Is there a real reflexology homunculus?

[Sebastian]

Hello. I am ending my third semester of Physical Therapy, I have recently finished neuro anatomy and neuro physiology. I realize I have many years of studies including many neurological things to learn from. How ever, I know there is a alternative medical science called "reflexology", is there any scientific proof that the foot has some sort of "homunculus" and through manipulation of it you can treat many of the pathologies affecting your whole body?

I ask this because there is one in the Brain in the "primary Somato Sensorial Cortex in the parietal lobe of the brain." And there is clearly so many evidence of that, how ever I have not read or learned that any other parts of the Body work in a similar way? Oh and sorry, english is my second tounge so I'm sure I translated that bad.

 

[Gary Y]

Firstly, Reflexology is not in anyway a science. It's quackery.

There is no evidence for zones/pathways/reflexes (whatever) in the feet, hands or ears. These have never been seen by any doctor, anatomist, radiographer, surgeon, etc etc. There is no evidence for the existence of qi or "vital energy" that needs balancing. There is no good evidence that reflexology can beat placebo under clinical trial. So we have lots of claims but nothing to back them up.

I don’t think that the majority of reflexologists are necessarily scam artists, deluded maybe, but certainly those who sell the reflexology courses must know what they are doing is nonsense, and when you clearly see pseudoscience used to promote a product, its a scam.

A 2009 systematic review of randomised controlled trials concluded that "The best evidence available to date does not demonstrate convincingly that reflexology is an effective treatment for any medical condition: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19740047

 

[JLI]

In addition to what Gary says this study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11068346 Also supports your assertion that a real reflexology homunculus does not exist. The findings in that study were that
1) Experienced reflexologists were unable to detect presence/absence of specific conditions - even when they have a list to choose from.
2) Experienced reflexologists were unable to agree among themselves if specified conditions were present or not.