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Foot reflexology is both a diagnostic technique and therapy. It is an alternative therapy which is considered useful in pain management. Its effectiveness as a therapy has been studied at the Mestre hospital where a clinical study has been undertaken to determine the effectiveness of reflexology in the reduction of pain. A group of 40 persons suffering almost exclusively from a lumbar-sacral disc hernia received three treatments of reflexology massage for a week. The results found that 25 persons (62.5%) reported a reduction in pain, (rating at 0.75 on a scale of 0-4). These results however did not take into consideration the relationship between the effectiveness of foot reflexology and variables such as the persons physicality (Body Mass Index), or their psychological or social status.

Electroacupuncture was used in the treatment of 50 cases of tropic ulcer of the lower extremities, including 34 following phlebitis, by stimulation with a Roccia VTM apparatus at voltages and frequencies up to the patient's tolerance threshold. The needles stimulation was maintained for a maximum of 7 hr. A cure was obtained in all cases, including those where the ulcers were inveterate and resistant to routine forms of management.

Experimental data about the great analgetic value of electro ear-acupuncture stimulation in the cat (by prof. Durinjan--Central Research Institute for reflex-therapy--Moscow) are referred. The mechanism of analgesia by ear electro-stimulation is periacqueductal gray matter (PGM) activation. Trigeminal system as main center involved in this type of acupuncture analgesia is discussed. Up to date parameters for better analgetic results are foreseen.

The Author presents clinical cases suffering from facial pains of vascular origin treated with Helium-Neon 5 m.w. soft-laser. Local points belonging to the maxillary branch of the V pair, distant points increasing ACTH and beta endorphin levels, nose and ear points have been stimulated. 80% of our subjects previously treated with pharmacological therapy with none or little results, presented excellent and good results with segmental and hormonal neuroreflexotherapy. Results are discussed in the light of dermatoneuromeric theory.

With a view to clarifying the mechanism whereby electroacupuncture aids teh repair of trophic ulcers, including inveterate forms resistant to ordinary treatments, reference is made to histochemical findings and histological findings in periulcerous tissues and experimental research into wound healing. Preliminary work showed that electroacupuncture improves the blood supply to ulcerous tissue and the local biochemistry, and accelerates the repair process. Experimental work also made it clear that the method, when use on alternate days with the modalities employed in clinical practice, accelerates the healing of wounds in the experimental animal.