Reflexology and Gallbladder Warning Signs

Did you know that if you have pain on the right upper back/ shoulder area with pain under your right rib cage... Could be your gallbladder and you should get it checked. In Reflexology, the gallbladder is a small area on the arch of the right foot, between the fourth and pinky toes.

Leg or Foot Cramps? Here's Some Simple Do It Yourself Relief

Here are a couple remedies for foot or leg cramps:

For some leg/foot cramps the muscle needs to flex such as with night leg cramps. Keep a long scarf or cord at bedside. When the cramp occurs, lie on your back and bend the opposite leg, loop the scarf or cord around the arch of the foot that is cramping and slowly pull up with both hands flexing the foot and the whole leg. Hold for about 1/2 a minute and release. Do this a couple of times and the cramp normally vanishes.

On the top of the foot between the ankle bones you will find a little hollow. Press there.
If  the cramps are occurring often you may need to see a health professional.

Interested in more about Reflexology? Click here.

Need Proof of Medical Evidence To Reflexology? Here You Have It

This video was filmed in the Maternity and Gynaecology ward at Southern General Hospital in Glasgow, Scotland, on July 29th, 2009  by Moshe Kruchik, an Israeli Reflexologist who was invited to the UK to lecture on Reflexology and Maternity. During his lecture he was challenged by nurses on whether Reflexology actually worked - so he asked if he could demonstrate how effective Reflexology was  and if the patient agreed  he would film the experience.

The result is this video showing how Reflexology got rid of the patient's edema in one  session!! Through this clip, you will watch the edema in a 34 weeks pregnant woman disappear in a single Reflexology session. 

 

Foot Reflexology Map

Learn to read your foot with this interactive reflexology widget.

Learn to read your foot

More about reflexology

Hand Reflexology Map

Read your hand with this reflexology map

Learn to read your hand

More about reflexology

Beware of Where You Get Your Reflexology Session

There are many places out there claiming to be "Reflexology spas" and many people claiming to be Reflexologists. The fact is that Reflexology training is an intense program requiring, at minimum, 40 hours of Reflexology history, theory, etc.; 55 hours of anatomy and physiology; 5 hours of business ethics and standards; and 10 hours of supervised practicum. 

Look for your Reflexologist to have a National certification through the National Reflexology Certification Board. For certification The Board requires a written exam, a practicum and 90 case studies. 

Some massage schools offer 4 or 8 hour courses in Reflexology - this will not qualify for enough knowledge for National certification. 

Read more at world-wide recognized Reflexology practitioner, teacher, and researcher Kevin Kunz blog 

Reflexology Research

Many of you have received a Reflexology session from me and have been amazed at the results.Some of you who haven't had a Reflexology session may have your doubts - well, here's the science Barbara and Kevin Kunz are well known in the fields of complimentary medicine and Reflexology. Click on the "science" and see what you think.

How Does Reflexology Work?

There are lots of theories - the primary being that reflexology works through the nervous system.

 

There are a large number of nerve endings in the feet, hands and ears which are where the 3 reflexology maps of the body are located.

 

When health imbalances occur, such as a stiff neck, blockages of various chemicals accumulate in the neck reflexes of the feet, hands and ears.

 

The longer there is neck tension, the thicker the blockage becomes. Because nerve impulses flow from the end of one nerve to the beginning of the next, blockage between nerves will reduce the amount of nerve energy going through the body. Without enough nerve energy supply in the body, its parts and functions, cannot perform in a healthy manner.

 

This concept is illustrated by corrosion that accumulates on the terminal of a car battery. The thicker the corrosion, less electrical current flows from the battery to the car. The car runs rough. For the car to run smoothly, the corrosion must be cleaned off the battery terminal, so that the electrical current can flow fully.

 

So you see, for the neck to feel better, blockage between nerve endings in the neck reflexes of the feet, hands and ears must be eliminated, so that the current through the nerves can flow fully to the body again. When full nerve flow is restored, the body can balance itself and is better able to heal itself.

 

Reflexology works for many reasons. Besides normalizing nerve supply, beneficial chemicals are released during reflexology.

 

One most commonly known group of chemicals is endorphins - the body's natural opiates. Endorphins induce a sense of well being and are natural pain reducers.

 

Stress causes organs and glands to become either overactive of interactive. Reflexology helps to normalize the body's functions, stabilizing under or over active activity.

 

So some of the reasons people get better by having reflexology sessions are that the nerve energy supply is improved, there is an increase of beneficial chemicals and the body is normalized.

Where Did Reflexology Come From

There seems to be a popular thought going around that Reflexology came from Egypt. There is a popular pictograph showing people holding other people's feet. However, there is nothing documented that these people or, for that fact, the Egyptians ever practiced anything like today's Reflexology.

In documented fact, Reflexology was developed separately by two American physicians, Drs. Fitzgerald and Riley, in the early 20th century. A French surgeon, Dr. Rogier, developed ear Reflexology in the mid-20th century.

The practice of Reflexology was developed and standardized by Eunice Ingham, an assistant to Dr. Riley.

There is much clinical evidence to the effectiveness of Reflexology. If you email me with a specific question, I can get the study for you.

Reflexology According to U.S.News

This article appears on the U.S.News website if you would like to read it in its entirety. The author is Gloria Cooksey, The Gale Group Inc., Gale, Detroit, Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, 2005. I'll give you the short version.

Definition:

Reflexology is a therapeutic method of relieving painstress, injury, and illness. by stimulating predefined pressure points on the feet and hands. This controlled pressure alleviates the source of the discomfort. In the absence of any particular malady or abnormality, reflexology may be as effective for promoting good health and for preventing illness as it may be for relieving symptoms of stress, injury and illness.

Reflexologists work from maps of predefined pressure points that are located on the hands and feet. These pressure points are reputed to connect directly through the nervous system and affect the bodily organs and glands. The reflexologist manipulates the pressure points according to specific techniques of reflexology therapy. By means of this touching therapy, any part of the body that is the source of pain, illness, or potential debility can be strengthened through the application of pressure at the respective foot or hand location.

Benefits

Reflexology promotes healing by stimulating the nerves in the body and encouraging the flow of blood. In the process, reflexology not only quells the sensation of pain, but relieves the source of the pain as well.

Anecdotally, reflexologists claim success in the treatment of a variety of conditions and injuries. One condition is fibromyalgia. People with this disease are encouraged to undergo reflexology therapy to alleviate any of a number of chronic bowel syndromes associated with the condition. Frequent brief sessions of reflexology therapy are also recommended as an alternative to drug therapy for controlling the muscle pain associated with fibromyalgia and for relieving difficult breathing caused by tightness in the muscles of the patient's neck and throat.

Description:

In a typical reflexology treatment, the therapist and patient have a preliminary discussion prior to therapy, to enable the therapist to focus more accurately on the patient's specific complaints and to determine the appropriate pressure points for treatment.

A reflexology session involves pressure treatment that is most commonly administered in foot therapy sessions of approximately 40–45 minutes in duration. The foot therapy may be followed by a brief 15-minute hand therapy session. No artificial devices or special equipment are associated with this therapy. The human hand is the primary tool used in reflexology. The therapist applies controlled pressure with the thumb and forefinger, generally working toward the heel of the foot or the outer palm of the hand. Most reflexologists apply pressure with their thumbs bent; however, some also use simple implements, such as the eraser end of a pencil. Reflexology therapy is not massage, and it is not a substitute for medical treatment.

Reflexology is a complex system that identifies and addresses the mass of 7,000 nerve endings that are contained in the foot. Additional reflexology addresses the nerves that are located in the hand. This is a completely natural therapy that affords relief without the use of drugs. The Reflexology Association of America (RAA) formally discourages the use of oils or other preparations in performing this hands-on therapy."

So there you have it.

How Does Reflexology Work?

In understanding what Reflexology is, you must understand what it is not. Reflexology is not foot massage. Foot massage is a rubbing and kneading of the foot using oil. albeit a simple technique using only the hands; Reflexology uses very precise reflex points generally without oil. Foot massage is directed at the foot while Reflexology directs itself to the entire body through the foot.

Reflexology is not only a science but also an art. It is a science because it is based on physiological and neurological study. It is an art because much depends on how skillfully the practitioner applies their knowledge as well as the dynamics occurring between the practitioner and client.

There are more than 7,000 nerve endings in the bottom of each foot and the number of capillaries is greater in the soles of the feet and palms of the hands than anywhere else in the body. When a nerve is stimulated, it is not an isolated incident; that stimulation travels to other areas of the body. The circulation within the capillaries provides for cell metabolism and growth as well as carring away waste products. A blood pressure study at the California Police Olympics that Reflexology while only applied to the feet lowered blood pressure.The dynamics of reflexology embraces all 11 systems of the body.

One of the ways that Reflexology works is by getting the body to relax. Relaxation of the mind and body eases tension and allows the healing to occur. This is not to say the the practitioner is a healer. The practitioner acts only as the mediator for the body and mind. The practitioner creates the opportunity through relaxation, for the client's own powers of healing to become effective. The client, of course, must be willing to heal.

More next time . . . . . . .

Reflexology

A Cherokee saying - "Your feet walk upon the earth and through this your spirit is connected to the universe. Our feet are our contact with the earth and the energies that flow through it."

The official definition of Reflexology is "The study, art, and science of applying specific touch techniques to the feet, hands and outer ears where theory suggests there is a pressure map resembling the shape of the human body. By applying nurturing touch in specific ways, a wide range of health benefits have been reported."

Reflexology is a stress reduction technique and is a compliment to any other form of treatment employed. Therefore, it would be defined as a complimentary modality.

So far I've established that:

• Your feet are connected to the earth perhaps in ways you hadn't thought of.
  
• Reflexology is a study, art and science.
  
• Reflexology is a stress reduction technique complimentary to medical and other modalities.

In the next few blogs I'm going to delve further into Reflexology what it is and what it isn't.

Namaste