Reflexology Ramblings

Kathy Sykes

2008-03-25T14:27:00.004Z

Reflexology as researched by Professor Kathy Sykes on BBC 2 last night, followed the same format as a programme about homeopathy shown last year.

First find some people who have benefited from the therapy, then consult conventional medical professionals who cannot explain the results, then declare that therefor the therapy itself does not work and the only requirement is 'belief'. ie it is all in the mind.

Obviously some of the result is 'in the mind'. Most complementary therapies work thro' body mind and spirit.

However I KNOW the results do not depend on belief. To quote just one example, I have a client who is a GP ( I mention this as most people expect GPs to be, at the least, objective if not sceptical). She came to me because reflexology was helping her cope with the stress of her profession.

At one treatment, she was obviously congested in her sinuses, speaking in a very nasal manner. Without saying anything, I worked on the sinus reflexes. After a few minutes, she said, 'Pauline, I don't know what you are doing, but I can breathe again'.

So, no belief needed there. And I could mention many other similar examples.

I also KNOW that the reflex map of the feet is true. Now, I don't go along with the picture of the little man on the foot, or the ear come to that, but I do believe that reflex areas on the feet cause an involuntary reaction or response in the body. Again, to quote one example from many, I have a client who is one of my 'sensitives'. She regularly knows whereI am on the feet because of the sensations she feels in her body. At one point in the treatment recently she announced - you are working my pelvis - and I was!

The theory that was put forward, and then disputed,about reflexology dissolving uric acid crystals in the feet is very old fashioned. I do not know any reflexologist who subscribes to this process. What I feel in the feet I describe, for want of a better word, as 'scrunchy'. Because that is how it feels to me. When I feel a 'scrunchy' reflex it unsually indicates a problem area, or one that has been a problem in the past.

Conventional medicine will never be able to provide an explanation of energy based therapies until it is accepted that healing involves more than the state of the body, but also the mind and the spirit. And these need to be worked on together, not in isolation. Hence the phrase - complementary medicine.

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Energy chakra balance and reflexology

2008-02-29T06:18:00.001Z

Balancing the energy chakras through the reflexes on the feet is one of the most beneficial gifts a reflexologist can make to the client.

Balancing the chakras leaves the client feeling 'grounded', 'centred', 'more together' (clients words). And of course if the energy body is in good shape, there is a better chance of good physical health as well. So all-in-all, a result.

To balance the crown chakra with the base chakra you need only work one foot. Lightly hold both the crown and base chakra reflexes with middle fingers, at the same time. It may take a few seconds before you feel anything and the base chakra may come through more strongly at first. The crown chakra energy is usual lighter. What you are aiming for is a strong pulse that seems to travel between the two points. Try this first of all at the beginning of the treatment. If a balance fails, it will probably be achieved at the end of the treatment if you try again then.

It is interesting to record the strength of the energy in the chakras after each session, then you can tell how effective you are being. I have boxes on my client treatment form to record both the level of the aura and the energy in the chakras. Of course these are likely to change from one treatment to another over time according to the client's current state of emotional and physical health.

Back Pain and Reflexology

2007-07-10T08:59:00.001Z

BACK PAIN RELIEVED WITH REFLEXOLOGY

Back pain can respond very well to reflexology. I find the degree of success relates toseveral issues. Often the back pain is a referred pain from another area and the back aches because the person is walking or holding themselves differently to compensate. The deep relaxation that reflexology gives to the whole body will often be enough to relieve both the source tension - say in the neck - and the painful area of the back - often between the should blades if the neck is the problem.

Deep relaxation of muscles along the neck and spine is achieved by working UNDER and along the bony arch of the foot for several minutes. Clients often find this even more relaxing than a direct body massage.

It is also said that reflexology helps reduce inflammation, this can mean pressure on the nerves causing the pain is often relieved as well, and pain is eased.

A reflexology technique that works well is to thumb walk very slowly along the spine reflex on the foot, asking the client to say when the most painful point (on the foot) is reached. It may take several passes for the client to pinpont the exact spot. Gentle, steady pressure is then applied to this point until the client says the discomfort (on the foot) is fading.

I had a particular success recently when a pregnant client was suffering from pain in the cervical spine. She descibed it as been right under her bra fastening. I used the technique above and the client could not believe the pain had totally gone after the reflexology treatment. And it had not returned by the next treatment. I have to admit this was an especially rapid response and I was as delighted as the client.

http://www.reflexologymiltonkeynes.co.uk/

Sciatica and Reflexology

2007-06-26T14:07:00.000Z

REFLEXOLOGY RELIEVED THE EXCRUTIATING PAIN OF SCIATICA

I have a client who has a blood disorder and cannot take anti-inflammatory medication. Unfortunately she also suffers from sciatica and so is not able to take Ibruprofen or similar products.

When she first came to see me, I treated for sciatica as part of the main reflexology treatment. As I usually recommend, this client had three treatments close together then gradually spread them out until she was coming to me once every three weeks or so. During this time the sciatica totally disappeared. Although in the past she had visited physiotherapists, osteopaths and chiropractors, reflexology was the only therapy that had any impact at all.

Then all changed! Following a long flight, then a car journey without rests, the sciatica was back with a vengeance. So much so that my client could hardly move.

I decided more drastic treatment was called for and gave half hour reflexology treatments at two day intervals instead of the usual hour long treatment once a week. During the reflexology treatments I started with some relaxing moves then worked just on the spine reflex, the sciatic loop and the bladder meridian against the energy flow.

As this was the first time I have given very specific treatments for half the time, I was interested in how effective this strategy would be. I can report 100% success. My client was delighted to be able to move again without pain. And also it was more economical for her than having to pay for full treatments.

From my own business perspective, this is something I shall offer again to other clients, provided the client books two half hour treatments within a week, maybe paying the total cost in advance. Then I don't lose revenue and the client gets two focussed, very effective treatments.

Reflexology Chart

http://www.reflexologymiltonkeynes.co.uk/

Concentration, memory and Reflexology

2007-03-23T15:13:00.000Z

Many clients present with personal problems they are having trouble sorting out. This can be because they are so stressed they cannot concentrate and cannot see the wood for the trees.

I have found that working on LV3 on the liver meridian as part of the reflexology treatment can bring great results. It relieves fatigue and poor concentration and encourages clarity of thought. I use this point for students working for exams when they have trouble focussing and also complain of generally having a poor memory. This is often because they have so much going through their mind at any one time that nothing 'sticks'.

It is also beneficial for people who are at a turning point in their lives. I have known clients make quite life changing decisions after reflexology treatments incorporating LV3.

Reflexology Chart

LV3 is on the top of the foot in the channel between the big toe and the second toe where the first and second metatarsal bones meet. Hold the point gently on each foot at the same time for at least two minutes.

This point is also valuable for treating headaches, exhaustion and eye conditions.

http://www.reflexologymiltonkeynes.co.uk/

Energy chakras and Reflexology

2007-03-10T08:19:00.000Z

At the beginning of a reflexology treatment, I usually use the reflected reflexes on the feet for the chakras to balance the energy. The reflex for the base energy chakra is particularly useful. As well as the relationship with the relevant organs and emotions, the base energy chakra can also be a good indicator of general health. The ease of balance and the strength of the 'feeling' is the signal. A person who is ill often has no, or very little, energy at the reflex point. This will improve over time as the physical condition improves.

I have a client who is a finance director of a large group of companies. He is young for the position he holds and has great physical energy levels, managing a hugely responsible role, spending time with his young family and fitting in business travel and also family holidays. He makes me tired just listening to him! The base chakra, as you would imagine, is always very energetic. I touch the points and - wow - get blown away.

On one particular reflexology treatment, the energy was unusually very low. I didn't feel much at all to start with and it took half a minute or so to come thro. So he was human after all..........
At the end of the treatment, a little self-righteously, I suggested he slowed down for a while and maybe took a break.

'But I've just been on holiday', he said. 'I feel fine'. Lovely man though he is, there was just a shade of scepticism in his tone.

A week later, at his next treatment, he told me he had gone down with flu the next day, had been off work, had never felt so ill and was only just starting to feel better.

I have to confess, I did say 'I told you so'. The temptation was just too much.

The feet never lie.

Reflexology Chart

Place the middle finger of each hand gently on the reflex point on the inside of each heel and hold for a while until the feeling is the same through each finger. It may feel like a 'fizzy' pulse which will become synchronised after a few seconds. It can be more comfortable to cross the hands over to hold the points.

www.reflexologymiltonkeynes.co.uk

Reiki & Reflexology

2007-03-01T22:07:00.000Z

I often combine Reiki with Reflexology, particularly when the client is suffering from a specific, localised problem. The results can be very beneficial. I cut the reflexology treatment short by about 10 minutes, then give Reiki healing directly over the relevant area of the body. Clients are intrigued that they can feel different physical sensations although I am not actually touching them as I do most of my Reiki work in the aura.

I am often asked about 'healing' and find it useful to remember that 'healing' means to make whole and does not actually mean 'to cure'. I read this in John Cross' excellent book Healing with the Chakra Energy System. All his books can be found at http://www.johncrossclinics.com/

Remembering that healers are only the channel for the healing energy and do not do the healing themselves is very important, I believe. It is very hard not to feel excited and in part personally responsible when a client's situation dramatically improves and we all like definite validation of the theory, however strong our beliefs. But staying humble and still being amazed is important too.

I am currently using reflexology and Reiki with a client who is very ill. One of her many problems is a recurring uterine abscess. I saw her for the second time today and she told me that the abscess had broken the day after the first treatment and the pain was greatly relieved. Obviously this could have happened anyway, but we shall see if it recurs as usual or of there is a greater period of relief. http://www.reflexologymiltonkeynes.co.uk/

Stress and Reflexology

2007-02-25T13:43:00.000Z

Although much has been written about stress and the effect of stress on the body, it is really a very vague word. So much can be read into it. People can place so many different meanings on the word, I try not to assume that I know what a client means when they say they are stressed and always ask questions to help me design the treament:-

How do you feel when you know you are stressed?

How do you know when you are more stressed?

How well do you sleep?

How often do you have headaches?

Do you have visual disturbances?

How well do you cope with your work/family commitments?

How do you imagine you would feel if you were not stressed?

How would you like to feel?

There are so many other symptoms that can be attributed to stress and the usual body system questionaire will pick these up - painful shoulders, skin conditions, digestive problems etc.

I had a visit from a client recently who was fairly typical of one type of stress. She would not stop talking! She sat on the edge of her chair, fiddled with her bag, laughed a lot and generally tired me out before we started. This is a very distinctive form of stress and so different from the person who says they are stressed and depressed and have no energy and seem 'slow'.

For this client, I couldn't wait to get her on the treatment couch and calm her down. There is an excellent point on the outside of the foot, just under the ankle bone that is so effective.

The point is UB62 and is the most tranquillising point of the body. Touch the outside ankle bone and run the finger down to just below the ankle bone. The point is in the first depression, about one third of the way before the edge of the heel.

After the usual relaxation moves I held this point gently for about two minutes and came back to it several times during the treatment. I also incorporated the usual diaphragm and adrenal points. The results were outstanding. After the first treatment there was a marked improvement. At the second treatment the client said this feeling of calm had lasted for several days. After several treatments she had forgotten how uptight she had been and now sees me just once a month.

Sciatica and Reflexology

2007-02-13T10:05:00.000Z

I could have smacked him.

A regular long-term client D** complained of sciatica at this visit.

‘Reflexology has been very successful with sciatic pain’, I informed him. I went on to tell him what I would do during the treatment, which would be different from the usual procedure.

I worked really hard across the sciatic loop on the heel for several minutes, several times during the reflexology session. I also worked against the energy flow of the bladder meridian, stroking from the little toe along the side of the foot and up the leg, holding the pressure points around the ankle. I combined this with work on the partner kidney meridian.

After the treatment I explained to D** what I had done and told him about some of the outstanding results from the past. (There’s no harm in a little suggestion therapy).

Then…………..at his next treatment two weeks later when I asked him about the sciatica, he said, ‘Oh that just went away. I don’t know why. These things just come and go don’t they?’

As I said, I could have smacked him.

And after all my hard work, too!

As you can imagine, there then followed a little lecture from yours truly about the efficacy of reflexology in relieving acute sciatic pain.

http://www.reflexologymiltonkeynes.co.uk/

Sinus Pain and Reflexology

2007-02-06T20:40:00.000Z

Wow - It happened again!

Even after giving hundreds of reflexology treatments, I still get a kick when the client's sinuses clear during the treatment. Sinus pain is so miserable it's good that reflexology can help. My client also felt the 'popping' sensation as the sinuses cleared, which often happens.

Amazing, isn't it? There I was working on the feet and the results were felt in the face.

It is such a shame that not all reflexology charts give a clear indication of the position of the sinus reflex points.

I find the most effective point is just under the top pads of the toes, slightly towards the lateral side. It is also helpful to work along the reflex for the Eustachion Tubes on the ridge under the base of the toes.

With inflamed sinuses the point can be felt like a pin head under the thumb. This can be extremely uncomfortable for the client. In my early days I was guilty of inflicting a lot of pain this way, so I have learned to proceed with caution!

To achieve a good result, my experience has been that I need to work gently on the sinus points on the toes, across both feet, for at least two minutes. Then follow on with thumb walking along the ridge under the toes. I repeat this procedure several times during a treatment.

This is such an evident confirmation of the effectiveness of reflexology. I tell all my clients that if reflexology works on blocked sinuses where you can experience the results immediately, it must surely be working just as effectively in other areas where it is not so obvious.

Business Development
Everyone of my clients who came to my house yesterday booked their next appointment. Sometimes as much as 5 0r 6 weeks ahead, but that's no problem. I like to have my diary almost full for at least two weeks in front and booking in my regulars helps this along.

Business development today was non-existent. I was due to work at another of my regular venues, but they closed because of the snow. They kindly cancelled my clients for me, but I need to contact them all today to re-book for next week.

So I had an unexpected day off. I was able to play with the dogs.

Jonti and Echo, Large Munsterlanders, and our visiting snowman. He has no feet, so no business opportunity there.