CONNECTIONS to HEALTH

Advanced Reflexology by Melissa Callaway ART It is my pleasure to write about what I believe to be a truly amazing and effective treatment for just about everything.  Foot reflexology is considered by some to be just a foot massage.  Relaxing but nothing more.  Wrong!  This is more or less the feeling of a lot of people who haven't experienced an ART treatment.  There is much more to your feet than you could possibly ever guess or imagine!  So please read on.  This article will be my attempt to explain a little about reflexology.  If you have anymore questions please phone me or book in for a free consultation. How Can Advanced Reflexology Help Me? Reflexology can help with these problems: Stress and tension, Headaches, High blood pressure, Sinus congestion, Digestive disorders, Menopause symptoms Back and neck pains, Sleeping problems and insomnia, Sub-fertility and more! In fact reflexology can help with the symptoms of most disorders and diseases! Perhaps you suffer with one of the problems above? Have you ever thought of trying reflexology? I believe pain and suffering come to show us we need to take control of our health and be aware that our bodies are out of balance. Reflexology helps to rebalance. Yes, amazing all of this just from your feet! It has also been estimated that up to 70% of illness is caused by stress. Stress can put a strain on the bodies systems which can then in turn create an imbalance. Reflexology is very effective not only in helping the systems in the body to rebalance but also help the body remain stress-free and functioning at its optimum level. I have read some interesting research about reflexology. I would like to share this with you... Quality of life for cancer patients Hodgson, H. "Does reflexology impact on cancer patients' quality of life?," Nursing Standard, 14, 31, pp. Results of study: 100% of the reflexology group benefited from an improvement in quality of life: appearance, appetite, breathing, communication (doctors), communication (family), communication (nurses), concentration, constipation, diarrhoea, fear of future, isolation, mobility, mood, nausea, pain, sleep and tiredness. Within the reflexology group, the participants reported an improvement in all components of the quality of life scale compared to 67.5% in the placebo group. Nevertheless, this study would suggest that the provision of reflexology for palliative patients within the general setting could be beneficial. Not only did the patients in this study enjoy the intervention, they were also 'relaxed,' comforted' and achieved relief from some of their symptoms. Constipation Forty residents of a "lodging house of the aged people" were studied for effects of foot reflexology on digestive processes. 20 were diagnosed as constipated and 20 were not. Five days before the foot reflexology treatment all were given a carbon tablet and observed for the length of time required to begin and end black stool. All received 10 days of foot reflexology treatment. The carbon tablet was administered again and a comparison was made between the elimination times before the treatment and after. After treatment, the interval between taking the carbon tablet and first black stool for the constipation group changed from an average of 45 hours to an average of 34 hours. The interval until last black stool changed from 77 hours to 51.5 hours. The non-constipation group remained unchanged in average times for first black stool and changed from 57.5 hours to 46 hours for last black stool after treatment. Yuru, Yang; Lingyun, Chao; Guangling, Meng; Scuwe, Cao; Jia-Mo, Hao and Suhui, Zhang, "Exploring the Application of Foot Reflexology to the Preventions and Treatment of Functional Constipation," 1994 China Reflexology Symposium Report, China Reflexology Association, Beijing, p. 62 Diabetes 32 cases of type II diabetes mellitus were randomly divided into two groups. One group was treated with conventional Western medicine hypoglycaemic agent plus foot reflexotherapy (FR), the other group with the same medicine only (WM). After 30 days of treatment, fasting blood glucose levels, platelet aggregation, length and wet weight of the thrombus, senility symptom scores and serum lipid peroxide (LPO) were greatly reduced in the FR group (P,0.05-0.01), while no significant change was observed in the WM group. The study suggested that foot reflexotherapy was an effective treatment for type II diabetes mellitus. Wang, X. M., "Type II diabetes mellitus with foot reflexotherapy," Chuang Koh Chuang Hsi I Chief Ho Teas Chi, Beijing, Vol. 13, Sept. 1993, pp 536-538 Carrying out the treatment myself, and seeing the wonderful benefits has amazed me and pushed me to study to ART level (advanced reflexology techniques). This means that I can also work on pregnant ladies, people with cancer and lots of other disorders that would be contra indicated in a normal reflexology treatment. How reflexology works? Reflexology is very effective against fluid retention and moving toxins out of the lymph. This can be quite powerful which is why it is recommended that caffeine and alcohol be avoided after treatment (if possible!). It is also believed that foot reflexology works in the same way as acupuncture and shiatsu: by bringing balance to the flow of energy along the body's meridians and breaking down any blockages. These can be felt in the feet as small crystals. It is suggested that crystalline deposits build up, and the nerve endings are unable to transmit their impulses. This results in an imbalance. Reflexology is believed to clear these crystalline deposits. How was reflexology developed? Dr Fitzgerald an American ear, nose and throat specialist at Boston General Hospital and Dr. Edwin Bowers published a book in the USA on Zone therapy it was simplified by Dr. Joseph Riley then republished in 1917. Eunice Ingram published a book in the USA called stories the feet can tell. Eunice Ingram also developed and renamed zone therapy and made maps of the feet showing different reflex zones. Doreen Bailey met Eunice Ingram when she was visiting America and became very interested in reflexology, and studied with her before coming back to Britain. Although people were not very interested to start with, Doreen Bailey carried on teaching and training others. Eventually the Doreen Bailey School of reflexology was opened, and ran courses in Europe as well as Britain. Eunice Ingram died in 1974. Her great determination to stimulate awareness and interest in the method should not be forgotten. Reflexology today was published by Doreen Bailey in 1978. It was around this time that the popularity of reflexology really took off. Sadly Doreen Bailey died a year later but her work is very much respected today. Reflexology dates back many years. Evidence has been found to suggest that it has been practised in lots of different countries all over the world! 5,000 years ago the Chinese practised therapies that worked on the feet in a way similar to how reflexology is used today. Pictures on tomb walls in Egypt have also been found showing a form of reflexology. People in India, Japan and North American Indian tribes have also used the same technique. North American Cherokee Indians (as part of their healing ritual) have used reflexology since 1690. Jenny Wallace was a Cherokee, and also practised reflexology. She said "In my tribe working on the feet is a very important healing art and it is part of a sacred ceremony that you don't have to be ill to take part in. The feet walk upon the earth and through this your spirit is connected to the universe. Our feet are our contact with the earth and the energies that flow though it" What to expect from your treatment? A detailed consultation will be carried out noting your medical history so that a course of treatment can be planned to suit you. The number of treatment sessions required will vary depending on the condition being treated. You tell me what symptoms you would like help with and we will work together to help to improve them. A short foot massage is done to relax you in to the treatment, then each of the feet is worked on using small thumb movements. What I'm looking for is any grittiness under the skin, which could be an indication there is an imbalance in this area. I work over both of the feet and then go back to these areas to help remove the build up of toxins I understand that the sensitivity of the feet varies between people and will use the correct amount of pressure to suit you.  The full treatment session will last for an hour. At the end of a session you should feel relaxed and wonderful! Please contact me on 07834857032 if you have any questions or would like to book in or email me here.

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