the name of BEAUTY and not therapy or medicine.And of course, if you have an ugly problem, such as the ever unattractive condition of roseacea, then it stands to reason that when the organic problem is addressed, then the result is better looking skin and hence, the goal of aesthetic appeal is achieved.So we approach the physical in a very therapudic way but in the name of beauty.But ya know what Eric.....the reality is, that we all know it's the same thing up to a few points.Who cares what you eventually call it and what the mind does to manipulate the words, in the end, if the outcomes leaves us in a better space, then hang the battle over words and go with what feels good and brings betterment to our lives.So let me make a bold and bolder statement here....I think PEDICURES are a good treatment for IBS.There. Let that one simmer for a while.PEDICURES.Think of it like this...especially for the women.It's summer.You've been invited to a huge social event.The big socialite wedding of the year.You are going to wear sandles but you've been out climbing mountians all year and your feet are a wreck.What oh what to do.So you go to the salon.You go to the salon and you tell the nail lady how stressed you are about the wedding and how your ex boyfriend is going to be there with his new fiance and your IBS!!!! is acting up...of course we will pick IBS D for this example because as we all know, that one would be infinately more traumatic at some higly social dysfunctional event.And so you lament about the zit on your jaw line and your hair color that's been wrecked from too much swimming and your cut is all wrong and how bout that acne on the back and the sleeveless little slip dress you would look totally awesome in if it were not for the wretched condition on the back......So then, all in the name of beauty you get a pedicure and fall asleep in the char after pouring out your soul to the nail lady and then the Aestitician takes you in and packs you in mud to draw out the skin poisons and you get buffed and polished and you sleep some more while you are being wrapped in hot moist towels and then they wake you up and lead you over to the styling chair where Chad the chizzled greek god of a stylist whips up his vision of Goddessness for you and and then you get a little tea and a little sandwich and then you go home and poof.............diarreah all gone.....and you go to the wedding and hold up your head and walk past the ex fiance while his mouth drops to the floor because you are hotter than hot and all ready to begin a new life, because as your are walking past the ex fiance whoes jaw is dropping, you remember what a dog he is and all in that moment you have the realization that yes in deed life can be good.AMEN.So,heres one to think about...........The real and therapudic value of the BEAUTY SALONS.Yep it can happen. It does happen.It's REALITY.The numberone person people talk to about their troubles is the Salon professional.It's an industry fact that both men and women will go to the salon when they need to feel better on many many levels.That's why those fancy spas do such great business at such outraegeous prices.A weekend salon retreat is often compared to the experience of Valium.If you write the grant I'll do the study.And NO I am not being sarcastic.Because the therapudic reality of going to the salon and getting ones hair cut and colored is a ritual of self help that has existed for aeons.So much for science.KamieOh, and by the way, Ol Frosty isn't gonna like this hog wash either.Which by the way, was the core of my other comment regarding the reality of my profession in relation to being a real profession...not exclusively used for the select and omniimportant IBSers of the world.No where in our professional criteria were we ever told that our lifes work and validity totally and singularly applied to only IBS as an elite dysfunction.However, it is a bit rude to decide that just because it isn't your cup of green tea that we, like the mythical unicorn do not exist.