Does Reflexology Really Work?
January 8th, 2007The short answer to this question is emphatically yes, Reflexology really works. Reflexology is the art of hands on healing, dating back thousands of years, with evidence found in ancient China, ancient Egypt, India and also with the North American Indians. Treatment involves applying massage with differing degrees of pressure to the reflex points normally found in the feet, although other areas including the hands and ears also hold pressure points. With the most common area of treatment being in the feet this makes self treatment possible. Although beginners should be cautious in attempting self treatment if they have a pre existing condition which may become aggravated if the treatment is performed incorrectly. A reflexology session usually creates a deep, relaxed feeling leading to a healing and a sense of well being. A session nurtures the body by increasing circulation and energy flow from head to toe.
The practice of Reflexology is often referred to as holistic, meaning it is a treatment used for the body as a whole. The active process of treatment will not only have an impact physically but on an emotional and spiritual level as well. A full treatment is most often done on all areas of both feet, this way the whole body is covered and each treatment can address a number of different symptoms.
Whenever a particular part of the body is not working properly there is usually a tender area to be found in a specific part of the foot and sometimes in the hand or ear. By applying pressure to that corresponding part of let’s say the foot, over time the pain in the associated part of the body should reduce. As the soreness diminishes, the body will begin to function properly again. When referring to a Reflexology chart you can see that every part of the body has a corresponding pressure point in the foot. The right side of the body relates to the right foot and the left side relates to the left foot. The entire foot is literally covered in pressure points, from the bottom, the sides, the top of the foot and around the lower part of the ankle.
What made me a believer in the healing power of Reflexology was when after a few months of worsening pain in my left wrist from a minor accident, I got talking with a mate of mine Geoff, who had recently completed a Reflexology course in Sydney. When I told Geoff about my sore left wrist he immediately and without warning grabbed the top of my left ear and squeezed, the pain was excruciating and I instantly pulled away. I can’t remember exactly what I said to Geoff at that moment but it surely wouldn’t have been anything pleasant. I remember asking him why on earth my ear was so tender and he responded by grabbing and squeezing my right ear in the same place just as firmly but there was no pain. Geoff went on to explain that the pressure point or in other words the nerve ending for the part of my left wrist which was in so much pain was in the top of my left ear. He proceeded to tell me that if I continued to massage that tender part of my ear a couple of times per day without excessive pressure, the pain in my left wrist would go away probably within a couple of weeks. I must say that I was pretty skeptical of what he told me and even questioned him as to whether he was serious or not but he assured me he had no doubt that if I did what he said the pain would soon disappear.
I figured I had nothing to lose and it did seem peculiar that only my left ear was sore and my right ear was fine. So I followed his advice and sure enough within a couple of weeks my wrist was fine. I thanked Geoff for his help and he advised me a good way to stay healthy was to give each foot a solid 2-3 minute massage before bed every night and this in turn may also help you sleep better by helping to relax your inner organs and your body as a whole. I have since made this a regular part of my routine before I go to bed. Although I’m not saying that reflexology is a substitute for modern medical treatment it is certainly an alternative to consider and one that doesn’t require you to take drugs to restore your health.
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