Reflexology

Reflexology is a method for activating the healing powers of the body. It is an ancient method developed into a modern scientific treatment. It is based on the principle that there are energy pathways that run longitudinally through the body, passing through all major organs, glands and body parts. These pathways on their route through the body pass through the feet.

It is therefore possible to map the body’s anatomy on the feet with reflex areas that correspond to all parts. Also, the feet have 7,000 nerve endings, and so by applying pressure to the feet as in a reflexology treatment, it stimulates these reflexes and nerve endings. This opens and clears any blockages in the energy and neural pathways allowing a free flow of energy to all body parts, balancing the body and stimulating its own natural healing process.

Some of the benefits of reflexology for everybody are that it:

• Reduces stress and brings about deep relaxation
• Improves circulation
• Activates the body's own immune defence system
• Assists the body in cleansing itself of toxins and impurieties
• Assists in lymphatic drainage
• Clears blockages in the energy pathways allowing a free flow of energy to all parts of the body
• Balances the whole body - physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually
• And is excellent as a preventative health care treatment

Reflexology is a wonderful therapy to use during pregnancy. It will not interfere with the viability of the pregnancy, however some clients prefere to wait untill after the twelfth week to begin treatments.   

Some of the benefits of reflexology in pregnancy are that it:

• Reduces morning sickness and vomiting that persists past the first three months of pregnancy. (Reflexology is recomended by the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, Dublin for this proplem.)
• Helps to relieve indigestion, lower back pain, haemorrhoids and constipation.
• Prepares the body for labour by balancing all the body systems, especially the endocrine system (hormonal system) which governs the labour process.
• After labour can help to expel a retained placenta, can promote rapid healing, will encourage breast milk production, and can help relieve urinary (water) retention.

Reflexology is also very benefical to people living with or recovering from cancer. Treatments are generally not started untill after the third chemotherapy treatment and are always carried out with the consent of the oncologist.

Some of the benefits of reflexology for people living with or recovering from cancer are that it:

• Helps to reduce stress and anixiety
• Encourages restful sleep and reduces fatigue
• Can help build up the immune system, particularly helpful after chemotherapy treatments
• Promotes lymph drainage, helping where lymph nodes are removed and lymphoedema