Foot Reflexology is an alternative therapy that empowers the distinctive healing mechanisms of the body. It involves pressure to specific reflex points on the feet using certain hand, finger, or thumb techniques. Reflexology is based on the premise that internal organs, bones, and body systems can be positively influenced from properly applying pressure to the specific points. It helps to unblock energy channels and restore the natural flow of energy in the body. It’s a therapy on your feet that releases tension on your whole body.
Benefits of Foot Reflexology
Foot reflexology is used for toxin removal, circulation, nervous system stimulation, migraines and headaches, cancer relief and a lot of other bodily conditions. Regular foot reflexology will not just heal but will help to prevent a lot of diseases. Among a lot of Foot Reflexology Benefits, followings are the significantly important ones:
Circulation: Reflexology has been verified to improve circulation throughout the body. It eventually results in more blood and oxygen being cycled throughout the body more effectively. Vital organ systems receive more oxygen enhancing their functioning. It also results in increased metabolism. The damaged and injured cells then heal faster and regrowth occurs.
Relaxation: Relaxation is actually the result of opening of blocked neural pathways and free-flowing neural activities. In the process reduced stress level too can be measurably experienced. Reflexology can flood your system with relaxation, inducing a state of calm throughout your body and mind. Similarly, reflexology is commonly used to cure sleep disorders.
Toxin Removal: In context of pollution, toxins have become unavoidable problem with everyone these days. Detoxification is very important to keep our body healthy and energized. Reflexology improves bladder function and reduces urinary tract issues. Healthy bladder system means our body constantly and regularly eliminates toxins out of the body protecting us from diseases and health conditions that toxin accumulation can cause.
Nervous System Stimulation: As mentioned before, reflexology improves circulation and unblocks the neural pathways, both of these cause a number of benefits to our Central Nervous System. Not only will our brain be able to handle the inputs more effectively, thereby speeding up our cognitive powers, but our physical reactions will be faster, our memory will be boosted, and generally, our entire brain will simply work better and faster.
Migraines and Headaches: Reflexology is being used by many people as a method of abolishing pain. As an analgesic treatment, reflexology can reduce the severity of migraines and headaches, simply by relieving tension in the muscles i.e. the cause of these conditions. Headaches induced by stress, psychological factors can also be cured.
Speeds Healing: The combination of increased nerve activity and circulation, as well as the more balanced functioning of the metabolism, means that cells re-grow faster and wounds are able to heal faster. Also, the pain-relieving qualities of reflexology mean that patients feel better faster, and are more willing to start physical recovery to get back into life.
Relief in Pain caused by Diseases
Reflexology is not connected directly in curing diseases, but it relieves a great deal of pain and other issues of diseases. It was proven to be beneficial for palliative stage of cancer in reducing the side effects of chemotherapy and in reducing stress and anxiety levels of patients. It has also shown effectiveness in relieving pain of arthritis patients. It reduces hypertension, type2 diabetes and sinusitis.
Pregnancy and Menstruation:
Reflexology can be beneficial for women going through labor as it works as a natural analgesics. It also helps women after child birth to get post-partum (after childbirth) recovery. Not only it helps in relieving from physical pain but also blocks the chances of post-partum depression. It helps the woman’s body to heal itself faster in order to get back its normal body with normal metabolic activity.
Who shouldn’t take Foot Reflexology Massage?
• If you have varicose vein, foot reflexology can worsen the condition.
• If you have ingrown toe-nails.
• If you have extreme edema (accumulation of watery fluid).
• If you have bruises, cuts and foot fractures.
• If you have bacterial and viral infections.
• If you have athlete’s toe.
How often should one take a foot reflexology massage?
Foot Reflexology Massage should be taken as often as necessary and according to the physical and emotional requirement of balance. Most foot reflexology therapists suggest monthly visits to normal healthy clients and weekly treatment for those with physical and emotional problems.