Reflexologists divide the body into ten equal vertical zones, five on the right and five on the left. There is no consensus among reflexologists on how reflexology is supposed to work a unifying theme is the idea that areas on the foot correspond to areas of the body, and that by manipulating these one can improve health through one's qi. A 2009 systematic review of randomized controlled trials concludes: 'The best evidence available to date does not demonstrate convincingly that reflexology is an effective treatment for any medical condition.' Claimed mechanism Reviews from 20 have not found evidence sufficient to support the use of reflexology for any medical condition. Accordingly, in 2017, the Australian government named reflexology as a practice that would not qualify for insurance subsidy, saying this step would 'ensure taxpayer funds are expended appropriately and not directed to therapies lacking evidence'. In 2015 the Australian Government's Department of Health published the results of a review of alternative therapies that sought to determine if any were suitable for being covered by health insurance reflexology was one of 17 therapies evaluated for which no clear evidence of effectiveness was found. The Australian Government's Department of Health define reflexology as 'a system of applying pressure, usually to the feet, which practitioners believe stimulates energy and releases 'blockages' in specific areas that cause pain or illness.' Effectiveness In a Cochrane Collaboration review, reflexology is defined as follows: 'Reflexology is gentle manipulation or pressing on certain parts of the foot to produce an effect elsewhere in the body.'

Reflex after effects