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Reflexology

What Is Reflexology?

Foot reflexology is the study and practice of stimulating reflexes in the feet which correspond to different parts of the body.
Using specific hand, finger and thumb techniques, reflexology causes responses in different parts of the body, stimulating the body’s own healing capacity and promoting a return to a state of equilibrium.
Reflexology is an holistic technique, treating the whole person, not just the affected area.

Reflexology works in a number of ways:
• Circulation Improvement
• Nervous System Stimulation
• Increase of Energy Levels
• Relaxation/Stress Reduction

Circulation Improvement
All the cells in the body depend on the blood supply for oxygen, nutrients and to carry away waste. Poor lifestyle choices causes a sluggish circulation system by which there is inadequate removal of waste which in turn can cause high or low blood pressure.

Also, “sludging” of the blood, crystal deposits may form beneath the skin at nerve endings. The feet are particuarly prone to these crystal deposits as there are 72,000 nerve endings there. Reflexology breaks down these crystal deposits and they are reabsorbed into the bloodstream.

Nervous System Stimulation
Stimulating the feet reflexes stimulates the Nervous System (Autonomic), thus improving neural pathways.

Increase in Energy Levels
The energy levels in the body are revitalised. Reflexology also works by balancing the bodys systems via the energy pathways which circulate throughout the body. This energy flow is known as “Chi” or “Qi”. If the energy flow is impeded in any way, the energy flow will become out of balance, causing various problems within the body. Once the blockage has been treated then the body can return to its state of balance.

Consultation:
On the first visit, the reflexology practitioner will conduct a full personal consultation. This will take into consideration your past and present health and lifestyle. The consultation enables the treatment to be tailored to your specific needs.

In some instances it may be necessary to gain your doctors permission before treatment can commence.

All this will be discussed on a confidential basis with your chosen practitioner.

What happens during a Reflexology Treatment
A reflexology treatment lasts for approximately one hour. As it is the feet which are generally treated you simply remove your socks and shoes. You will be invited to sit or lie on a comfortable treatment chair or couch.

The reflexologist will then use their hands to apply precise pressure techniques to the feet treating specific points which correspond to all organs and systems of the body.

Following treatment, any significant findings will be discussed with you. As the effects of reflexology are cumulative, many people find it beneficial to continue with regular treatments.

In order to gain maximum benefit from your reflexology treatment try to rest and take things easy as this helps to boost the body's natural healing abilities. Increasing the amount of water that you drink can help to flush the toxins out of your system thereby aiding the detoxifying process.

Just listen to your body and put aside time to relax. After one or two treatments your body may respond in a very definite way. Most people note a sense of well-being and relaxation; sometimes people report feeling lethargic, nauseous or tearful, but this is transitory and is a part of the healing process.

This is vital information to feed back to the reflexologist as it shows how your body is responding to treatment. This will help the reflexologist to tailor a treatment plan specific to your needs.

• Thrombosis
• Unstable Pregnancies
• Dialysis
• Transplants
• Drug & Alchohol misuse
• During menstruation if client is prone to heavy periods
• During a course of chemotherapy
• In cases of serious illness
• Chronic conditions requiring emergency surgery e.g appendicitis

Sinead, is a qualified member of the NRRI, and as such registered with all major health care providers, including VHI, LAYA and AVIVA. If you are in doubt as to whether reflexology is covered under your individual healthcare plan, check with your healthcare provider.

Some people come in for a one off relaxation treatment, and others come in for a series of sessions for long standing or chronic conditions. The number of sessions will depend on the patient or conditions, but as a general guideline most people require 5 – 8 treatments on a weekly basis for long-standing chronic conditions. Others may respond well after just 3 or 4 treatments.

Reflexology is a perfectly safe therapy as long as the pregnancy is stable and healthy, and can provide many benefits, with some women using it to help manage morning sickness and tiredness.

Normally as a precaution, reflexologists will avoid working on the reproductive system for the first 3 months of the pregnancy, until it becomes established, so let your reflexologist know if you are pregnant or suspect that you may be pregnant.

There are a number of pregnancy related conditions where we would not recommend using reflexology. These include:
• Unstable pregnancy
• Heart problems
• High/low blood pressure
• Circulatory problems e.g. blood clot
• Gestational diabetes
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Pre-eclampsia
• Incompetent cervix
• History of spontaneous miscarriage
• Anaemia
• Abnormal placental function or position

Again, if you are in doubt about whether you should use reflexology during pregnancy, consult with us here or talk with your G.P or consultant.

Reflexology For Fertility

Reflexology for fertility, or fertility reflexology, can help to improve a person's fertility by positively directing the flow of energy where it is needed. Reflexology involves manipulating pressure points in the feet or hands in order to positively affect a corresponding area of the body. In essence, energy pathways are unblocked, allowing the energy to flow as it should.

There are points on the feet that correspond with the reproductive system in the body, and by manipulating these; the imbalances that can lead to problems conceiving can be corrected.

Fertility reflexology can be helpful for a range of things that can impact on a person's fertility such as:
• Polycystic ovaries
• Cervical problems
• Adhesions (more commonly known as scar tissue)
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Pre-menstrual syndrome
• Hormonal imbalances
• Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes
• Stress related problems
• Menstrual problems

Reflexology is actually fantastic for helping stress, which is very important if you are trying to increase your fertility and become pregnant. Stress can actually negatively affect your ability to conceive, whether it is worrying about becoming pregnant, stress from other family members or friends, workplace stress and so on. Reflexology is known for being calming and relaxing.

Reflexology is also great for balancing hormones, which can help with things such as encouraging regular menstruation, promoting ovulation, and relieving the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis.

If you are undergoing tests to find out the cause of infertility, need to undertake a course of fertility drugs, or are embarking on assisted conception such as IVF, ICSI, GIFT, or ZIFT, reflexology can actually be of great help to you. This is because it is a supporting or complementary therapy, and as such, will not harm the treatments you are undergoing or take the place of them. The reflexology can support your body physically, but just as importantly, it will give you needed mental support, giving you the strength and positivity that you need in order to stave off anxiety and give the treatment the best possible chance of succeeding

Modern Day Stress

Stress can mean different things to different people. Stress is often defined as a mismatch between the demands placed on us and our ability to cope with these demands.

According to the Small Firms Association Report 2006 stress is replacing back pain as a key cause of absenteeism from work in Ireland. In Ireland, absenteeism costs small business 692 million per annum. The national average for absenteeism is 9 working days - for smaller firms, this average is 7 working days and 10 days for larger firms.
Many health problems are caused or exacerbated by stress, including:
Pain of any kind.
Heart disease.
Digestive Problems.
Sleep Problems.
Depression.
Weight Problems.
Colds & Flus.
Skin Conditions e.g Eczema & Acne