Reflexology
Reflexology is a kind of massage that targets areas of the body such as feet, ears, and hands to apply therapeutic pressure to. Practitioners believe these areas are connected to certain body organs and human body systems.
There are several theories about why reflexology works. The Chinese believe that qi or “vital energy” flows through the body and, when it is blocked, the body becomes out of balance and can become ill. The British scientists of the 1890s found that the nerves connect a person’s skin to internal organs and the nervous system can adjust to outside factors like touch. They believed that a reflexologist’s touch could help calm the nervous system. Others believe that the brain creates pain in response to mental or emotional distress as well as physical injury or medical conditions. Reflexology would reduce this pain through its calming touch that reduces stress and improves the person’s mood and mental condition. The last belief is the zone theory, which is based on the body having 10 vertical zones containing body parts that correspond to different fingers and toes. Massaging each finger or toe helps a different part of the body contained in one of the 10 zones. |
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Benefits of Reflexology
Studies have shown that Reflexology could help reduce anxiety and stress, reduce certain forms of pain, lift people’s moods, and improve a person’s general feeling of well-being. In addition, people have claimed that reflexology helped boost their immune systems, fight cancer, improve sinus issues, lessen arthritis pain, boost fertility, treat nerve issues, help digestion, shorten colds and bacterial infections, and recover from back problems.
It is also believed that reflexology may be helpful as a complimentary therapy for managing pain and anxiety issues and improving the quality of life. Existing studies have shown that reflexology is useful for cancer patients, female PMS patients, those suffering from anxiety after cancer or heart surgery, and others.
In addition, reflexology is very safe for most people and is noninvasive and comfortable to receive. There are some medical conditions that people may have that might prevent them from trying reflexology. Get a primary physician’s okay if the following conditions are present.
Studies have shown that Reflexology could help reduce anxiety and stress, reduce certain forms of pain, lift people’s moods, and improve a person’s general feeling of well-being. In addition, people have claimed that reflexology helped boost their immune systems, fight cancer, improve sinus issues, lessen arthritis pain, boost fertility, treat nerve issues, help digestion, shorten colds and bacterial infections, and recover from back problems.
It is also believed that reflexology may be helpful as a complimentary therapy for managing pain and anxiety issues and improving the quality of life. Existing studies have shown that reflexology is useful for cancer patients, female PMS patients, those suffering from anxiety after cancer or heart surgery, and others.
In addition, reflexology is very safe for most people and is noninvasive and comfortable to receive. There are some medical conditions that people may have that might prevent them from trying reflexology. Get a primary physician’s okay if the following conditions are present.
- Circular problems in the feet or blood clots or inflammation located in leg veins.
- Gout or foot ulcers
- Epilepsy
- Thyroid problems
- Open wounds on the feet or hands or fungal infections such as athlete’s foot
- Blood problems that cause easy bruising
- Pregnancy
