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ABOUT
REFLEXOLOGY
By placing pressure on specific points on the feet, reflexologists
can stimulate natural healing powers in associated parts of
the body. The combination of massage, pressure and pinching
over all parts of the feet, and in some cases the hands, can
produce deep relaxation. Reflexology is one of the most popular
advertisement complementary therapies, and is found in NHS cancer
centres, pain clinics and special care baby units.
Forms of foot massage appear to date back to ancient China and
Egypt, but reflexology as practised today was introduced in
1915 by Dr William H. Fitzgerald, a US ear, nose and throat
specialist. Known at the time as 'zone therapy', it was based
on the theory that energy flows in vertical zones through the
body, from the head to the feet, and pressure applied to a reflex
point on the foot can affect all the organs, glands, bones and
muscles in that zone.
In the 1930s, Eunice Ingham, a US physiotherapist, mapped the
reflex points on the feet and developed techniques for stimulation.
One of her students, Doreen Bayley, introduced reflexology to
the UK in the 1960s and its popularity has spread rapidly.
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HOW DOES
IT WORK?
Zones on the left side of the body are said to correspond to
reflex points on the left foot and hand, and those on the right
to the right foot and hand. Picture the sole of the foot as
the body, with the big toe representing the head. The lungs
are somewhere around the ball of the foot and the waist is a
line crossing the instep. and the small intestine and bladder
towards the heel.
Practitioners believe that granular or crystalline accumulations
of waste products, possibly uric acid and calcium, collect around
reflex points. The more tender the points to the touch, the
greater the 'imbalance' in the body. A reflexologist tries to
break down these deposits to free 'energy flow' along the zones
and stimulate circulation to flush away toxins. Because mental
health is also said to be reflected in the foot, reflexology
is used to treat emotional problems as well.
Although the theory of reflexology sounds similar to the idea
of meridians in Traditional Chinese Medicine, practitioners
say it is separate - reflex points do not necessarily correlate
to acupoints.
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WHAT
TO EXPECT
Reflexologists tend to prefer working on the feet rather than
the hands, so expect to take your shoes off and relax in a reclining
chair with your feet raised. The practitioner first examines
your feet, noting their shape, colour and condition, and asks
about your health and lifestyle. He or she may use a dusting
of talcum powder or cornstarch before working the reflex points
by massaging each foot with his or her knuckles or thumbs, observing
areas of pain or tenderness.
When worked on intensely, even extremely sensitive areas usually
become less so. Most people find the treatment relaxing, but
occasionally it is followed by a worsening of symptoms, believed
to indicate the body's natural healing processes are removing
toxins.
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| body in perfect
health |
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WHAT
IS IT GOOD FOR?
- Stress / Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Poor cardiovascular or
lymphatic circulation
- Imbalances in the nervous
system
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Treatment
cost: £25
Duration: 1 Hour |
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