Reflexology Benefits for the Whole Body
What Is Reflexology and How Does It Work?
Many people use reflexology as part of a healthy wellness routine to support relaxation, reduce stress, improve circulation, and encourage overall balance in the body. Reflexology or Reflexology Foot Massage has evolved over the years and has been practiced by many cultures. What began as Zone Therapy in Europe was brought to America by Dr. Fitzgerald in the early 1900s. Dr. Fitzgerald noticed that when he applied finger pressure to specific points on the hands or feet, he could alleviate certain symptoms throughout the body. Eunice Ingham, a physiotherapist, later used Dr. Fitzgerald’s work as the foundation for the organ mapping of the feet. Eunice Ingham’s work has led to what we now know as reflexology.
What is Reflexology
Reflexology is the art or science that believes there are reflex areas in our feet, hands, and ears that correspond to every part of our body, including our organs and glands. When you stimulate the reflex areas in the feet by applying pressure with your fingers, thumbs, and hands, you directly affect the corresponding areas, glands, or organs of the body.
When you are working with your right foot or hand, you are working the right side of the body, and when you are working with your left foot or hand, you are working the left side of the body. This makes the reflexology benefits unique from other modalities.
This applied pressure also affects the body’s chi energy flow and can be used to release energy blockages. In some traditional wellness systems, disruptions in the body’s energy flow are believed to contribute to imbalance and discomfort. Reflexology and acupressure are similar in that they both work with the body’s energy flow and use points or areas on one part of the body to affect points or areas in other parts of the body.
Can you imagine there are actually 7,200 nerve endings in each foot, and that reflexologists use them to benefit the whole body and improve overall mental and physical health? The opening of the body’s energy flow through Reflexology or Zone Therapy works with the body’s own intelligence, allowing it to begin its healing process and progress at its own pace.
Main Reflexology Benefits
- Helps to Reduce Stress and Anxiety
- Promotes Relaxation
- Helps to Relieve or Reduce Migraine and Tension Headaches
- Helps to Reduce Pain as well as Fibromyalgia Pain
- Helps in Treating Back Pain
- Helps in Relieving Constipation
- Improves Circulation
- Complements Cancer care
Reflexology complements many other treatments and is also used as a preventative measure. Individuals with anxiety, asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, headaches, kidney function, PMS, pain, digestive issues, and sinusitis have benefited from reflexology.
Reflexology Benefits Studies
Several studies have examined the various benefits of Reflexology.
- Studies showed improvement in circulation or blood flow at the point of pressure in the foot and its corresponding organ zone in the back.
- Another study showed benefits in reducing high blood pressure when a specific area of the foot corresponding to the cortex, thoracic, and kidney was massaged compared to a general reflexology foot massage.
- Another study was conducted to determine the effect of reflexology on diabetic neuropathy. The conclusion of that study showed that reflexology, along with medication therapy, may help reduce neuropathic pain and improve overall quality of life.
- Many studies show it helps reduce pain and anxiety, including for some lower back pain.
- Other studies show it helps improve sleep and promote relaxation.
Some people feel reflexology is a form of massage, but it actually isn’t. Massage involves rubbing the muscles and connective tissues for medical or therapeutic purposes to enhance the function of the tissues being massaged. Reflexology, although it feels good when pressure is applied to your feet, is intended to treat an entirely different area of the body outside the feet.
Reflexology works well even when you do it yourself or for a family member. You don’t even need to use your own hands. You can purchase a foot roller, a reflexology foot massager. There are so many benefits, and it’s so simple to do! So next time the ball of your foot hurts, give one of these self-techniques a try and feel the benefits! I don’t know about you, but I love to have my feet massaged!
I found reflexology helpful for managing my pain and anxiety with CRPS. If you are trying to manage either of these, I would consider trying it, and you can incorporate it into your daily habits.