by Marita Reynolds

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder where the body is unable to regulate blood sugar levels properly.

We use sugar as energy fuel for our bodies. So when a person with diabetes is unable to use sugar energy over a period of time the high sugar levels can damage blood vessels and nerves.

There are 2 types of Diabetes. Type 1 is usually apparent in childhood or adolescence and relates to approximately 10-15% of the cases.

Type 2 diabetes presents itself later in life and is related to lifestyle and is more common and relates to approximately 80-85% of cases.

If type 2 diabetes is left untreated or unmanaged complications with in the body due to poor circulation from damaged blood vessels and nerves can occur resulting in heart disease such as heart attack and stroke, kidney disease, eye problems such as Diabetic Retinopathy causing blindness or visual impairment and leg and feet problems often resulting in loss of these limbs due to poor blood supply.

So what can you do to help yourself avoid Diabetes or if you have Diabetes how to manage it? There are many people that can help.  However people with diabetes should be aware of the importance of maintaining good health care. Keeping blood sugar levels to a maintenance level recommended by your health care professional. A regular attendance to the podiatrist to check that circulation to the feet and that proper footwear is maintained. A session with Diabetic Advisor and a dietician to check that your diet is working for you is also important.

How can reflexology help, Reflexology is a non-invasive therapy. The Reflexologist uses a combination of gentle stretching and massage techniques on the reflex points on the feet and hands to promote circulation to ALL body parts. This will help the to boost lymphatic function and help to improve the immune system helping to reduce the risk of infection which may lead to ulceration on the legs and feet which may result in possible loss of the limb. Reflexology can also help to reduce the risk of complications such as heart disease, stroke and diabetic neuropathy.

An initial 1-hour session is recommended where we work the feet and discuss how best we can promote improved circulation by using regular reflexology.

I have just completed reading a book written by Eunice Ingham Stopfel, the book was titled “Stories the feet have told”. Eunice was the founder and developer of the Ingham method of Reflexology. This was the method of reflexology that I had been trained in. There was a quaint phrase in the book that I think says it all.

“ If you’re feeling out of kilter,

Don’t know why or what about.

Let your feet reveal the answer find the sore spot and work it out.”

This describes perfectly how the reflexologist works. Looking at your whole body system and in conjunction with the client looking for areas of sensitivity and congestion indicating lack of circulation in the area. It’s particularly important that we look at the glands (our Endocrine system) and how it is functioning. It’s often where much of the story can be told as congestion in one gland may indicate where the health problem is coming from. Once discovered, the reflexologist can work this area to improve circulation and therefore function to that part of the body.

Depending on the individual and their health concern or concerns and how the client relates to the reflexology will depend on how effective the treatment will be. It is important to know that you will need to allow 4-6 appointments and then review your progress from there.

Our feet are our support system, yet we rarely associate our feet with other areas of our body. Often we look at a localised area where we feel pain or discomfort. We concentrate on that area thinking that is where problem is. However by looking at the whole body and parts of the body that are not functioning correctly, we can assist the body to get back in balance, helping to restore normal flow, and allow the body to  heal itself.

If your reflexes are under pressure hence the related body part will be experiencing it. The feet and your body are telling you a story, indicating that something is happening.

Don’t ignore it, let a reflexologist find the sore spot and help you work it out

A method for ‘activating the healing powers of the body’, modern Reflexology is both a science and an art. As a science, it requires careful study, practice, technical knowledge, and skill. As a healing art, Reflexology works best when the therapist works with patience, dedication, intention, and (most importantly) loving care. Frequently, therapeutic grade essential oils are used on the reflex points — however Reflexology is not a ‘foot massage’. Reflexology does not diagnose or treat specific diseases. Though when combined with sound healing practices, reflexology can facilitate the body’s strong natural impulse towards health and well-being.

There are numerous ‘reflex’ sites found on the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands that relate to the different energy pathways in the body and consequently reflect the overall well-being of the whole organism. Reflexology works with these energy pathways to assist and revitalize the bodies natural healing mechanisms. Through the proficient stimulation of the various reflex points, particularly with the application of balancing, energizing, or calming essential oils, Reflexology can assist in revitalizing the energy pathways of the body. As the subtle energy pathways are brought into balance, the body is able to returns to its natural rhythms. As energy flows, the entire organism is brought back into alignment. Essential oils can impart their powerful healing action here: Oils have the potential to be relaxing, aligning, stimulating, balancing and more. The best therapists will have a wide selection in their ‘toolkit’, and listen to their intuition to chose the most effective oil for each reflex point.

There are many benefits of receiving regular Reflexology sessions including the reduction of stress by inducing deep relaxation. During the session, the body and nervous system are allowed to deeply rest and consequently functions in a more balanced state. As a result, the body moves toward homeostasis and healing can take effect. A fantastic study conducted on soldiers in Israel found that reflexology benefited these ‘soldiers (who were) suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, providing temporary relief from symptoms including anger, depression, and muscle tension. The soldiers who received weekly reflexology treatments also experienced improved sleep patterns, levels of concentration, and an overall lift in mood.’ (Reflexology on the Front Lines of Health Care’, Massage Magazine, November/December 1998). Using a few drops of therapeutic grade Lavender essential oil is an excellent choice for decreasing stress and facilitating relaxation. In addition, Frankincense, Roman Chamomile, and Rose essential oil, are all lovely choices for encouraging relaxation. Choosing the best oil and application location is as easy as listening to your ‘inner guide’. Move slowly, while holding the greatest healing intention, allowing yourself to use the most effective oils on the reflex points which are naturally calling for them.

Reflexology can also assist in the cleansing and purification of toxic energy, the revitalization of vigor, and the balance and integration of the natural rhythms of the body. Gravity pulls toxins downward to the feet therefore reflexology is a natural tool for helping to clear this old energy. A skilled reflexologist can pull these impurities from the feet using both proper massage techniques and cleansing, detoxifying essential oils.

Soaking the feet in epsom salts with a few drops of essential oils can help to facilitate the release of old energy – this can be done at the completion of a session, or in between sessions. This is a very healing therapy that is safe for elderly, pregnant, and children. Use one-quarter to one-half cup of epsom salts in warm water. Add in three to four drops of essential oils and relax for half an hour. Foot baths are wonderful for those who have been ill or are exhausted. Aromatherapy baths are generally considered safe as long as the essential oils are properly dispersed throughout the water – the essential oils can be diluted in a carrier oil before pouring into the foot bath. Grapefruit, Geranium, and Juniper are all wonderful essential oils for detoxification, and can be used at the same time as oils for relaxation, such as Lavender, Sandalwood or Ylang Ylang.

Reflexology stimulates and encourages blood flow to the feet thus helping to nourish all the extremities of the body. Studies have shown that Spruce essential oil is an excellent choice for those with poor circulation. Spruce is non-toxic and non-irritating.Ylang Ylang Sweet Marjoram, and Lavender essential oil have been found to reduce blood pressure. Further, Reflexology is an excellent way to revitalize energy. Low energy levels are often due to accumulations of toxins and energy blockages. Once those are released, uplifting essential oils can be used to restore natural vital energy balance. Bergamot oil is excellent for this, and is the foremost ‘natural anti-depressant’ essential oil. Rosemary is also very uplifting and energizing; other oils can be uplifting and calming at the same time; Black Spruce and Pine (Pinus kessia) are particularly suited for this.

Reflexology balances and integrates the body. As energy pathways are opened, strengthened, and brought into balance, the body returns to its natural rhythms. Energy flows. The body, mind, and spirit are brought back into balance. Rose essential oil is a wonderful oil for balancing and integrating the energy pathways of the body. Facilitate this healing by gently anointing your clients/friends feet with Rose and allowing them to bask in the high vibration healing of this beautiful flower. Ylang Ylang essential oil is also lovely for balancing one’s masculine and feminine energies. Note that with all the essential oils, just the smallest amount is necessary to impart their profound healing action; the strength of the aromas should be gentle and pleasant at all times.

The practice of reflexology nourishes both the practitioner and the client. When healing occurs, both experience a sense of well-being. This well-being can carry into other areas of the clients and practitioners life and the benefit extends out into the world. Reflexology is profoundly helpful tool in assisting oneself as a practitioner, and one’s client, in becoming vibrantly healthy.

The author has made available much information about aromatherapy, such as using patchouli essential oil and other wholesale essential oils.

Most commonly, reflexology is carried out on the feet and the hands, so let us begin by defining what foot and hand reflexology is in the simplest of terms. Imagine someone would draw your entire body on your feet and on your hands where everything drawn on the right foot and the right hand corresponded exactly to the right side of your body and everything drawn on the left foot and left hand corresponded exactly to the left side of your body. When you’d look at the soles of the feet or the palms of the hands, you would be able to see the area of the heart, that of the lungs, the spine, the kidneys, the bladder and so on. These mirror areas of the body are called reflex areas – or reflexes – and reflexology is the science of the reflexes. Reflexology rebalances body chemistry by accessing the actual organs and various parts of the body through the mirror areas in the feet and hands. How? Using the 7000 nerve endings in each foot, using the blood flow, using the lymph flow, and possibly the acupunctural meridians as well. In the hands of a well-trained reflexologist – and this is an important point – reflexology will stimulate and optimize nerve flow, blood flow, and lymph flow to the area of the body being treated in the feet or the hands, thus minimizing pain as well as muscle tension and facilitating the body’s natural healing and detoxifying processes in that particular area. This is done by deep pressure thumb and finger techniques which reproduce the effect of walking barefoot in nature on different uneven surfaces such as stones, sand, grass, branches and so on. Too good to be true? Sounds more like science-fiction than science?

Then allow me to present the science to you. In the 1930′s, Eunice Ingham, an American physical therapist, developed Western Reflexology as we know it today. She is the one who mapped out all the reflex areas of the hands and feet. She did it by trial and error on thousands of patients working closely with a physician, Dr. Riley, and without any modern equipment. She knew what the complaints of her patients were and she looked for the corresponding areas in the foot which appeared to be “congested” and sore. This is how, over the years, she mapped out the reflex areas of the feet. Also, she realized that when she treated those areas with deep pressure, the complaints of her patients improved or disappeared. Today, methodologically valid studies prove that she was right. In 1999, thanks to Doppler sonography for instance, Austrian researchers proved that reflexology on the kidney reflex increased blood flow inside the kidney. When reflexology was applied to reflexes other than that of the kidney, the measured blood flow inside the kidney was not altered. Only when the specific area on the foot corresponding to one of the kidneys was stimulated by deep reflexology techniques did the amount of blood flow inside the corresponding kidney become greater. This means that more oxygen and more nutrients were immediately brought to the kidney to improve its function by the simple means of doing reflexology on the kidney reflex. For those interested, here below is the reference to the study.

“Changes of renal blood flow during organ-associated foot reflexology measured by color Doppler sonography” by Sudmeier I., Bodner G., Egger I., Mur E., Ulmer H., Herold M., Forsch Komplementarmed. 1999 Jun; 6(3): 129-34

One of the most valid and truly interesting studies on the effects of reflexology was carried out by the Oregon Research Institute and published in 2005 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The study demonstrated that cobblestone-mat walking significantly improved the health of older physically-inactive adults (between 60 and 92 years of age) over 16 weeks. This was measured by various physical performance tests, balance tests, and blood pressure changes. Here below is the reference to the study.

“Improving physical function and blood pressure in older adults through cobblestone mat walking: a randomized trial” by FUZHONG LI; FISHER K. John ; HARMER Peter, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society ISSN 0002-8614, 2005, vol. 53, no8, pp. 1305-1312 [8 page(s) (article)] (27 ref.)

This study is extremely significant because it shows that the health of the elderly people who walked on the cobblestones three times per week unquestionably improved much more than that of the elderly people who did the normal walking on a flat surface (the control group). In other words, the pressure caused by the cobblestones made all the difference. One should look at reflexology as the re-enactment of natural barefoot walking on different uneven surfaces. If you think about it, this the way nature intended for us to live – walking, not sitting all day like we do. What the study implies is that there is a natural rebalancing system of our body functions (our health) integrated in our feet which is being stimulated by deep pressure. And in the original plan, this pressure would have come from walking barefoot in nature. With modernization and daily sitting, this system is not being used anymore. That’s where reflexology comes in. As a matter of fact, every city in Asia has a cobblestone health park.

Researchers in some universities are now looking at what happens inside the brain when you stimulate certain reflexes. The first results are very encouraging and in the coming 20 years I am certain that many of the benefits of reflexology will be fully explained by scientific measurements and observations.

Be aware that there are two types of reflexology. The first is the type of reflexology that is often given in spas: this is more like an improved foot massage than anything else and cannot be considered clinically relevant. The second is the type of reflexology the above studies talk about: it activates the body’s natural healing and detoxifying processes and reduces pain as well as stress levels. With this type of reflexology, which some reflexologists like myself prefer to call medical (or clinical) reflexology, many medical conditions and their associated symptoms – especially pain – will improve in a matter of a few sessions.

Florence Cohen is a certified Medical Reflexologist from the International Institute of Reflexology who specializes in back pain. You will find more information about reflexology in general, its benefits for all medical conditions, and the exact science behind it on her informative website http://www.reflexology4backpain.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Florence_Cohen
http://EzineArticles.com/?Reflexology—Science-Or-Science-Fiction?&id=2035896

Hand reflexology can be an alternative or an aid to foot reflexology. Hands are easily accessible and can be worked anytime, anywhere. It is also excellent for the client to learn the reflex routine appropriate to them and use this to assist them between visits for relaxation or areas of the body that they feel are congested.

• It’s cost effective as the duration of time to complete the hands is quicker (allow 30 minutes in total)
• Easy to access, nothing to remove except your jewellery.
• Still completes the whole body system for improved circulation and general well being
• Client can work their own hands (very good for headache, neck or back pain)
• If your feet cannot be worked for any particular reason (eg you may not like having your feet touched) you can receive the same benefits through stimulating the reflexes on the hands.

Hand reflexology can also be very beneficial for people working constantly with their hands for example in the IT field. With this type of work it would be advantageous to have hand reflexology sessions to help avoid conditions such as RSI, as reflexology would help to improve circulation to the arms and wrists. Regular hand exercises would also be very beneficial to people in this line of work. The reflexologist will use a combination of relaxing stretches and reflexology techniques. 

Workplace sessions can be organised where a reflexologist can go in for a morning and work each employee. This has often resulted in positive feedback indicating a more relaxed workplace and has been known to enhance work performance and productivity.

 Good health !!

Marita Reynolds. © Copyright 2009 

Reflexology is a form of massage conducted primarily on the feet and hands. Reflexology dates back as far as 2330BC to ancient Egypt where Egyptian hieroglyphics have been discovered showing physicians working on the people’s feet and hands. Reflexology is still practiced today.

Modern reflexology dates back to 1917 when a medical doctor, Dr William Fitzgerald developed Zone Therapy, where the body is sectioned into ten zones with each zone representing particular organs or body systems. Dr Fitzgerald made the discovery when he worked on patient’s hands and feet, and found that it helped to relieve pain in the related organ of the body. Today a growing number of people are able to feel the benefits of reflexology and see their own health improve.

Reflexology is a non-invasive, wholistic therapy that complements all forms of medicine and alternative therapies. We can view the body as a finely tuned instrument and if everything is functioning properly the body remains in a healthy well-balanced state. However, if certain organs or body systems are not functioning properly the body will feel unbalanced and disease may occur.

Reflexology can help to bring the body back into balance by helping to reduce stress, improve circulation and boost lymphatic function. There are thousands of nerve endings in the feet and these are interconnected to other body systems via the spinal cord and brain. A reflex is actually a reflection of an organ or body system located at a specific region on the foot or hand.

During a foot reflexology session the practitioner incorporates gentle stretching techniques to relax and loosen the foot and then works the entire body systems using their thumb and fingers, gently massaging over each reflex area to stimulate the point. By stimulating the reflex the aim is to improve energy circulation and blood flow to the organ or body system represented on the foot. This process also assists in providing the body with a gentle, yet effective detoxification. Sessions are usually one hour in duration. Following treatment, clients usually comment that their feet feel lighter and freer. With our hands and feet working overtime on a daily basis it makes sense to provide them with a little TLC.

The benefits of Reflexology are now becoming more widely known within the community. For people with diabetes, those who have had a stroke or those experiencing difficulties with menopausal symptoms or any circulatory issues, these people may find reflexology beneficial. It can assist in helping to improve a variety of conditions. Whereas one visit will provide the client with a general feeling of relaxation, it is recommended that the client allow at least 3-6 visits to fully assess the effects reflexology has on their condition.

It is very interesting to see ancient healing therapies like reflexology, acupuncture and massage still offering health benefits to us in the 21st century. It is as though we have rediscovered ancient wisdom that was lost somewhere along the way.

Copyright 2009. Marita Reynolds

Changes are occurring continually throughout the pregnancy and some women can experience nausea, backache, constipation, cramps, poor circulation, swollen ankles, fatigue, headaches, anxiety, and high or low blood pressure.

By having regular reflexology sessions during your pregnancy you may be able to alleviate these conditions. Reflexology is mainly known for it relaxing effects and can help to calm, balance and re-energize the body.

Reflexology works the whole body system to help improve circulation to all areas. This includes the nervous and lymphatic system (our defence system against harmful bacteria and viruses), which are working overtime during pregnancy and need as much help as they can get.

In reflexology we use a combination of techniques to help balance the Endocrine system, which is our hormonal control centre. The endocrine glands help our body to adapt to our environment. It’s where our hormones are produced. Hence working this system is very beneficial to all people, but particularly the pregnant woman who is experiencing many changes in this area.

Treatments are especially useful towards the end of the pregnancy to help prepare and relax the women for birth.

Postnatally, reflexology can assist with breast feeding, helping the flow of breast milk and helping with engorgement and mastitis problems. It is also beneficial for women suffering postnatal depression or fatigue, stress and anxiety problems.

Good health !!

Marita Reynolds. © Copyright 2009

 Reflexology can improve balance to the nervous system by improving the energy circulating throughout the body. This can also help to detoxify the body. 

 It is important to allow at least 1 hour for a session. On your first visit you may want to allow 15 minutes longer.

The practitioner will ask details of your medical history before beginning treatment.

You only need to remove your footwear. The practitioner will work on one foot at a time in a systematic fashion to thoroughly work all body systems. Any areas of concern can be given extra attention. Most people find reflexology very relaxing and notice a “lighter” feeling in their feet. Following  treatment you may also notice signs of detox such as increased thirst, more frequent urination or bowel motions. This is normal, so be aware of your body’s reaction. 

 Everyone, young, mature, adult or any person suffering from a chronic illness may benefit from Reflexology. It is important to remember that any illness has taken time to develop and in attending a reflexology session keep in mind that you may need to allow for more than one visit to experience the benefits reflexology can provide.

Even healthy people who want to stay that way can benefit from reflexology.

Good health !!

Marita Reynolds. © Copyright 2009