The Secrets to Reflexology
by Alli Horum
Posted on 21-02-2020 01:54 AM
How Reflexology Works
Reflexology is one of the oldest surviving healing techniques still practiced today. Proper non-painful stimulation of the reflex points in the feet and hands is a great way to encourage healthy changes in areas throughout the body. ​what is reflexology?​ reflexology is an osteopathic healing technique that works with and effects the reflex points on the feet and hands to normalize, balance and encourage homeostasis (natural healthy balance of all systems) within the body. What are the benefits? • relieves stress by eliciting a natural relaxation response.
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Mapping the Feet
Foot reflexology is a massage technique based on mapping of the entire body on the feet. Theoretically, the body map on the foot mirrors the organs and systems of the body, and when an area on the body map is pressed, there is a positive reflex response in the actual corresponding body part.
Eunice Ingham, known as the "pioneer of modern reflexology," built upon earlier work by painstakingly mapping the connections between the feet and all the corresponding organs and glands of the body. Through this, Ingham devised a system of techniques that would enable the practitioner to contact the reflexes in the most effective and economical ways. This system is known as the "Original Ingham Method" and though this method was later refined, her legacy is still the foundation of modern reflexology.
These and other works greatly increased understanding of how reflexology works. They built on the theory of zone therapy by mapping the entire body into "reflexes" on the feet leading to the first reflexology foot chart.
Working the Reflex Points
Reflexology is the practice of massaging and working with these reflex points to help improve blood circulation, reduce stress and help balance the body. Ever wondered why foot massages are so relaxing? It's because our feet are full of reflex points: pressure points that correspond to other areas of the body.
Paintings on the foot of the Hindu god Vishnu, possibly representing reflex points, suggest that the technique may have been practised in ancient India. Others have noted inscriptions on the foot of a reclining Buddha in Burma; these may represent energy centres but appear as rows of regular squares quite unlike today's reflexology charts.
Practitioners of reflexology claim that they can cure a variety of aches and pains by massaging the correct reflex points on the foot. If you have a back problem, a massage on the right spot on the right foot (which might be the left foot in some cases) can alleviate your suffering. If you suffer from circulatory problems or have a lot of tension and stress, reflexology promises relief.
How the Feet Mirror the Body
The soles of the feet are like a mini map of the inside of the body they link to our inner organs and systems, including the fallopian tubes and ovaries. Some points on the foot are associated with a woman’s egg production and by manipulating these areas reflexology may help correct the imbalances which can hamper pregnancy.
Transverse Zones and the Plantar Dorsal and Plantar Aspect
Reflexology is a method of applying pressure to various zones or reflexes on both the sole (plantar aspect) and the top (dorsal aspect) of the foot. Each reflex is thought to represent a corresponding area of the body; therefore, by stimulating the reflex it is possible to stimulate the corresponding organ or body area.
Reflex points for the digestive system are located on the plantar surface of the feet. Reflexologists will focus on these areas to relieve digestive discomfort and ease stress.
Reflexologists know which area of the foot corresponds to which body part by learning maps of the feet, plantar view, dorsal view, and medial and lateral views. There are 5 longitudinal zones on each foot that run from each of the toes directly up through the body to the top of the head.
Zone 1 runs from the big toe up through the centre of the body to the top of the head, zone 2 from the next toe, and so on ending with zone 5 running from the little toe up the outside of the body to the shoulders and neck. There are then horizontal zones that map out which cross-section of the body corresponds to reflex points in that zone.
The Pelvic or Heel Line
Reflexologists use a map of the feet where all the organs, glands, and corresponding parts of the body are laid out. The toes reflect the head. The ridge beneath the toes on the top part of the ball of the foot is a natural shoulder or neckline. The ball of the foot reflects the chest.
The arch mirrors the digestive organs, and the heel and ankles contain reflexes for the reproductive system. The inside curve of each foot (where we find the spinal reflex) corresponds to the actual curves of the spine.
The Plantar Foot Map
The toes represent the head, middle part of the foot corresponds to the internal organs and the foot corresponds to the pelvic region in our body. Similar maps of the reflexes are found on the ears and the hands as well.
There are some reflex points that, if pressed too hard, can induce labor. They are just inside your heel, the arch of your foot and between the big and second toes. These are all great reflex points to work on while in labor, but they must avoid them before the due date.
Foot reflexology is a simple, non-invasive method to help balance the body. It has been described as a natural therapy that requires the application of a specific type of pressure on particular areas of the feet.
It gets its school of thought from the principle that there are reflexes in the feet which correspond to every part of the body, so by understanding the “maps,” you can do anything from relaxation to improved circulation, and also add a general feeling of wellness. It’s like a massage for your feet that affects your whole body!.
Healing to Combat Stress
Exercising with a sore knee might sound counterintuitive, but the more encouragement the more the body gets to start healing. Low-impact activity builds strength, helps with weight loss, and promotes good circulation of both blood and lymph cells.
Reflexology, Acupressure, Acupuncture, and Massage have a common origin and modality. They all use the concept of stimulating pressure points in various locations of the body to relieve stress and/or to stimulate the body's natural healing processes.
Promoting relaxation, it can improving circulation, stimulating vital organs in the body and encouraging the body's natural healing processes. Unlike conventional medicine, reflexology works on the underlying problems within the body and through the body's nervous system.