Reflexology and How It Can Help

If you have ever been a client of mine, you would know that I absolutely love working on the feet; I believe the feet to be the most influential parts of our bodies, but also the most neglected, and therefore the most deserving of care. They are our foundation, the very soles of where we begin, and they are one of three reflexology locations we find on our bodies. "Reflexology is the manual manipulation of the [hands, feet, ears, and head] in order to stimulate, through subtle energy reflexes, the various parts of the body to promote health and wellbeing" (1).  

How does it work??? 

When the topic of reflexology comes into conversation during a session, I usually get the question: "How does it work?" The science behind reflexology is a little fuzzy; recently the popular theory of our nervous system is the connection between reflexology points and the corresponding organ has been disproven. Now the relation between reflexology points and the corresponding organs is thought to be in our fascia. For those of us who have no idea what fascia is, it is the "connective tissue [that] envelopes the muscles, bones, and joints and holds us together supporting the body structure and giving us our shape" (2). Seeing how fascia is the connective tissue of the body the same fascia in the feet, hands, and ears is connected to the fascia of our organs; which is why this is the most popular theory of reflexology's success.  

Another reason and the one that appeals the most to me is the subtle energies each of us has. Tapping into, working on, and opening the subtle energy on the bottom of our feet can have a marvelous effect on the rest of our bodies.  

What will the massage be like? 

Now that we have a general idea of what reflexology is I would like to explain how a typical reflexology session would unfold. A reflexology session can last anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour. I would typically recommend a half hour appointment; this would provide ample time to address any areas needing special attention while still being able to work the entirety of both feet.  

The very first thing I begin every massage with, be that reflexology, Swedish, deep tissue, what have you, is an introduction to the healing experience; starting a massage abrasively, or without an introduction, can be alarming and disconcerting. Therefore, I'll begin a reflexology massage at the head of the client, bringing them into a conscious awareness of their body and breath. Once the client has relaxed well enough, and their breathing has become their primary focus I'll move down to the feet. Now, as I have mentioned before, there are four reflexology locations on the body, the feet, hands, ears, and head; however, the feet are the most commonly used location seeing how they are the largest surface area, and the easiest to manipulate and therefore will be the single topic of discussion during the post. 

All reflexology locations have a map outlining the organs in the body; the maps typically follow the same order the organs do. The succession of points manipulated will, for the most part, follow the map fairly well. Also, only one foot will be worked on at a time; depending on the therapist and your own body, the order in which the feet are worked will vary. During a session, you may also notice that the flow of the strokes only go in one direction for many of the points, with the reason being the corresponding organs work in one direction. As an example, the large intestines only flows in one direction. Therefore, the points associated with the organ will follow the same flow. To work against that order during reflexology is not optimizing the assistance therapy could provide to the organ.  

Can reflexology be truly effective? 

Another question I get a lot while discussing reflexology is "does it really work?" I get to answer that question with a wonderful story of a client of mine who had broken her collar bone and a rib. Before the injury she had been visiting me frequently; however, the breaks made laying on her stomach unbearable. I mentioned reflexology, and she was excited to try anything. After a half hour session, she told me she felt as if she had had a normal massage as if the work I had done on her feet was truly able to assist the rest of her.  

Other benefits of Reflexology. 

Keeping in mind that reflexology is in no way a self-diagnosis or replacement for any medical treatment, reflexology can "have a positive influence on existing illnesses"(3) as well as provide relief from stress. The illnesses reflexology can aid include, but not limited to  

allergies  

back pain  

breathing problems  

digestive system problems  

endocrine system disturbances  

headache  

heart and circulatory problems  

hip joint ailments  

hormonal changes  

knee pain  

menstrual problems  

shoulder pain  

sleep problems  

urinary track ailments (3)   

As a side note, I would like to point out that reflexology is a safe treatment for pregnant women. As a mother myself, I understand how uncomfortable it can be to lie face up for any length of time, especially during the last trimester. The beauty of reflexology is that it can be performed while the client is in a seated position, in fact, it can be performed in any position where the feet are accessible.  

If you're curious or believe reflexology could benefit you, please give Grand Junction Chiropractic Center a call at (970)241-1199 and schedule a session with me.  

(1) Zollicoffer, M. Foot Reflexology 1&2: Benefits, Physiology, and the 34 Points Webinar.  

(2) Fascia. (n.d.) In PubMed Health. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMHT0024254/ 

(3) Kolster, B.C. & Waskowiak, A. (2005). The Reflexology Atlas. Healing Arts Press.

(Picture) Layton, J. "How can a foot rub help you recover from surgery?" 3 September 2008. HowStuffWorks.com. <https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/alternative/foot-massage-recover-from-surgery.htm> 28 May 2018