Benefits of Reflexology
Our feet carry us to where we want to go, and they hold us up as we stand still. In the theory of Reflexology, our feet can tell us about the health of our body. Reflexology is more than just a great foot massage, it’s designed to focus on areas of the feet that are indicating the body needs assistance in healing. It also assists in finding spots that need attention but aren’t visibly showing signs of ailment.
What is Reflexology?
The underlying theory behind Reflexology is that there are “reflex” areas on the feet that correspond to specific organs, glands, and other parts of the body. When an area or spot (reflex) is pressed on, sometimes one can feel a sensation in the corresponding area of the body, hence the name reflex. When applying pressure to these reflex areas, it can promote health in the corresponding organs and other body parts through energetic pathways and promote relaxation.
Examples of corresponding reflexes:
- The tips of the toes reflect the head
- The heart and chest are around the ball of the foot
- The liver, pancreas, gut, and kidneys are in the arch of the foot
- Low back and hips are towards the heel
Reduce Stress
If for no other reason, than to just get your feet massaged and allow yourself to zone out and relax, then this is for you. Reflexology is super relaxing, some might call it a glorified foot massage and that might be true. Reflexology is super detailed foot massage addressing every inch of your feet. It uses certain techniques to release tension and imbalances within the feet, that releases the tension and imbalances throughout the body. Having someone massage each foot for 30 minutes is an incredible experience.
Reduces Fatigue
A small study published in the Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research in the spring of 2015 found that reflexology decreases fatigue in women with multiple sclerosis. Other evidence suggests that reflexology may reduce the tingling associated with multiple sclerosis.
One of the biggest complaints of fibromyalgia sufferers is fatigue and overwhelming tiredness. Congestion and imbalances within the body start to throw the body’s natural healing energy offline. Making the body and mind work harder than it should and creating the body to tire quicker than normal. Reflexology focuses on breaking down these imbalances to help promote healing and lessen fatigue.
Reduce Pain
Pain comes in all different sizes and places throughout the body. Some experience headaches, premenstrual cramps, specific areas such legs, while other experience emotional pain like anxiety. All signs of pain is a way of the body telling us that something is imbalanced within our self. There have been several studies indicating how Reflexology has helped to bring balance back to the body.
Reflexology may be as effective as painkillers, according to a small study carried out by the University of Portsmouth. Researchers have found that people felt about 40 percent less pain, and were able to stand the pain for about 45 percent longer when they used reflexology as a method of pain relief.
A 1993 study found thirty-five women who complained of previous distress with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) were randomly assigned to be treated with foot reflexology or to receive a placebo reflexology (foot massage). The reflexology sessions for both groups were provided by a trained reflexology therapist once a week for 8 weeks and lasted 30 minutes each. Results: Analysis of variance for repeated measures demonstrated a significantly greater decrease in premenstrual symptoms for the women given true reflexology treatment than for the women in the placebo group.
National Board of Health Council, Denmark, 1995. This study aimed to ascertain the effectiveness of reflexology on migraine and tension headaches. Two hundred and twenty patients presenting headaches as their primary problem were treated by 78 reflexologists over a three-month time period. Results: 16% reported that they no longer experience headaches, 65% said that reflexology had helped lessen frequency, and 18% were unchanged. Conclusion: Reflexology is able to stop or help both tension and migraine headaches in a significant number of patients.
There are many reasons to use Reflexology in your health and wellness program, even if you don’t have any ailments that plague you, Reflexology makes for an enjoyable relaxing alternative health modality that will help maintain and promote a healthy body.
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References:
Obstetrics & Gynecology
University of Portsmouth
Headaches
