Reflexology- What is it ?

The Benefits of Reflexology include:

* Relief of stress and nervous tension.
* Enhanced relxation.
* Increased vitality and alertness.
* Enhanced creativtiy and productivity.
* Improved Circulation
* Restoration of homeostasis and the balance of energy in the mind-body system
* Stimulation of the immune system
* Prevention of illness

Reflexology is a contemporary form of healing through compression that has been practiced for thousands of years. Although the practice of reflexology is most closely associated with the feet, it is a holistic approach that has benefits for the entire mind-body system. Applying pressure at designated points on the feet, hands, or even ears can create change in all areas of the body.

Like Shiatsu, reflexology has its roots in the philosophies and practices of ancient Eastern cultures. Also like shiatsu, a major goal of reflexology is homeostasis, or balance in the mind-body system. Homeostasis promotes harmony and prevents health problems. Whereas in shiatsu the method of balancing the life energy and facilitating homeostasis is by touching strategic points of pressure all over the body, the touch in reflexology is limited primarily to the feet.

Research and case histories have shown that reflexology can provide relief for a wide variety of health problems. This modality was originally developed to balance the internal environment as a means of preventing health problems and enhancing vitality.

The Origins of Contemporary Reflexology

Reflexology today is a hybrid of the philosophies and techniques of ancient Oriental medicine and the theories and practices developed in the West. For example, reflexology combines shiatsu’s use of pressure points with the Swedish concept of that relieving pain by applying direct touch to one area of they body can have a positive impact on other, distant parts of the body.

Ancient illustrations and documents show that the ancient cultures of China, Japan, and Egypt believed that working on the feet was linked to good health. Acupuncture was already commonly practiced, but the application of needles to the feet was considered too painful. Instead of needles, finger pressure was applied to the feet in order to circulate life energy throughout the body. Different areas of the foot were associated with healing different energy centers of the body. Cave drawings in Egypt dating back to 2330 B.C. depict relfexology being given and received.

This modality was introduced to the United States in the early 1900’s by Dr. William H. Fitzgerald, a graduate of the University of Vermount, Fitzgerald, calling it zone therapy; theorized that there are ten zones located throughout the body, five on the right side and five on the left side. These body zones have corresponding zones in the five toes and five fingers. The zones of the body and the zones of the feet and hands are connected by meridians. These ten meridians are not necessarily the same meridians as those used in shiatsu. Fitzgerald believed and demonstrated that pain relief could be provided by applying the technique of zone therapy to certain areas of the feet and hands.

In the 1930’s, another thread of contemporary reflexology was spun by Eunice Ingham, a physiotherapist who engaged in ten years of intensive research on the specific connections between the feet and the rest of the body. Fitzgerald’s zone theory inspired and served as a foundation for her work. Ingham used precise thumb pressure on specific areas of her patient’s feet to discover the reaction of each zone of the body to stimulation of different parts of the feet. Based on her recordings of the relationships between tender areas on her patient’s feet and the functioning of their organs, glands and body parts, Ingham mapped out the feet vis-a-vis the body. The method she developed became known as the Original Ingham Method of Reflexology. The term reflexology is used because each zone of the body reacts in a reflexive manner to stimulating specific points in the feet.

The descendents of Ingham and students of her method have done further research. Studies of the connections and maps of the feet developed since the pioneering work of Fitzgerald and Ingham show some variations, but the principles remain the same.

The Zones of The Feet

Reflexologists view the foot as a microcosm of the entire body. Reflex zones in the feet are mapped out into specific areas, each corresponding to a particular body part, organ, or gland. In fact, the map of the foot is a mirror image of the structure of the body.

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The toes correspond to the head and neck; the balls of the feet to the chest, lung, and shoulder area; the upper arch to the diaphragm, stomach and small intestine; the lower arch to the pelvic and lower intestine; and the heel to the lower body – the pelvis and sciatic nerve. Each outer foot corresponds to each arm, shoulder, hip, leg, knee, and the lower back. The inner foot corresponds to the spine. The ankle area corresponds to the reproductive organs and pelvic area.

These specific areas of the foot are manipulated and compressed in order to promote blood circulation and healing in the corresponding body structure. The compression of the reflex zones is a conceptualized as stimulating the body’s own healing forces to reduce tension and promotes stability.

Why The Feet ?

Reflexology is a natural way of stimulating the internal organs and increasing blood circulating to all areas of the body through the compression of reflex points on the ears, hands, and, most commonly, the feet. There are a number of reasons why the feet are more often chosen than the hands or ears in this bodywork modality.

The feet are easy to grasp and lend themselves anatomically to receiving reflexology. Having the feet worked on allows the receiver to sit in a relaxed, comfortable position. The feet contain more than seven thousand nerve endings and are therefore sensitive to touch and have many connections throughout the nervous system. These features enhance the connection to the zones and systems of the body.

The feet are also the best choice for reflexology because the feet themselves are more prone to strain than the hands and ears because of the support they provide to the entire body. In addition, because of the location of the feet and the impact of gravity, your feet and ankles are more likely to accumulate toxins than are your hands or ears. A related issue for the feet is their distance from the heart, making them a target for less optimal circulation of blood and lymph. The accumulation of waste and toxins in the lower extremities and feet can cause edema, or swelling. Compression applied directly to the feet can relieve the impact of strain, improve circulation and promote the elimination of waste products that have settled there.

Even though the feet are the most common target area in this treatment modality, reflexology is not simply a foot massage. Rather, it is a method for healing dysfunction and pain in the whole body through the compression of the different areas of each foot.

Experiencing Reflexology –

As the receiver, you are asked to remove your socks and shoes. No other clothing is removed. As a courtesy to the giver, the receiver’s feet should be clean for the session. The giver might apply light oil or olive oil, light powder or cornstarch or nothing at all to the feet during the reflexology session. The session can last anywhere from twenty to sixty minutes. For the duration of the session, the receiver sits in a reclined position in a comfortable padded chair.

The giver of reflexology will work systematically by applying finger and thumb pressure at varying depths and durations to the zones of your feet. By compressing areas over the entire foot — bottom, side, top and ankles — the giver can determine the tender areas that need to be the focus of treatment. The giver will apply firm pressure in order to relieve the tension in these areas. While performing reflexology, the giver’s compression of your feet will stay within the parameters of your comfort and resistance.

When the session is over, you will most likely feel relaxed and energized. If you have a specific health complaint that was alleviated in the reflexology session, you can discuss with the giver a schedule for further remediation of the problem and prevention of recurrence.

Is Reflexology Effective ?

The value of reflexology for preventing, fighting, and healing illness has been studied extensively all over the world. Because of its roots in traditional Chinese medicine, the majority of the research on the effectiveness of reflexology has been performed in China. The intent of research on reflexology is not to claim this modality as a substitute for medical treatment. Rather, it is being explored as an adjunct to treatment and as an option to consider under the approproate circumstances.

Research on reflexology has addressed its health benefits for the general population as well as its application in the workplace for reducing stress, illness, and absenteeism. Researchs have examined the impact of reflexology on many health problems.

In 1996, the China Reflexology Symposium Report of the China Reflexology Association reviewed and analyzed 8,096 clinical cases involving foot reflexology. This massage project was headed by Dr. Wang Liang who reported that foot reflexology was effective in treating more than 93 percent of the disordered reviewed.

Liang divided the results of the review into three categories –

1. Cure or significant and lasting effect
2. Some improvement or effect that includes partial disappearance of symptoms but recurrence without treatment
3. Insignificant or no effect.

Of the 8096 cases studied, 45 % showed some improvement. More than 48 % showed foot reflexology to be either a cure or significantly effective. In about 6 % of the cases, reflexology had no effect.

The health problems for which foot reflexology was found to be effective include

* Vertigo,
* Upper respiratory tract infection,
* Flu,
* Chronic constipation,
* Gastroenteritis, and
* Type-2 diabetes.

Research findings suggest that reflexology could play a role in lowering cholesterol. It also looks like foot reflexology can decrease free radicals in the blood. The efficient elimination of free radicals will help restore balance, eliminate toxins, and fortify the immune system, thereby equipping you to prevent and fight disease more effectively.