Author Archive

Reflexology Used to Stop Sneezes?

Jul 11, 2010 Reflexology, Sneezing

This is a great do it yourself reflexology trick – we had to try it to see for ourselves.

Allergy season, dust or just an old fashioned tickle in your nose, sneezes can come on at the worst of times. Now you can use a little reflexology to help stop them from interrupting a conversation or creating an awkward moment. Follow these instructions to stop a sneeze with a reflexology squeeze:

  • When you feel a sneeze coming on, take your right hand and push firmly in the middle of your thumbnail
  • Hold the pressure until the sneeze feeling goes away (when we tried we applied pressure, let up and re-applied for better results)

When you try this reflexology technique, leave us a comment and let us know how it’s worked and saved you from a sneeze. Special thanks to Helen Fowler (M.A.R.) for pointing out this brilliant bit of reflexology!

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Reflexology and Cleansing

May 17, 2010 Reflexology

A great way to detoxify the body is through reflexology. This therapy works on all major systems of the body and can give amazing results in a short amount of time.

In today’s environment there are toxins around us. We eat, breath and absorb them in our bodies which creates the many health problems that we see today. A full reflexology treatment can help you:

  • Be more energetic
  • Reduce stress
  • Improve a sluggish immune system
  • Increase energy and improve blood circulation

The more that the blood and the lymphatic fluids are flowing freely, the more your organs will benefit and begin to work with full capacity. Reflexology helps return the natural blood flows throughout the body while special techniques, usually applied to the tops of your feet, help lymphatic fluids drain consistently.

Reflexology as a first step to a cleanse or body detox is a great choice. Choosing to do a traditional body detox or cleanse (like the gall bladder, kidney and liver cleanse) along with reflexology will only help move things along faster, giving you the feeling of renewal throughout your body.

How to Use a Reflexology Foot Chart

May 12, 2010 Foot Reflexology Chart, Reflexology, Reflexology Charts, Reflexology Treatments

Looking at a reflexology foot chart can be very overwhelming. Your whole body is mapped out on your foot and many of you may ask, “where do I begin”?

Every organ, body part and gland are treated during a session and it would only make sense to start from the head and end at the feet. Gravity works by pulling everything down and out of the body and reflexology is a way of facilitating this by getting the blood flowing and breaking up all the “grit” to be eliminated through our bodies systems. Elimination is always stressed in reflexology.  The more the body cleanses itself, the better you will feel and the energy will increase.

If you look at a foot chart and put the feet together, that is how the body looks on the inside. For example, lungs and kidneys are on both sides, spleen is on the left as it is on the body and liver an gall bladder are on the right, just the same location on the body. All points of the foot chart relate directly to how every persons body is made up. The points that reflexologists stimulate in a full reflexology session all correspond to the whole body. All nerve ending end at the feet and by putting pressure on the nerve endings that relate to the specific body part or gland, you are actually sending signals through the nervous system to the area and giving it a jump start. Increasing all body fluids to move more freely is only going to make your body feel better and more energized.

There is a general path that certified reflexologists follow when administering a session. This can depend on the client and why they are there to see you. We always start with a massage and try to get the client to relax and ready for the treatment. Getting the blood flow to increase before starting a session will only benefit the client later. Most of the time the left foot is a good starting place. This can change due to injury or possible problems on the right side of the body that needs to be addressed before the full session begins. Often when people come with back issues, running your finger up and down the spine will increase the blood flow and when it is time to treat the ares it won’t be as painful for the client and healing will begin once the client is relaxed.

So when looking at a foot chart and you are interested in doing a session on yourself or someone else, start at the head (toes) and work your way down. Always end with a relaxing massage or some gentle breathing techniques. This is always a good tip for people that seek you out for stress relief and will leave your client  in that parasympathetic state of resting and relaxation. Healing begins when the body is ready to accept it emotionally, physically and spiritually.

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Energy and Reflexology

May 5, 2010 Reflexology, Reflexology Treatments

There is no question that energy exists in this world and we all need it to survive. The energy field around you can be felt at a arms length of everyone and it is important to remember this all the time in our profession.

As natural therapists, reflexology is a touch therapy and energy is a huge part of the healing process. We are trained to clear the mind before the session starts so we can give all of our attention to the client and listen to the reason why they chose reflexology and help the healing process move forward.

As caregivers, reflexologist or not, the importance of touch therapy and the energy that comes from this has endless amounts of benefits. If you are in a situation  of caring for a sick/terminal or elderly person just by stroking their hand or arm can give them great comfort and keep the nervous system relaxed and ready for what the future will bring. By massaging their hands or feet will release the feel good hormone seritonin and give them a calm state of mind. Massaging a baby when they are fussy will give them a relaxed mental state and hopefully be able to work out what has been bothering them.

Energy is all around us and as reflexologists, we are very aware of the benefits of a clear mind when going into a session with a client. The best advice anyone can give is to make sure you have a therapist that is right for you and feel very comfortable about talking about the reasons for starting reflexology. This way the energy will be good between the client and therapist and that all expectations will be met during the session.

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Reflexology and the Surprising Bowel Benefits

May 5, 2010 Bowel Movements, Reflexology, Reflexology Treatments

No matter the reason you are seeking out a reflexologist, the amount of benefits to your body is virtually the same for everyone.
By increasing blood flow throughout the body and getting the lymphatic fluid to flow as freely as possible, the outcome is always positive. When a certified reflexologist performs a session on a client, the goal is to balance the body mentally, physically and spiritually. When doing this through stimulation, the organs, body parts and glands start to function better.
The result is that you feel energized and more alert because the body is working at its best. This is different for every client  and the reflexologist will be able to determine the individual improvement over a course of sessions.
The surprising results to most clients after they start reflexology is that they tend to sleep better and have more frequent bowel movements.
This therapy is great for balancing out the hormonal system and making sure all glandular hormones are working at their best. The pineal gland is responsible for the sleep/wake cycle in the body, along with regulating the sex hormones.

A clean bowel is the best health tip most natural practitioners will give you since an unhealthy colon can cause so many other problems and diseases, its best to keep as regular as possible. This is not easy for some and reflexology can help with this.

Free Reflexology Charts

Apr 12, 2010 Foot Reflexology Chart, Reflexology Charts

We’ve heard from a number of visitors who have requested a free reflexology chart they could download and take away. We’re pleased to let you know that we are working on this free reflexology chart currently and hope to have it up and available to you all shortly.

Initially we will offer a foot reflexology chart as the free download and we may continue to release new charts depending on the demand.

Please comment and let us know if this is something you would like to see, or if you have any other ideas.

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Reflexology Schools

Feb 23, 2010 Reflexology, Reflexology Schools

Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a reflexologist? There are a number of reflexology schools that offer certification and training to become a reflexologist, many of them local and close to you.

Studying reflexology at a school should be done with careful consideration and research. Reflexology schools come in all shapes and sizes, and choosing one can be a difficult task.

There is a great resource when selecting a reflexology school which can help you make a choice that much easier. Reflexology Schools provides listings for all the major reflexology schools in America.

Reflexology for Infertility

Nov 8, 2009 Reflexology

Many women trying reflexology for the first time have a specific reason for turning to the therapy. More often that not, recently that reason has been for infertility.

The cost and side effects that come with prescriptions that claim to help infertility can be staggering. Reflexology offers a safe, natural alternative to infertility and a new study in Britain has been launched to research and record just how much of a difference reflexology makes in helping infertility problems. In my experience I’ve seen first hand how much of a difference reflexology can make for some clients, I’m excited to see the results of the new study.

Read the full article on reflexology for infertility here.

Reflexology Treatment for Diabetics

Sep 21, 2008 Diabetes, Reflexology, Reflexology Treatments

Reflexology is known to be of special use to those suffering specialized health conditions, but a diabetic’s major concern can sometimes start and end at the feet. Symptoms of diabetes can be poor circulation and numbness in the feet with more serious conditions that may develop over time.

These symptoms are where a reflexologist can provide relief in some cases. Because the treatment focuses so heavily on circulation patients can see changes to their feet in a very short time. Reflexologists who have clients with diabetes need to understand the disease and how it affects certain regions of the body. Because diabetes is a condition of the pancreas not producing proper levels of insulin (or using it correctly), the reflexology therapist should pay closer attention to the reflexes of the pancreas, liver and adrenal glands. Increasing the flow of blood to these areas can help the body’s circulation and oxygen levels to the organs that relate to the disease directly.

A recent patient of mine who suffers from diabetes began to feel a long gone sensation in her toes after a few sessions and has become a regular who looks forward to the treatment and results each and every time. Each patient is different and special attention is required for each with their own unique conditions.

ReflexologyCharts.org Community

Do you have a story as a person living with diabetes who feels the benefits of reflexology or as a reflexologist who maintains a number of diabetes patients? You are encouraged to share your stories here with the community to build a larger reflexology conversation.