Help Us Research Limbic Reflexology for Fibromyalgia
Hello, our names are Hamish and Marcia, we are both qualified reflexologists, and have founded Limbic Reflexology Research CIC—a non-profit dedicated to researching Limbic Reflexology (LR) as a potential complementary therapy treatment for health conditions such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Our Journey into Reflexology
We both retrained as reflexologists from very different careers—Hamish was a mental health nurse with the NHS, and Marcia worked in IT, mainly with financial institutions.
Watch the following video to learn more about Limbic Reflexology from Hamish:
Hamish has been training reflexologists in limbic reflexology since 2013.
Marcia’s journey into reflexology began in 2009 when her son was born with health issues. Looking for ways to support his well-being beyond medication, she turned to reflexology, which had helped her in the past. She became a qualified reflexologist in 2013 and first trained in Limbic Reflexology in 2014, completing her training in 2016.
To qualify as a Limbic Reflex Therapist (LRT), she had to complete three case studies. While all participants saw some improvement, the individual with fibromyalgia experienced the most improvement. Which is when she contacted her local fibromyalgia support group in 2017 and volunteered to provide LR sessions to its members.
Marcia left her IT job in mid-2017 to focus entirely on complementary therapy work and research. One client with fibromyalgia she worked with saw amazing progress after just eight sessions and was inspired to share her experience in this video:
Advancing Research into Limbic Reflexology
Seeing the positive impact of Limbic Reflexology, Marcia decided to further her studies. In 2018, after more than 30 years, she returned to university to pursue a Master of Research (MRes) degree at Glasgow Caledonian University. She graduated in 2021, with her final project exploring participants’ experiences of Limbic Reflexology for fibromyalgia.
This research project laid the groundwork for our current study, which now has official ethics approval (granted in late 2024). To conduct this study and publish the findings for public benefit, we established a non-profit, community interest company, Limbic Reflexology Research CIC.
About the Research Study
We want to make this study accessible to people with fibromyalgia across the UK, working with trained Limbic Reflex Therapists (LRTs) who will follow a standardised treatment protocol.
How it works:
✔️ Eligible participants will receive eight weekly LR sessions (or twice a week for four weeks), followed by four monthly maintenance sessions. These LR sessions will be free to participants
✔️ Before each session, they will complete a questionnaire to track progress.
✔️ Some participants will be interviewed about their experience.
✔️ The collected data will be analysed and written up with the intention to publish as an open-access paper in a peer-reviewed journal.
Why We Need Your Support
Independent research into complementary therapies like reflexology receives very little funding in the UK. We want to change that—ensuring the results of this research are open to all and helping to bring Limbic Reflexology into mainstream healthcare for fibromyalgia and similar conditions. The intention is that this research will take three years to complete, with a total cost of £70,000. The first year the approximate figure required is £30,000.
Every donation, big or small, helps us make this research a reality. Your support will directly fund:
💙 Participant recruitment
💙 Data collection and analysis
💙 Publishing research findings for public access
Together, we can explore a new potential treatment for fibromyalgia and help thousands of people find relief.
Thank you for being part of this journey!
Hamish & Marcia
Rewards on offer:
We wanted to make the rewards on offer appealing to as wide an audience as possible, we hope you agree. Please see below the amazing people offering rewards for donations besides Hamish and Marcia
Ruqaiya Khan
Ruqaiya is an educational consultant and trainer and brings a wealth of expertise in Early Childhood Education, Health and Social Care, and Further Education, specialising in delivering high-quality training, consultancy, and leadership across these sectors. Her work is rooted in a deep understanding of child development, inclusive education, safeguarding, and the promotion of well-being in both educational and community settings. The rewards being offered here are safeguarding courses, these would be perfect for any organisation who work with children and young people, or vulnerable adults.
Samantha Jane Littlejohns
Samantha-Jane, founder of The Habits of Happiness Limited, transforms lives through science-backed happiness practices and emotional intelligence education. After experiencing stress-induced paralysis in 2010, she dedicated her life to helping others build sustainable happiness through her CPD-accredited programs. Based in Bonnyrigg, she works with individuals, corporations, and schools, blending positive psychology, neuroscience, and mindfulness to create lasting positive change.
Audrey Paterson
Audrey is an Independent Financial Adviser | Health & Wealth Coach. With 37 years in the financial services industry, Audrey supports clients across Scotland with expert advice in pensions, investments, protection, and inheritance tax planning. She is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and works with Integrity Asset Management, based in Strathclyde Business Park, Bellshill. Her financial advice services are completely independent of her health and wellness coaching. The two rewards on offer from Audrey are a health check and a wealth check.
Shaka Thompson
Shaka is a forward-thinking, positive individual and former elite amateur boxer, with over 80 bouts—ranked in the top 10 in Great Britain and top 5 in England. Now an undefeated professional, Shaka, holds 7 wins from 7 fights and was named 2018 Prospect/Newcomer of the Year by the Midlands Boxing Association. With a BSc (Hons) in Sports Coaching Practice, he is passionate about health, fitness, and helping others achieve their goals. If you're looking for support and motivation through tailor-made training programmes and personalised one-to-one sessions, Shaka is here to help you reach your full potential.
More rewards to follow 😀