Do you ever massage your own hands when they ache? How about your own feet? We naturally resort to instinctive healing techniques, like your foot rub, hand rub, or even rubbing our own ears or scalp, which actually is what therapeutic reflexology is all about. And the subject of today's episode. I love this topic, because although you can go to a practitioner to have reflexology, you can also do this on yourself with effective results. It's simple and it just takes looking at a couple of diagrams.
Before we jump into some of these techniques, let's discuss the modality itself. Reflexology is one of several holistic therapies used to control pain and reduce stress. Various forms of reflexology have been around for centuries. I find it interesting…that evidence indicates several cultures simultaneously, having artwork dating around 2330 BC. Egyptian hieroglyphics showed work on hands and feet, as well as Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, Grecian, and later Native American. In the early 1900s, Connecticut Nose and Throat Doctor William Fitzgerald became known as the father of modern reflexology. In 1989, the modality was formalized with the following definition: “reflexology is based on the premise that there are zones and reflex areas, which correspond to all body parts. The physical act of applying pressure using thumb, finger and hand techniques results in stress reduction, causing a physiological change in the body.
Overall, reflexology has a huge effect on energy flow, just as other meridian base therapies do. As I mentioned previously, I appreciate most about this particular modality that you can use it on yourself. It is one of the simplest ways to treat your own reflex zones. Just imagine that the entire body is mirrored by your feet as you look down at them.
For example, your toes reflect the head with two big toes representing your brain and the rest of the toes your sinuses. (A technique I use is to gently pinch and pull the very tip of each toe for headaches or sinus relief.) Still looking down at your feet. Moving down along the inside edge of your feet...the spine corresponds to the inside edges. The ball of the foot mirrors the upper back and shoulder blades. The curve of the arch mirrors the curve of your waist and the heel of the foot becomes the pelvic region of the body. Now look at the outer edges of your feet and that encompasses the exterior of your body... shoulders, arms, hips, knees. (The arch of the foot is a great place to work on your own digestion.) Reflexology pressure is when your thumb does most of the work, but the rest of the hand is needed for support. Pressure should be comfortable and not deep or painful. The thumb pressure should remain consistent as it applies, inch worming, hooking or thumb walking upwards towards the top of the foot... upwards towards the toe.
If you Google reflexology, you will find multiple diagrams and demonstrations. We have also posted examples on the show notes page. Reflex points of the hand are very similar to those of the feet. As you hold your hands in front of you, thumb to thumb, you have formed the spine. And then on the outer edge pinkies...there will be the head and neck, arm and shoulders down to the hip, knee and legs as it begins to curve down towards your wrist. When applying pressure, refer to a diagram and discover which organs have reflex points. See if any are a little bit tender to the touch...there you can stop and hold the pressure for a minute. So you can clear the stagnant energy in that particular point. As I'm demonstrating this technique on my own hand, I am holding pressure at the base of the thumb where it joins the hand that mirrors the throat, thyroid and parathyroid for example. It is important to state clearly that reflexology is not meant to replace standard medical practices and that you should see a doctor about illness, pain and unusual symptoms that you might be experiencing.
There have been several studies done throughout the world backed by strict scientific protocol. Those are the studies that I'd like to encourage you to look at. If you look further into this modality. Reflexology has proved useful in reducing anxiety levels, relief of kidney stones, asthma, bronchitis, migraines, constipation, sigh, sciatica, depression, and many others. Don't hesitate to give yourself a nice detailed hand rub as a method of balancing your entire body and boosting your immune system.
Before we leave this basic overview of reflexology, I also want to mention applying these techniques to the ear in much the same fashion. The simplest way to understand the location of the reflex zones of the ear is to imagine a baby curled head down in the womb with your ear lobe at the head and neck and the spine curling around the outer ear and the buttocks at the top with the feet curled in near the ear opening. The ear can be worked using gentle pinches and tugs throughout for amazing results. So, refer to a diagram and try it.
I hope that you will continue to study reflexology as a viable option for your self-care. It is easy to apply and has many benefits. So, call reflexology into your life. “Call IT in with Dar!”
Transcribed by https://otter.ai