What
Is Reflexology?
By D.S.
Braun
For
the Reflexologist, the feet are
a microcosm of the human body
and every organ and body part
is represented in the feet. Where
there are two organs in the body
they will be represented on both
feet, e.g. lungs and kidney and
where there is only one organ,
this will be represented on one
foot, e.g. the liver will be on
the right foot while the heart
will be on the left. Where the
organ or body part is reflected
in the feet, this is called the
"organ" reflex, e.g.
the heart reflex.
The
right foot represents the right
side of the body as well as the
past while the left foot represents
the left side of the body as well
as the present and future.
Each
foot has over 7,000 nerve endings,
26 bones, 107 ligaments and 19
muscles. This type of drugless
therapy creates a physiological
change in the body by naturally
improving your circulation, which
reduces our body tension and enhances
relaxation. It aids in the elimination
of the body waste and restoring
the body functions to better health.
THE
PRINCIPLES OF REFLEXOLOGY
By
stimulating reflexes on the feet
with a type of pressure massage,
the organs of the body are stimulated,
thus allowing them to start unblocking
and healing themselves. In addition
to this, the stimulation of these
reflexes allows the body to begin
detoxing and eliminating poisons
which have built up through bad
diet, thinking and habit.
Centuries
ago, man mapped out a healing
energy that circulates through
the body on specific pathways.
This energy we call "life
force" or "vital energy".
This force can be "tapped"
at more than 800 points in your
body.
Ancient
medical philosophy teaches that
to obtain and maintain health,
which is the balance and maintenance
of harmony within the body, there
must be a free and unimpeded circulation
of energy flowing through the
body's organs.
Traditional
medicine, not only of the Chinese,
but from the use of Acupuncture
in other countries as well, we
learn that traditional medicine
is based on the belief that the
body's blood circulation follows
the flow of energy. If this energy
circulation, which follows circulates
freely in an endless cycle from
the main organs through the channels
beneath the skin, is blocked at
some point, then the circulation
is impaired.
This
blockage results in a deficient
oxygenation of the tissues around
the affected area and throws the
body off balance. This imbalance
produces malfunctioning not only
of the tissues surrounding it,
but, if not corrected, spreads
to related organs nearby.
Tapping
this healing current can bring
prompt and natural relief from
practically all of your aches
and pains, chronic or acute, by
the simple process of working
the 'reflex buttons' located in
your hands, feet and/or body.
Stimulating,
pressing or 'working' a reflex
point (or button) connected to
a particular body organ, system
or part sends a surge of healing
energy for prompt relief of a
condition. Working a reflex also
loosens and flushes out crystals
and blockages within the body's
energy channels allowing the life
force or vital energy to resume
its free and natural flow through
the channels. This encourages
the body to swing back into its
normal balance, so harmony and
health are again established.
This
method of restoring the body to
normal functioning involves no
expense, no special equipment
(although reflex tools can be
utilized and do help save wear
and tear on your finger and thumb
joints!), no drugs or medication.
The results are amazingly fast,
bringing relief often in a matter
of seconds.
Reflexology,
which helps a wide range of situations,
not only cures specific ailments
but can be used to keep you in
good health and help build resistance
to attacks of disease. In addition,
this method often detects health
problems before they become serious
by you recognizing a sore or tender
reflex.
Reflexology
is a simple technique that can
be applied at any time and practically
anywhere. It is Nature's 'push
button' secret for dynamic living,
abundant physical energy, vibrant
health, better living without
pain, retaining youthful vigor
and enjoying life to the fullest.
STRESS
AND REFLEXOLOGY
The
benefits of Reflexology and Stress
can be explained physiologically.
Tension can be equated with stress.
There are as many definitions
of stress as there are authors
of books on stress. Today everyone
suffers from stress but no one
knows what stress is. It could
be stated that stress is the difference
between a persons perceived ability
to deal with the stressor and
the reality of the environmental
demand.
This
definition allows for varying
degrees of stress to be felt by
different people in the same situation.
Irrespective of what the stressor
is, the stress reaction is always
the same.
Seyle,
1956, termed the reaction to stress
as the fight or flight syndrome.
What this means is that when we
are faced with a stressful situation,
we either fight it or run away.
The body releases hormones into
the system that allow us to physiologically
cope with this. For example, you
have all heard of mothers who
have had the strength to lift
up a car to rescue their children.
This ability comes from the rush
of stress hormones, e.g. adrenaline
into the bloodstream.
We
also perspire profusely, (to slip
out of a grasp), blood pressure
increases as the blood leaves
the extremities (so you do not
bleed badly when cut), proteins
and fats convert to glucose (to
give you energy) etc. Once the
stress situation is over the stress
hormones come back to normal levels.
Today
however, it would be socially
unacceptable to hit your boss
if he was stressing you or to
run away from home if your kids
or spouse were stressing you.
This means that the stress hormones
are continually being secreted
and do not come back to a normal
level. While these stress hormones
play a vital role when faced with
a stressor, they have a detrimental
effect on the individual if they
do not come back to normal levels.
Prolonged secretion and circulation
of these stress hormones causes
damage to the body.
The
white blood cells (infection fighters)
become depleted, neurotransmitters
controlling mood are depleted
and T-cells in the lymphatic system
are broken down. Examples of the
effects of this are not hard to
find. Just look at how many people
who have been under stress become
sick. How many people do you know
who have lost a "significant
other" through death or divorce
or who became ill or contracted
cancer?
Reflexology,
by inducing relaxation, reduces
the stress hormones so that the
body is able to produce T-cells,
white cells and neurotransmitters
so as to start healing itself.
For
more information on Reflexology,
including tools, products and
free charts, please click here!
Dee
is a Certified Aromatherapist,
Certified Reflexologist, and Reiki
Master. Her site is AkobiAromas.com
- a source of quality aromatherapy,
herbal and reflexology information
and products.
Article
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
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