June Middlehurst Foot Health Practitioner

Reflexology Treatment

What is Reflexology?

Reflexology is a technique that applies gentle pressure to your feet or hands to bring about a state of relaxation and help the body's own healing process.

Reflexology works in a similar way to acupressure and acupuncture. It is thought that there are certain points on the feet and hands that correspond to the organs and glands in the body. So, by pressing and massaging these points it can stimulate energy pathways in the body. If any energy pathways are blocked reflexology aims to unblock them, allowing the energy to flow freely again which aims to restore balance to the body.

As a reflexologist, if we feel tender, sensitive or crunchy sensations on the feet, this can indicate that an area of your body is out of balance. By pressing the points and working them gently, reflexologists believe that it will kickstart your body's natural healing powers.

Reflexology is an alternative treatment for a variety of conditions and has been in use for thousands of years. The ancient Chinese and Egyptians have documented practices similar to reflexology as a treatment for certain afflictions. It involves the reflexologist applying pressure to specific areas in the hands, feet, and ears that affect certain reflex areas of the body.

Imagine there is a connection between zones of your feet and hands that represent certain areas of your body that can be adjusted or managed through these zones. A lot of the theory behind reflexology has to do with aligning your qi, but even for those who normally don’t invest much in this discipline, there are plenty of studies that have supported the claims of reflexologists.

It is not widely accepted in the medical world, but thousands of physicians across the globe have been using reflexology for generations, with surprisingly positive results. If there are treatments for more than a dozen health conditions affecting various parts of the body, isn’t it worth giving reflexology a try?

What are the Benefits of Reflexology?

The benefits of reflexology include its ability to stimulate nerve function, increase energy, boost circulation, induce a deep state of relaxation, and eliminate toxins from the body. Moreover, it helps stimulate the central nervous system, prevent migraines, and treat urinary tract conditions. This type of massage speeds up recovery after an injury or surgery, reduces sleep disorders, and relieves depression and pain. It also helps in relieving side effects associated with cancer treatment and even soothe the pain of pregnancy, even the one occurring after delivery.

Whether you work in an office, a factory, a field, a hospital, or anything in between, there is a good chance that you put a lot of weight and stress on your feet every day. Stress can manifest itself in the all parts of our body. People often opt for massages, so it makes sense that there should be foot massages too. Reflexology is much more than a foot massage, but at its foundation, that’s the easiest way to describe the process.

Research on Reflexology

Although much of the research on reflexology has been criticized or cited as unprovable, thousands of years of tradition and reports of success speak rather loudly. That being said, reflexology should be considered as a supplemental treatment to formal medical advice and treatment for the conditions that have been touched on above.