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Reflexology
Target your feet to relieve tension
By Jane C. Morrison LMT
As
a practicing massage therapist and reflexologist, I have come to
believe that if your feet hurt your whole body hurts. It is very
interesting to understand and experience the connection between
our feet and the rest of our body.
My first experience with reflexology was 23 years ago. I had the
opportunity of receiving a session from a very gifted reflexologist.
As she worked on my feet without having any medical history, I was
amazed at what she was telling me about my health. She would find
a sore point which she referred to as “crystals” that
indicate a lack of circulation to parts of my body. She explained
that the nerve endings for the whole body are in the hands and feet.
If waste products in the form of uric and lactic acid form crystals
and settle in the feet, it causes the nerve endings to be blocked.
As this congestion continues, less energy is transmitted to the
corresponding parts of the body. She used a special compression
massage technique that restored circulation to the pathways while
also restoring energy and health to my body. “The body has
the ability to heal itself if it is in proper balance,” she
said, adding that this therapy can help many people deal with chronic
conditions and provide much relief from pain.
What
is reflexology?
Reflexology
is a science, which deals with the principle that there are reflex
areas in the feet and hands that correspond to all of the glands,
organs and parts of the body. Stimulating these reflexes properly
can help many health problems in a natural way. This technique is
used as a type of preventative maintenance. Reflexology as we know
it today was first researched and developed by Eunice Ingham, the
pioneer of this field. Her first book on the subject was published
in 1938.
Reflexology
facts
We
cannot determine the exact relationship between the ancient art
as practiced by the early Egyptians and reflexology as we know it
today. However, pictures were found on Egyptian tomb walls documenting
this practice. Different forms of working the feet to effect health
have been used in the ancient world. The Zone Theory was the precursor
to modern reflexology that began with Dr. William H. Fitzgerald,
M.D. He called his work Zone Analgesia where pressure was applied
to the corresponding bony eminence or to the zones corresponding
to the location of an injury. Dr. Fitzgerald discovered a very interesting
fact: the application of pressure on the zones not only relieved
pain, but in the majority of cases also relieved the underlying
cause as well. The same result is experienced through reflexology
today, which is based partially on the Zone Theory. Dr. Shelby Riley,
M.D. worked closely with Dr. Fitzgerald and developed the Zone Theory
further by identifying horizontal zones in feet.
What
does reflexology do?
Reflexology is used primarily for relieving tension. Doctors agree
that over 75 percent of our health problems can be linked to nervous
stress and tension. Reflexology improves nerve and blood supply
and helps nature to normalize.
What special equipment is needed?
Only the hands are used, making it a safe, simple and effective
method without the use of gadgets.
Can
reflexology make a condition worse?
No,
it will not make any condition more acute. Reflexology helps to
normalize body functions. A reflexology session relaxes the stress
that can affect your health and is a safe, effective way to better
health. Certain other hands-on therapy, such as massage, cannot
be used on certain conditions, but reflexology is appropriate because
it only normalizes the body functions.
What
conditions would benefit?
Regular
reflexology treatments can benefit any condition that requires a
need for increased circulation. Diabetics and the elderly often
find relief from the pain in the legs related to lack of blood flow.
What
can I expect at a reflexology session?
The
session will last from 30-45 minutes. You will sit in a chair or
lay on a massage table. The therapist will examine the condition
of your feet and if there are no open wounds she will continue.
Each foot is massaged with the compression and relaxation techniques
resulting in a feeling of increased energy and well-being. Sometimes
an oil or lotion is used at the end of the session to increase the
relaxation effects and soften the skin.
Don't
suffer any longer. We are here to help you in any way that we can.
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