Reflexology can help you feel less stressed, more relaxed, and more energized. For those with specific health concerns, the benefits may be even greater.

Many people with medical conditions report reduced pain and discomfort when they experience less stress, and reflexology may support this effect. In a review of 17 studies on the therapy’s psychological benefits, researchers found that reflexology improved well-being and helped individuals manage their conditions more effectively.

Reflexology is a type of therapy that uses gentle pressure on specific points along your feet (and possibly on your hands or ears as well) to help you feel better. The theory is that this eases stress, and that helps your body work better. It’s also known as zone therapy.

The way reflexology connects spots on the outside of your body to the inside is a bit like acupuncture and acupressure. But those therapies use points all over your body, not just on your feet, hands, and ears. And while reflexologists do use their hands, it isn’t a form of massage.