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We decided to investigate the purported benefits of nail standing, a popular healing practice that is believed to help various systems of the body.
Let’s start by addressing the physics of standing on nails. Everyone knows that a nail piercing the skin and penetrating deep into the foot is a common occurrence. However, practitioners of nail standing can avoid this not because they possess any special abilities, but because distributing weight over a greater surface area reduces pressure on any single point. Wired magazine author Rhett Allain calculated that an adult man lying down could distribute his weight without sustaining injury by using a total of 1394 nails with caps in a 1 mm area. For beginners standing on nails, who have a smaller surface area for standing, it is recommended to use boards with 1070-1100 nails to avoid any penetrating wounds.
The principle of nail bed therapy is similar to acupuncture or reflexology, where certain points can redirect life energy through channels called meridians to necessary organs. However, acupuncture is considered alternative medicine and most studies have not confirmed its therapeutic effects. In their joint book “Trick or Treatment: The Undeniable Facts about Alternative Medicine,” British doctor Edzard Ernst, who specializes in testing non-traditional medicine methods, and science popularizer Simon Singh write that scientists have not found evidence of the existence of meridians or life energy. Additionally, in blind studies, patients rated the effects of procedures conducted according to acupuncture rules and their imitation equally. In 2013, the journal “Anesthesia & Analgesia” published an article titled “Acupuncture is theatrical placebo” by David Colquhoun, a professor at University College London, and Steven Novella from Yale University. The scientists concluded that after more than 3000 trials, it is time to give up since it has been impossible to find consistent evidence. It is simply not credible that the money needed to conduct another 3000 trials will be forthcoming.
It is surprising to note that the WHO review, which nail acupuncture websites report, does exist. The 2003 report by experts identified conditions for which acupuncture had a significant therapeutic effect, including depression, headache, allergy, dysentery, renal colic, hay fever, and malposition of the fetus during childbirth. However, the scientific community heavily criticized this report upon its release. Two years later, the same group of experts released another report on alternative medicine that addressed conditions in which homeopathy had shown therapeutic effects. Although this report is not available on the WHO website, it was criticized for being overtly biased as the authors relied on positive data, ignoring negative research and systematic reviews. Currently, the acupuncture report is missing from the official WHO website. Cochrane reviews, which constitute the largest evidence-based medicine database, refer to the acupuncture report’s evidence quality as extremely low and highlight problems with study design.
Currently, scientists agree that no areas of the feet can be connected to internal organs. There are only two systems of communication in the human body, namely the nervous and endocrine systems. Nerves that run directly from the soles of the feet to organs like the liver, lungs, or eyes have not been found. The endocrine system works by releasing hormones into the bloodstream, which then affects target organs. Despite this, no such connection has been established.
Despite the lack of evidence for the connection between the feet and internal organs, some practitioners still attribute positive effects to reflexotherapy and nail acupuncture. Supporters of reflexotherapy, such as specialists from the British Society for Cancer Treatment, claim that self-massage of the head, one of the reflexotherapy techniques, has helped women with breast cancer better tolerate chemotherapy. The positive effects may be linked to the release of endorphins – neurotransmitters associated with pleasure – and other psychological factors. Endorphins are released in pleasant situations, such as eating something delicious, receiving a massage, or engaging in sexual activity. They are also released in response to stress or pain, such as during childbirth or intense physical activity.
Therefore, while nail bed therapy may offer some psychological benefits, such as relaxation and stress relief, its effects are primarily due to the release of endorphins. It should not be relied upon as a sole solution for any serious medical conditions. If you prefer not to experience sharp sensations, there are alternative activities that can provide similar benefits, such as exercising at the gym, spending quality time with your partner, or indulging in your favorite foods.