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What is – Foot Reflexology?

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Stimulating your Acupressure Points Works – Amazing !!!

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Practices resembling Reflexology may have existed in previous historical periods. Similar practices have been documented in the histories of China and Egypt. Reflexology was introduced to the United States in 1913 by William H. Fitzgerald, M.D. (1872–1942), an ear, nose, and throat specialist, and Edwin F. Bowers. Fitzgerald claimed that applying pressure had an anesthetic effect on other areas of the body. It was modified in the 1930s and 1940s by Eunice D. Ingham (1889–1974), a nurse and physiotherapist. Ingham claimed that the feet and hands were especially sensitive, and mapped the entire body into “reflexes” on the feet, renaming “zone therapy” reflexology. “Modern reflexologists use Ingham’s methods, or similar techniques developed by the reflexologist Laura Norman.”

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Reflexology 101

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Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — Written by Erica Cirino — Updated on December 4, 2018

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How does reflexology work?

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There are a few different theories about how reflexology works.

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In Traditional Chinese Medicine

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Reflexology rests on the ancient Chinese belief in qi (pronounced “chee”), or “vital energy.” According to this belief, qi flows through each person. When a person feels stressed, their body blocks qi.

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This can cause an imbalance in the body that leads to illness. Reflexology aims to keep qi flowing through the body, keeping it balanced and disease free.

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In Chinese medicine, different body parts correspond with different pressure points on the body. Reflexologists use maps of these points in the feet, hands, and ears to determine where they should apply pressure.

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They believe their touch sends energy flowing through a person’s body until it reaches the area in need of healing.

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Other theories

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In the 1890s, British scientists found that nerves connect the skin and internal organs. They also found that the body’s entire nervous system tends to adjust to outside factors, including touch.

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A reflexologist’s touch may help to calm the central nervous system, promoting relaxation and other benefits just like any form of massage.

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Others believe that the brain creates pain as a subjective experience. Sometimes, the brain reacts to physical pain. But in other cases, it may create pain in response to emotional or mental distress.

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Some believe that reflexology can reduce pain through calming touch, which may help to improve someone’s mood and reduce stress.

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Zone theory is another belief that some use to explain how reflexology works. This theory holds that the body contains 10 vertical zones. Each zone contains different body parts and corresponds to specific fingers and toes.

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Practitioners of the zone theory believe that touching these fingers and toes allows them to access every body part in a particular zone.

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What are the potential benefits of reflexology?

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Reflexology is linked to many potential benefits, but only a few of them have been evaluated in scientific studies.

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So far, there’s limited evidence that reflexology may help to:

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• reduce stress and anxiety
• reduce pain
• lift mood
• improve general well-being

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In addition, people have reported that reflexology helped them:

• boost their immune system
• fight cancer
• get over colds and bacterial infections
• clear up sinus issues
• recover from back problems
• correct hormonal imbalances
• boost fertility
• improve digestion
• ease arthritis pain
• treat nerve problems and numbness from cancer drugs (peripheral neuropathy)

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What does the research say?

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There aren’t many studies about reflexology. And many experts consider those that do exist to be of low quality. In addition, a 2014 review concluded that reflexology isn’t an effective treatment for any medical condition.

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But it may have some value as a complementary therapy to help reduce symptoms and improve someone’s quality of life, much like massage. Since the massaged area is the feet, for some people that will provide even more relief of stress or discomfort.

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Here’s a look at what the research says about using reflexology to manage pain and anxiety.

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Pain

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In a 2011 studyTrusted Source funded by the National Cancer Institute, experts studied how reflexology treatments affected 240 women with advanced breast cancer. All women were undergoing medical treatment, such as chemotherapy, for their cancer.

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The study found that reflexology helped to reduce some of their symptoms, including shortness of breath. The participants also reported an improved quality of life. But it didn’t have any effect on pain.

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Experts have also looked at the effects of reflexology on pain in women experiencing premenstrual syndrome (PMS). In one older studyTrusted Source, researchers looked at the effects of ear, hand, and foot reflexology on 35 women who previously reported having of PMS symptoms.

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They found that those who received two months of reflexology treatment reported significantly fewer PMS symptoms than the women who did not. However, keep in mind that this study was very small and done decades ago.

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Larger, long-term studies are needed to fully understand whether reflexology helps to reduce pain.

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Anxiety

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In one small studyTrusted Source from 2000, researchers looked at the effects of one 30-minute foot reflexology treatment on people being treated for breast or lung cancer. Those who received a reflexology treatment reported lower levels of anxiety than those who received no reflexology treatment.

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In a 2014 study that was slightly larger, researchers gave people undergoing heart surgery a 20-minute foot reflexology treatment once a day for four days.

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They found that those who received the reflexology treatment reported significantly lower levels of anxiety than those who didn’t. Touch by another human being is a relaxing, caring, anxiety-reducing action for most people.

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Is reflexology safe to try?

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Generally, reflexology is very safe, even for people living with serious health conditions. It’s noninvasive and comfortable to receive, so it may be worth trying if it’s something you’re interested in.

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However, you should talk to your doctor first if you have any of the following health issues:

• circulatory problems in the feet
• blood clots or inflammation of your leg veins
• gout
• foot ulcers
• fungal infections, like athlete’s foot
• open wounds on your hands or feet
• thyroid problems
• epilepsy
• a low platelet count or other blood problems, which can make you bruise and bleed more easily

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You may still be able to try reflexology if you have any of these issues, but you might need to take a few precautions to avoid any adverse effects.

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Warning

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If you’re pregnant, make sure to tell your reflexologist before your session, as some pressure points in the hands and feet may induce contractions. If you’re trying to use reflexology to induce labor, only do so with your doctor’s approval. There is a risk of premature delivery, and babies are healthiest if born at 40 weeks of gestation.

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Some people also report having mild side effects after reflexology treatment, including:

• lightheadedness
• tender feet
• emotional sensitivity

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But these are short-term side effects that tend to go away shortly after treatment.

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The bottom line

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Reflexology may not be a scientifically proven medical treatment for disease, but studies suggest it’s a helpful complementary treatment, especially for stress and anxiety.

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Source: https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-reflexology#takeaway

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The Difference Between Reflexology and Massage

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Written by guest author Wendy, from Reflexology and massage (http://www.reflexologyandmassage.com/)

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Reflexology uses body maps that are on the feet, hands and ears. Massage does not. Massage is all about working the muscles, tendons and fascia. In reflexology, the sensitive areas on the feet and hands indicate there is either something out of balance in the body map area of the body or something in the foot itself or something along the meridian. The sensitive areas are areas that the practitioner will work more or longer on, say up to five minutes on a sensitive place. This is to have a better response for the client. This may be similar to massage, but the massage therapist will keep in mind the tendons and massaging to the desired end result of releasing the muscles and easing the pain. Where as the reflexologist will be focusing on the reflex points or maps and how the body works and how specific conditions or illnesses work.

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The benefits of reflexology are improved circulation, relaxation or stress reduction and it helps to balance  or improve function of the internal organs and glands naturally. Some studies have shown it to reduce pain such as back pain, PMS symptoms, diabetes and more. Many people find it even more relaxing than a full body massage, perhaps because they don’t have to take off their clothes, and because the work is being done far away from the head or because there are more nerve endings in the feet and hands and face than other parts of the body. There is something about the finger and thumb walking technique that is deeply relaxing in a way massage is not. It is hard to describe. The thumb or finger inches along the zones or reflex points, working at a pressure level that the client finds good…like it is “doing something” but not painful. The pressure should be somewhere “between the devil and the deep blue sea.” So, if you are feeling like your reflexology practitioner is not going deep enough or is going too deep, please speak up so you will have the best results. Sometimes the results are immediate and dramatic, and sometimes the results take 3 or more sessions. Take into account the condition you have. For instance, it will take much longer to bring the body into balance if you have a chronic, long term, condition like arthritis. No reflexologist can make claims, but we can tell clients what research there is and how to access it themselves.

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Has this ever happened to you? Have you ever gotten something different than you were looking for? Sometimes new reflexology clients come in to my office and tell a story of going to a spa and asking for reflexology and getting a foot massage instead. This is unfortunate for them, because they were looking for something different. I am sure the foot massage was lovely, but it just doesn’t have the same response as reflexology. Massage reduces muscle tension, is relaxing, and improves circulation. Reflexology is more internally based. Many clients say it feels like I am working on them from inside them. It is also really relaxing, improves circulation and helps you normalize the body.

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I never refer to reflexology as foot massage because massage is geared toward soft tissue and relaxation of the muscles and reflexology is based on working the reflex maps on the feet, hands, ears and face and with the nervous system. In my humble opinion, it becomes confusing for my clients if I refer to reflexology as foot massage. Reflexology may help with some foot conditions, but the reflexology goal is to relax the body, improve circulation, and help the body normalize itself naturally, allowing the body to heal itself internally. It is working to balance all body systems, improving circulation through stimulation of the nervous system. So, if a client wanted to work internally on a health condition that reflexology research has shown improvement with, or I know of clients who are helped by reflexology for this condition, I would suggest reflexology, as opposed to massage, with the disclaimer that the reflexology treatment is not to replace medical treatment and that everyone responds differently and we would just have to see how their body responded to reflexology. We are not doctors and don’t diagnose. I hope this article helped you understand the difference between reflexology and massage and will help you make decisions on what modality would be best for you at this time.

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In health,

Wendy Decker

http://www.reflexologyandmassage.com/

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Source:     https://www.massage-southampton.co.uk/blog/2013/09/21/the-difference-between-reflexology-and-massage/

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Please Note:

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Amazing FOOT SPA, nor our Owners, Partners, Staff, or Associates, do not condone nor condemn any of the preceding information. This information comes directly from the Source noted above, and is provided here for informational purposes only.

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Our Services and Fees section is what we perform and provide, and none of the information contained therein should be construed as we are implying, nor even suggesting, that any form of health benefit(s) can be gained from the work that we perform, because Traditional Chinese Reflexology, Traditional Chinese Acupressure, and other forms of Non-Invasive Traditional Chinese Healing Practices, mainly for “Pain Relief” is all that we do, and we know of none, nor are we suggesting or implying that any form of health benefit(s) can be gained from the work that we perform.

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Always seek the advice of your physician, or other qualified health provider, prior to starting any new diet or treatment, and with any questions, you may have regarding any medical condition. If you have, or suspect that you have, a medical problem, promptly contact your physician or health care provider.

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