Reflexology: An Effective Pressure Point Therapy

When it comes to pressure point therapy, reflexology must be the most popular one. Reflexology is a practice of applying pressure to specific body points on the hands and the feet. It promotes relaxation and has the ability to improve one's overall health. 

The power behind reflexology is the idea that the foot and the palm of a person are connected to the glands, organs, and the systems of the body. The thumbs and fingers of the practitioner press the certain points. Doing so are regarded to encourage the healthy functions of the body. 

The root of reflexology is not specifically determined, but it is believed that the early Chinese, Indian, and Egyptian practice it. One of these people are said to have started the field, as it is known today. 

But it was William H. Fitzgerald that had modernized reflexology. It was in 1900 that he introduced zone therapy, an evolution of reflexology. He was an American physician specializing in ear, throat, and nose. In his studies, he had found out that pressing certain areas of the foot and the hands could benefit the health of the body in general. 

By 1930, his colleague Eunice Ingham had proposed that the foot is better to work on rather than the hands. Ingham is a physical therapist and she continued to draw maps of the feet showing its correlation to the other parts of the body. 

In her study, she had found that the toes are related to the head and the neck. The ball of the feet, on the other hand, corresponds to the lungs, chest, and the heart. In general, the left foot corresponds to the body's right side and the right is to the body's left side. 

It is also believed that reflexology follows the same concept as the Chinese medicine. Chinese medicine regards the body to be filled with energy. Now when the flow of that energy is blocked, diseases will follow. 

In the research conducted for reflexology, it is found out that there are 7,000 neurons and nerve endings are found in the foot. If the nervous system is the brain of the computer, the foot serves as the keyboard. Pressing the several points on the foot are regarded to unblock the body's energy and enhance its flow on the different parts. 

Reflexology is very similar to the theory followed by acupressure and acupuncture. The only difference is that the other two involves the rest of the body parts. Reflexology, on the other hand, focuses more on the feet and hands alone. 

As one presses the foot and the hand the right way, the chemicals monoamines and endorphins are released. These are the body's natural defense against pain. These compounds work to relieve stress on the body. And even the current day medicine agrees to this concept. 

Before a reflexology session starts, a small conversation has to be initiated first. The practitioner may need to know the patient's lifestyle and general health condition. They also have to be informed of any current and previous sickness. 

During the actual session, your shoes have to be removed and will be asked to sit in a reclined chair. A lying down position is also acceptable. The reflexologist would then proceed to educate you on the important points of the foot. 

The session starts with the rubbing of the foot. This is to warm-up the feet for the rest of the session. Areas of the feet that feel sensitive and taut are telltale signs that its particular body part is suffering from energy blocks. 

The practitioner will further determine what other body parts need attention. Then he will center on these areas. The whole session may last anywhere from 30 minutes to as long as an hour. 

To fully maximize the reflexology's health benefits, a session has to be scheduled weekly. Try to know the specific points the practitioner focuses on. So the next time, you can conduct the sessions yourself. 

Reflexology is a good alternative medicine. But it should never be used to replace a doctor's prescribed series of medications. Reflexology is going to be helpful in speeding up the healing process. If you haven't tried it yet, do so now. Experience its natural benefits.

The Benefits That Come With The Pressure Point Therapy Known As Reflexology

For those who are interested in learning more about pressure point therapy, it's important to know that reflexology has been enjoying great popularity because of its benefits. In reflexology, physical pressure is applied to a variety of targeted areas on a person's feet and hands by a reflexologist. It is considered to be very relaxing and promotes an alternative way of natural healing. 

The belief behind this form of natural healing is that certain areas on a person's palms and the soles of their feet correlate to other specific organs and areas throughout that person's body. Reflexologists use their fingers to apply the pressure to each of these zones. When specific pressure is applied to these areas, it is said that it will help to create more positive health in the area of the body that is being targeted. 

Records show that reflexology was made use of in early India and China, although the initial origin of reflexology is not known. It is believed that we now have this natural healing art thanks to someone from one of these countries. 

A doctor named William H. Fitzgerald, who specialized in Otolaryngology, was the person who introduced reflexology to the US in the early 1900s. Reflexology as we know it today was improved by him with his introduction of "zone therapy." Dr. Fitzgerald discerned that applying a certain amount of pressure to a person's palms and foot soles would affect the health of other corresponding areas of the body in a positive way. 

Not long after, it was learned by a physical therapist by the name of Eunice Ingham that applying pressure to a person's foot provided even greater benefits than applying pressure to hands does. Ms. Ingham was able to map out each zone on the foot in detail to show the areas of the body that each zone corresponded to. 

She was able to discern that what goes on in a person's toes mirror their neck and head health. In addition, she learned that a person's heart, lungs and chest are mirrored by the ball of their feet. The right side of a person's body is reflected by their left foot, and the left side of their body is reflected in their right foot. 

Reflexology is considered to work much like Chinese medicine does. For example, a person's body is believed to be brimming with energy in the art of Chinese medicine. Further, if the body's energy flow is blocked in any way, it will cause disease to come about. 

Research shows that there are approximately 7,000 nerve endings located within a human's foot. Imagine a person's nervous system as a computer, and a person's foot as the computer's keyboard. By pressing certain areas of the foot (or the buttons on a body's keyboard), it is believed that it will stop the energy blockage in the body and help the energy to flow properly again. 

Reflexology is believed to work much the same way that acupuncture does. There is one main difference though, and this comes about due to treatment being given to more body parts in acupuncture. In reflexology, treatment involves only a person's hand and feet. 

Endorphins and chemicals are believed to be released in the body when the right type of pressure is applied to hands and feet. This release is known to be the body's way of dealing with pain naturally. The chemicals and endorphins help decrease a person's stress levels. Today's current medical research also shows this to be the case. 

A reflexologist typically begins a session with a client by asking them a number of questions. They will need to know of their health condition at the moment and the lifestyle they lead. They will also ask the client about any previous illnesses they have had in the past or currently have. 

The client will then be asked to remove their socks and shoes and sit back in a comfortable chair that reclines. Some reflexologists will ask their client to lay down on a cushioned table instead. Based on information shared by the client, the reflexologist may then discuss the areas of the foot they will be working on. 

Next, they will first give the client's foot a rubdown. This is said to help warm the foot up for the work to come. Any sensitivity or knotted areas in the feet will show the reflexologist that energy is blocked in the areas of the body that reflect the affected areas of the feet. 

Further work on the feet will show the reflexologist whether or not other areas of the body needed to be targeted. One of these sessions can sometimes last as long as 60 minutes or be as quick as only 30 minutes. 

For best results, a client should have a reflexology session at least once per week. It is a good idea to pay close attention to the exact areas of the foot the reflexologist works on during a session. This knowledge will allow a client to work on those areas themselves while at home. 

The art of reflexology is considered to an excellent alternative medicine for natural healing. But despite its popularity, it is not meant to be a substitution for any treatments that are needed by a medical professional. Reflexology is considered to be a supplement that helps to assist the process of healing. Anyone who has an interest in the benefits of natural healing should book a reflexology appointment to see how it will benefit them.

Aromatherapy and Massage A Healthy Combination

Aromatherapy is considered as a form of healing that makes use of various aromas from pure extracts of flowers, leaves, herbs, and other plants. These extracts are converted to oil which is said to be therapeutic as it is inhaled and as it is applied on the skin. 

Essential oils cannot be applied purely as they may cause redness, burning, or irritation. Carrier oils like jojoba, grape seed, and almond oil are usually mixed. Moreover, using a specific type of oil for straight 12 weeks or more may not be that effective anymore as the skin may be resistant to it already. 

Such aromatherapy oils must be stored in a cool, dry place to preserve their effectiveness. A dark bottle is most advisable since light does not penetrate easily. Plastic bottles will only hasten their deterioration. Proper storage will make the oils last for about a year. 

Massage complements aromatherapy very well. Massage has been known to be effective in loosening muscle contractions, releasing toxins in the body, and improving blood and oxygen circulation. The use of aromatherapy oils for massage is, no doubt, doubly beneficial. 

Aromatherapy and massage can easily affect the autonomic nervous system. It can cause the fight and flight response to calm down thus reducing the amount of hazardous stress hormones in the body. A person who has significantly low levels of stress become less prone to diseases or recover easily from any sickness or health problems. 

This kind of complementary therapy is widely used in many healthcare institutions around the world. It has been proven to greatly improve the quality of life of patients. Thus, it is being recommended to cancer patients as a form of supportive therapy. 

A research on this was conducted at the Marie Curie Cancer Care in London where 103 cancer patients either received massage or aromatherapy massage. Results show that those who received aromatherapy massage had significantly reduced anxiety levels as compared to those who only got basic massage. Some improvements in the patients’ disposition, physical comfort, and quality of life in general have also been noted. 

The research concludes that aromatherapy oils add up to the physical and psychological well being that patients feel in addition to the physical comfort that massage actually provides. These results are in conjunction to the benefits of touch therapy, which are further enhanced by the power of aromatherapy. 

Not only are aromatherapy and massage proven to be helpful to cancer patients, it has also been found out that they may help people with learning disabilities. The senses of smell and touch play a major role on this. 

The olfactory system has direct connections to the limbic system, which is the part of the brain that has to do with emotions. The senses of touch and smell appear to be less complicated as compared to the senses of hearing and sight. With this, a form of communication maximizing touch and smell is easier, especially for people with learning disabilities. 

People with such disabilities are often characterized by stereotypical behaviors, monotonous actions that are purposeless, and impairment in their senses. These characteristics appear reduced with aromatherapy and massage. 

This form of therapy works by causing the person to avoid self-stimulation. This happens because they start to become more aware of their own body and build tolerance to touch. As such, they are able to divert their focus to something else and not just to themselves. This is initially manifested by the capacity to interact with the therapist. 

Moreover, even athletes benefit from aromatherapy massage. For quite a while already, it has been part of athletic training. It boosts performance and makes recovery thereafter easier. Serious athletes, like those who participate in Olympic games, have regular sessions before and after every game. 

Indeed, aromatherapy and massage can do a lot of wonders. This is specially the case if it is done properly and carefully. 

Since the pairing of aromatherapy and message has been proven to be really effective in intervening with some medical conditions, practitioners are usually required to undergo some years of training first. The use of such powerful oils is endless and must not be underestimated. 

The Benefits of Deep Tissue Massage

Life has become busier and too complicated. People work so hard that they usually have no time to take care of themselves. This kind of lifestyle, although not easily recognized stresses the body a lot and makes the person more and more prone to diseases and other medical conditions. 

If the muscles of the body are stressed, for example, the flow of oxygen becomes poor. Likewise, the nutrients are just wasted and not absorbed by the body. Thereafter, inflammation occurs and accumulates toxins in the muscles making some movements painful. 

This is not limited just to the elderly. People from all ages are vulnerable to the implications of stress to the body. No matter how strong your body seems to be, if you abuse it, there will certainly be negative effects. 

Indeed, the body needs pampering from time to time. Besides, it will not be productive anymore if it is overworked and so stressed out. There are several ways of combating stress and tension and one of them is called deep tissue massage. 

Deep tissue massage is yet another technique that targets and concentrates on the inner layers of the muscle tissue. Its main objective is to loosen the tension in the body through the application of strokes that are slow and finger pressure on contracted areas of the body. Doing this is said to e eliminated because of this. 

Deep tissue massage resulted from years of study. It has been matched well to the needs of a tension-filled body. Instead of going for a plain massage, this appears to be a better option. 

As the target of such massage is more specific, there may be soreness during the procedure as well as some hours after. The uneasy feeling may be gone after a day or two especially if it was done correctly. The pressure must be directed across the muscle grains. 

Deep tissue massage is beneficial in several ways. It makes you feel good by loosening the muscle tissues, releasing the toxins from the muscles, and making blood and oxygen circulate properly throughout the body. You must drink lots of water before and after the procedure since water will help flush out the toxins. 

A build up of toxins in the body will no doubt have a negative impact on the various parts of the body. Sometimes, the symptoms may not be that obvious but you start feeling bad when it has become a major problem already. Thus, it is essential that you monitor closely your lifestyle and the way it has been affecting your health. 

Moreover, the best thing about deep tissue massage is that it targets deeply seated traces of tension in the body. With this, most consider it as corrective and, at the same time, therapeutic. What are normally not addressed by simple massages is easily targeted by this. 

The techniques and movements may be comparable to that of a Swedish massage but there is more pressure. Such intensive pressure on affected areas is necessary to release adhesions, which are called chronic muscle knots. The entire process may be a little painful and uncomfortable but is all worth it. You can always request to lessen the pressure a bit if you feel that it is too much already. 

Although results are promised to be really good, do not expect that you will achieve them immediately after just one session. You may feel better but if you intend to correct something, some more sessions may be necessary. As with any form of treatment, patience and commitment are very important. You have to believe that the treatment can do something about your condition. 

Likewise, it is also important that you check on the knowledge and capacity of the person doing it. Survey for institutions that are well known to deliver good services. Otherwise, you may just be exposing yourself to greater harm and damage. 

Deep tissue massage is indeed a good option for those seeking to remedy the negative effects of stress. However, the procedure must also be coupled with a change of lifestyle. If you continuously go back to your old ways, deep tissue massage may not work no matter how often you go for treatment.