For the Reflexologist, the
feet are a microcosm of
the human body and every
organ and body part is represented
in the feet. Where there
are two organs in the body
they will be represented
on both feet, e.g. lungs
and kidney and where there
is only one organ, this
will be represented on one
foot, e.g. the liver will
be on the right foot while
the heart will be on the
left. Where the organ or
body part is reflected in
the feet, this is called
the "organ" reflex,
e.g. the heart reflex.
The right foot represents
the right side of the body
as well as the past while
the left foot represents
the left side of the body
as well as the present and
future.
Each foot has over 7,000
nerve endings, 26 bones,
107 ligaments and 19 muscles.
This type of drugless therapy
creates a physiological
change in the body by naturally
improving your circulation,
which reduces our body tension
and enhances relaxation.
It aids in the elimination
of the body waste and restoring
the body functions to better
health.
THE PRINCIPLES
OF REFLEXOLOGY
By stimulating
reflexes on the feet with
a type of pressure massage,
the organs of the body are
stimulated, thus allowing
them to start unblocking
and healing themselves.
In addition to this, the
stimulation of these reflexes
allows the body to begin
detoxing and eliminating
poisons which have built
up through bad diet, thinking
and habit.
Centuries ago, man mapped
out a healing energy that
circulates through the body
on specific pathways. This
energy we call "life
force" or "vital
energy". This force
can be "tapped"
at more than 800 points
in your body.
Ancient medical philosophy
teaches that to obtain and
maintain health, which is
the balance and maintenance
of harmony within the body,
there must be a free and
unimpeded circulation of
energy flowing through the
body's organs.
Traditional medicine, not
only of the Chinese, but
from the use of Acupuncture
in other countries as well,
we learn that traditional
medicine is based on the
belief that the body's blood
circulation follows the
flow of energy. If this
energy circulation, which
follows circulates freely
in an endless cycle from
the main organs through
the channels beneath the
skin, is blocked at some
point, then the circulation
is impaired.
This blockage results in
a deficient oxygenation
of the tissues around the
affected area and throws
the body off balance. This
imbalance produces malfunctioning
not only of the tissues
surrounding it, but, if
not corrected, spreads to
related organs nearby.
Tapping this healing current
can bring prompt and natural
relief from practically
all of your aches and pains,
chronic or acute, by the
simple process of working
the 'reflex buttons' located
in your hands, feet and/or
body.
Stimulating, pressing or
'working' a reflex point
(or button) connected to
a particular body organ,
system or part sends a surge
of healing energy for prompt
relief of a condition. Working
a reflex also loosens and
flushes out crystals and
blockages within the body's
energy channels allowing
the life force or vital
energy to resume its free
and natural flow through
the channels. This encourages
the body to swing back into
its normal balance, so harmony
and health are again established.
This method of restoring
the body to normal functioning
involves no expense, no
special equipment (although
reflex tools can be utilized
and do help save wear and
tear on your finger and
thumb joints!), no drugs
or medication. The results
are amazingly fast, bringing
relief often in a matter
of seconds.
Reflexology, which helps
a wide range of situations,
not only cures specific
ailments but can be used
to keep you in good health
and help build resistance
to attacks of disease. In
addition, this method often
detects health problems
before they become serious
by you recognizing a sore
or tender reflex.
Reflexology is a simple
technique that can be applied
at any time and practically
anywhere. It is Nature's
'push button' secret for
dynamic living, abundant
physical energy, vibrant
health, better living without
pain, retaining youthful
vigor and enjoying life
to the fullest.
STRESS AND REFLEXOLOGY
The benefits of
Reflexology and Stress can
be explained physiologically.
Tension can be equated with
stress. There are as many
definitions of stress as
there are authors of books
on stress. Today everyone
suffers from stress but
no one knows what stress
is. It could be stated that
stress is the difference
between a persons perceived
ability to deal with the
stressor and the reality
of the environmental demand.
This definition allows
for varying degrees of stress
to be felt by different
people in the same situation.
Irrespective of what the
stressor is, the stress
reaction is always the same.
Seyle, 1956, termed the
reaction to stress as the
fight or flight syndrome.
What this means is that
when we are faced with a
stressful situation, we
either fight it or run away.
The body releases hormones
into the system that allow
us to physiologically cope
with this. For example,
you have all heard of mothers
who have had the strength
to lift up a car to rescue
their children. This ability
comes from the rush of stress
hormones, e.g. adrenaline
into the bloodstream.
We also perspire profusely,
(to slip out of a grasp),
blood pressure increases
as the blood leaves the
extremities (so you do not
bleed badly when cut), proteins
and fats convert to glucose
(to give you energy) etc.
Once the stress situation
is over the stress hormones
come back to normal levels.
Today however, it would
be socially unacceptable
to hit your boss if he was
stressing you or to run
away from home if your kids
or spouse were stressing
you. This means that the
stress hormones are continually
being secreted and do not
come back to a normal level.
While these stress hormones
play a vital role when faced
with a stressor, they have
a detrimental effect on
the individual if they do
not come back to normal
levels. Prolonged secretion
and circulation of these
stress hormones causes damage
to the body.
The white blood cells (infection
fighters) become depleted,
neurotransmitters controlling
mood are depleted and T-cells
in the lymphatic system
are broken down. Examples
of the effects of this are
not hard to find. Just look
at how many people who have
been under stress become
sick. How many people do
you know who have lost a
"significant other"
through death or divorce
or who became ill or contracted
cancer?
Reflexology, by inducing
relaxation, reduces the
stress hormones so that
the body is able to produce
T-cells, white cells and
neurotransmitters so as
to start healing itself.
About the Author
Dee is a Certified Aromatherapist,
Certified Reflexologist,
and Reiki Master. Her site
is AkobiAromas.com - a source
of quality aromatherapy,
herbal and reflexology information
and products.
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