Holistic Healing, Oct 05

Going Feet First
Reflexology is a massage science that benefits the whole body.

By Susan Weiner

    Humans have been stroking sore feet since the time of sandals and staffs, but a foot rub can be much more than just a mode of blissful relaxation. According to the holistic discipline of reflexology, your feet reflect the condition of your entire body, with specific spots linked to other body parts. Working these areas with thumbs or fingers can gently encourage the body to cure and strengthen itself, healing not just the prevailing symptoms but the person as a whole.
    It doesn’t seem logical that foot massage would provide overall therapeutic benefits, yet the concept that there are reflexes on the soles of the feet, the palms of the hands, and even the ears which correspond to organs and glands is not new; pictographs dating back to 2300 BC depict foot work being performed on satisfied recipients.
    What is new is the widespread use and growing body of research on reflexology today: In Denmark, more than 3,500 reflexologists work in medical settings, including hospitals, and large corporations commonly employ them for employees’ benefit. In China, a recent study conducted at Beijing Medical University examined how type 2 diabetes could be treated with foot reflexology.
    Though American doctors William Fitzgerald and Joe Shelby Riley, along with “The Mother of Reflexology,” physiotherapist Eunice D. Ingham, developed the modern incarnation of reflexology back in the 1920s, the healing art is now enjoying a surge of recognition in the US. “Reflexology is becoming more accepted as more people look to alternatives to allopathic [conventional] medicine,” says Michael Rainone, president of the New York State Reflexologist Association (www.newyorkstate reflexology.org). “When first-timers try reflexology they cannot believe how good they feel.”
    Reflexology eases the symptoms of everyday ills and can effectively treat complaints as diverse as migraines, back pain, sleep disorders, PMS, hormonal imbalances, hypertension, circulatory issues and digestive disorders. “Basically, a disease is a blockage of energy in the body,” says Rodney Mayfield, a certified reflexologist in Lancaster, New York. “Using reflexology, you can release blockages anywhere in the entire body.”
    Mayfield has witnessed dramatic improvement among his patients, including increased range of motion in stroke victims, lowered blood pressure and remarkable changes in patients suffering from constipation. “I’ve had patients tell me that, after years of strenuous problems, they are easily eliminating every day,” says Mayfield.
    It is important for reflexology patients to provide a complete medical history prior to their first session. “You need to ask questions because people overlook or forget key issues,” says Evelyn Bergdoll, LMT, a second-generation reflexologist with a practice in Burnham, Maine. “Generally, those issues are conditions that can be helped with reflexology.”
    Bergdoll has witnessed significant success with a variety of disorders, including conditions like back pain, that are often induced by stress. “Reflexology increases circulation and the flow of lymphatic fluid,” she notes.
    Bergdoll even found that reflexology helped her quit smoking, after attempting to quit cigarettes six times on her own. “After just two weeks of reflexology treatments from my mother, I was able to stop smoking. The treatments purged my body of nicotine and toxins, and eliminated my cravings.”

Playing Footsie
    The science behind reflexology is based on “energy zones”: Imagine your body is a giant gingerbread man divided lengthwise into 10 pieces. Every organ, muscle, bone, tendon, cell and ligament belongs to one of these zones, which all lead to the soles of your feet. Many also lead to reflex points in your hands and ears, but the feet are more receptive as they are not as compact. They also tend to accumulate more toxins as a result of gravity, which can be released from the body through the process. Plus, frankly, it just feels great to have your feet rubbed.
    While a simple foot massage reduces stress and tension and encourages the body to strengthen itself, it does not provide the full, complex benefits of reflexology. Through the assistance of a certified reflexologist, or a guide map to the proper points, anyone can pick up the basics pretty quickly.
    The most common technique is known as the “thumb walk.” Bend your thumb at an approximately 45 degree angle and make tiny “steps” over a specific area (press, release, slide, repeat). Use the side of your thumb to apply steady, gentle pressure. You can also use the edge of your thumb and index fingers to take small “bites.” This method allows you to direct pressure on a single point, since pressure is the key to effective reflexology. Sometimes, a point will be tender; it’s important to work through the “hurt” over time, but if the area feels bruised or very painful, you are pressing too hard.
    You can experiment with reflexology and build overall health simply by working your hands or feet for five to 15 minutes daily. You can also practice reflexology principles on common ailments. For instance, bouts of constipation can strike during times of stress or dietary change. Kneading your feet, breathing deeply and visualizing your intestines “relaxing” can act as an all-natural laxative. Get comfortable and work some lotion into your feet for five to 10 minutes, stroking and squeezing along the way. When your feet are feeling happy, locate the center of each sole, along the foot’s arch. Press both thumbs in deeply, one at a time, and hold for three minutes.
    At-home reflexology treatments can help relieve headaches and sinus conditions. The toes and fingers represent the head and neck on both the hands and feet. Use your thumb to “walk” over the surfaces of all toes, including the bottoms, tops and sides. Repeat two times on both feet until you feel some relief.
    To learn more about reflexology, Bergdoll recommends Feet First: A Guide to Foot Reflexology (Fireside), featuring detailed charts, while Mayfield suggests The Complete Illustrated Guide to Reflexology (Element Books Ltd).
    “You can find a wide variety of books to learn some simple techniques for working on your own feet,” says Rainone. “Of course, there is no substitute for another human being touching your feet. Don’t you agree?”

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