Reactions in the periods between two treatment sessions are a response to the therapeutic stimulus and present themselves as changes in the patient’s condition. They often occur between the second and sixth treatment, usually lasting several hours, sometimes even days and are characterized by their great variety. The principle that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link is confirmed by the way in which the organs or systems that are most affected or weakened often react first.

Reactions are an important transitional phase between disease and health and can affect all the physical organs and systems as well as the whole person at an emotional, psychological, or mental level.

The first most clearly perceptible reactions are at a physical level. Here it is often the excretory organs which constitute the appropriate vehicle for the removal of existing toxins, harmful substances, metabolic residues, and end products from inside the body.

Hering’s Law (named after the homeopathic physician C. Hering, 1800–1880) also frequently applies to the response and healing phases of reflexotherapy of the feet (RTF), above all, in those with chronic disease:

• The symptoms disappear from the inside to the outside, and/or

• from top to bottom, and/or

• in the reverse order to that in which they arose.

From a therapeutic perspective, reactions are useful and necessary on principle for without reactions no changes can be achieved in the present condition.

From the patient’s perspective, reactions may be pleasant or disturbing. However, they must in any case be assessed positively, even if they are sometimes subjectively described as “deterioration” due to ignorance of their internal correlations.

The analogy with a good spring clean helps some patients to accept the acute phase of reactions and enhances their understanding of the fact that it is precisely the unpleasant attendant symptoms that provide a major opportunity for improvement during the regeneration process.

The special nature of the patient’s reactions

• is linked to the internal and external background of the patient’s illness,

• provides an overview of previous and current ailments, and

• points to the available opportunities and resources that can be activated in order to change and improve the current phase of their condition.

With the following list it should be remembered that biological processes cannot be defined by schematic, linear thinking but always present themselves in the following manner:

• interconnected,

• overlapping with other systems, and

• in a rhythmic and dynamic form.

Head and Neck

Headaches of various kinds and origin sometimes cease after a short phase of reactivation.

Sinuses discharge secretions which are watery or viscous in consistency.

Blood pressure readings and their amplitude may change in both hypertonic and hypotonic conditions.

The conjunctiva of the eyes often reacts in allergic patients with a decrease in exudate and reduced reddening and swelling.

Chronic inflammatory tendencies in the nasopharyngeal cavity and neck abate.

Spine, Thorax, Joints, and Muscle Groups

Functional complaints in the spine (e.g., pain after accidents, ischialgia) and restriction of movement in the large and small joints improve, sometimes accompanied by a short, acute period of pain. The quality of the posture improves.

Myogelosis, especially in the shoulder girdle and back, become less painful as the muscle tone normalizes.

Urinary Tract

Often the kidneys and bladder discharge more urine. This may become cloudier or clearer, the smell may change and become more or less intense, and laboratory examinations may reveal more urinary waste substances.

Patients suffering from an irritated bladder throughout the day or night usually experience an improvement after a few treatments if their regenerative qualities are well developed.

Practical Advice

If a patient’s bladder irritation develops into an inflammation with fever, we must respect our professional limits and those of RTF and, where necessary, refer the patient to a doctor. With such decisions, it is important for further progress that the symptom is not suppressed but rather supported by natural remedies promoting self-healing so that deeper reorganization can take place in the ailing background systems.

Endocrine and Nervous Systems

Apart from the well-known remedy of wet compresses applied to the lower legs, an enema is a household remedy for naturally providing relief and regulating a high temperature.

Activation of Earlier Diseases

Diseases which have not been completely cured, or which have been suppressed instead of being healed, may briefly reappear in a milder form. This reaction should not be understood as an aggravation of the patient’s condition, but rather indicates that the therapy can lead to the healing of chronic, hidden processes via an acute phase.

Practical Advice

If the patient possesses a good amount of vitality, a whole series of earlier diseases may be reactivated at short notice and encourage healing, in the sense of a “progressive vicaration to diminish the toxins accumulated in the deposition phases”. This is certainly not a cause for concern but promotes good cooperation between the patient and doctor and clear psychological guidance for the patient.

Sleep and Dreams

With regard to the quality and quantity of sleep, some patients react to RTF with an increased need for sleep that should be heeded; others are particularly unsettled or require less sleep than usual and yet feel more refreshed and ready for action the next day.

Dreams, both pleasant and worrying, are significant signals from the subconscious and perform important spiritual “tidying up.” Sometimes it would also be advisable to suggest getting support from a good psychotherapist or responsibly led self-awareness group in order to enable old, hitherto subconscious or suppressed problems to be processed more easily.

When patients entrust their private lives to a professional in order to process upcoming lifethemes, the latter’s absolute integrity and credibility is of vital importance.

Mood and Mental State

Restlessness or anxiety may now and then increase for a few hours as an initial reaction but often the experience of having their feet touched gives patients a feeling of being grounded and less nervous, indecisive, and fearful.

Growing inner awareness and poise may be revealed in

• more open encounters with other people,

• freer expression of feelings in the form of laughter, tears, attentiveness, joy, rage,

• increased readiness to undertake ventures and make changes, and

• active endeavor by the patient to find their own place within the family or among friends.