Case Study #4 Depression

Results of the research for the poster on the 8th RIEN Conference

Therapist: Noralis Millán

Patient: female, 60 years old

Pathology: depression and anxiety

Diagnosis: 1998

Depression is a mental illness wich is characterized by more pronounced  or prolonged sadness, loss of interest in activities normally experienced as pleasurable and loss of energy or tiredness. Depression is the leading cause of disabilities and the second leading cause of loss of healthy life years among the 107 diseases and health issues most relevant. May be episodic, recurrent or chronic, and leads to substantial decrease of the individuals ability to ensure their daily responsabilities. It can last from a few months to a few years. However, in about 20 percent of the cases it becomes a chronic without remission disease. These cases are due primarily to lack of proper treatment.

Symptomatology: deep sadness, apathy, headache, irritability, constant crying.

Medication: Diazepam (anxiolytics, sedative and hypnotic), Venlafaxine (antidepressant).

Start of sessions: 06/11/2013

Treatment: 15 reflexology sessions were performed with the duration of one hour, with the periodicity of 2 times per week. The techniques applied were: Relaxation Tecniques, Eunice Inghams Method, Advanced Technique, Moxibustion, Foot Taco (Thay Reflexology), Colon Link, Cranial Nerves technique, Vertebrae Techniques, Aromatherapy (lavender, eucalyptus), Acupressure (BP6, F3).

Analysis of results: after the first session, the patient slept all night. At session 5 the headaches disappeared completly and by the end of all 15 sessions the patient says the headaches didn't come back, and therefore, she was less irritable. Is much more calm and relaxes more easily.

Conclusion: The reflexology treatments have helped the patient to be more calm, relaxed and with better quality of life, as one of the symptoms disappeared completly (headache); the treatment also helped to improve the other symptoms not properly linked to depression, such as constipation, elimination, feeling of lightness on her legs after treatments.

feet at session #1

feet in session #15