Northview Acupuncture and Herbal Clinic

Reflexology

What is reflexology?

The art of reflexology dates back to Ancient Egypt, India and China, it wasn’t until 1913 that Dr William Fitzgerald introduced this therapy to the West as ‘zone therapy’. He noted that reflex areas on the feet and hands were linked to other areas and organs of the body within the same zone.

In the 1930’s Eunice Ingham further developed this zone theory into what is now known as reflexology. She observed that congestion or tension in any part of the foot is mirrored in the corresponding part of the body.

Reflexology is a complementary therapy, which works on the feet to help heal the whole person not just the prevailing symptoms.

The Reflexology Association of Canada defines it as "A natural healing art, based on the principle that there are reflexes in the feet and hands which correspond to every part of the body." By stimulating and applying pressure to the feet or hands, you are increasing circulation and promoting specific bodily and muscular functions. Reflexology with a full range of pressure sensors, utilizes the same body system of fight or flight to relax the body

The feet and hands are more sensitive than most people realize. Similar to how we use our eyes to detect light, the hands and feet detect pressure, stretch, movement and weight distribution.

Another study, in Britain, had fifteen women receive half-hour reflexology sessions for eight weeks. The findings included noticeable physical and emotional improvements, increased self-esteem and confidence, an ability to stay motivated and be heard and taken seriously, and an improvement in concentration.

How can reflexology help me?

Reflexology can be used to help restore and maintain the body’s natural equilibrium. This gentle therapy encourages the body to work naturally to restore its own healthy balance.

Reflexology has been shown to be effective for:

Reflexology does not claim to cure, diagnose or prescribe.

Who can benefit from reflexology?

Reflexology is suitable for all ages and may bring relief from a wide range of acute and chronic conditions. After you have completed a course of reflexology treatment for a specific condition, many people find it beneficial to continue with regular treatments in order to maintain health and well-being.

While many people use reflexology as a way of relaxing the mind and body and counteracting stress, at the same time many doctors, consultants and other health care professionals recognize reflexology as a well established, respected and effective therapy.

With ever increasing levels of stress, it is important people take more responsibility for their own health care needs. Reflexology helps us to cope on a physical, mental and emotional level thereby encouraging us to heal and maintain health in all areas of our lives.

What happens when I go for treatment?

On the first visit, the reflexology practitioner will have a preliminary talk with you to determine your present and past health and lifestyle.

The reflexologist will then use their hands to apply pressure to the feet. The application and the effect of the therapy is unique to each person.

A professionally trained reflexologist can detect subtle changes in specific points on the feet, and by working on these points may affect the corresponding organ or system of the body.

Theory

In reflexology, it is believed that there is a "vital energy" that is circulating between organs of the human body, that penetrates into every living cell. Whenever this energy is blocked, the zone of blockage will be affected, and the reflex zones can indicate the blockage of energy in different organs.

herefore, if someone has a problem in a particular organ, a reflexologist will press on the corresponding reflex zone or zones, and the person will experience pain. This pain is claimed to originate from the deposition of crystals in the reflex zone and, with massage, these crystalline structures can be broken down and the pain relieved. Simultaneously, the pressure applied to the reflex zones by the reflexologist is claimed to pass through the nerves to dissipate energy blocks.

According to John Campbell, World famous in Reflexology, "Reflexology is a powerful natural health science that studies the relationship of the reflex areas in the feet, hands and the ears to the rest of the body so that these areas can be worked on with the fingers and thumbs in a manner that will lead to improved health and the maintenance of good health."

Reported reactions

Case studies, not statistical conclusions, demonstrate that people treated by experts in reflexology report a lot of reactions, including the following:

During treatment

After treatment