Body Talk

Craniosacral

 

Reflexology

Reflexology is the study of reflexes. Reflexology Therapy is a natural therapeutic method based on the principle that there are reflexes in the feet, hands, and ears that correspond to every part, gland, and organ of the body.

Reflexology is an energy medicine. When the reflexes are accessed with specific finger techniques, energy is stimulated throughout the body, clearing away blockages and actual physical deposits that can be felt in the skin. Reflexology not only effects the state of balance and health of the body, but also the mental and emotional states, assisting in releasing negativity and trapped emotions.

What will it do for me?

Through application of pressure on reflex points, using specific hand and finger techniques, Reflexology Therapy relieves tension, improves circulation, and supports the body’s efforts to function optimally.

The physical act of applying such pressure results in stress reduction causing a physiological change in the body. Essentially, Reflexology Therapy helps to balance the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of your whole body.

What are the health benefits of Reflexology?

• facilitates the body to heal and normalize itself naturally, without adverse side effects
• therapeutically reduces stress and tension throughout the whole body
• has been shown to be effective in the reduction of anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances
• has been shown to improve the quality of life in cancer patients during chemotherapy
• restores a sense of well being and health
• eases pain and discomfort
• has a positive effect on PMS
• enhances vitality
• promotes relaxation and improves sleep
• improves circulation
• improves movement of lymph and lymph drainage
• boosts and strengthens the immune system
• helps the release of toxins from the body
• improves the body's absorption of nutrients
• helps prime the body to better accept other treatments like acupuncture and chiropractic
• relieves stress from parts of the body that are too painful to be directly worked on, such as whiplash

In general, Reflexology Therapy facilitates optimum functioning of all the systems of the body. It is in these ways that Reflexology supports the body in its process of healing and maintaining optimum health. From around the world, scientific research has shown that Reflexology is effective in helping a diverse range of health conditions: PMS, kidney stones, constipation, childbirth, arthritis, internal pain, tension headaches, the pain suffered by persons with terminal cancer, diabetes type II, and fibromyalgia, among others.

Reflexology is a very effective complement to other natural health therapies:

• Chiropractic – Reflexology facilitates more effective chiropractic adjustments that hold for longer
• Body work – Reflexology complements massage and other physical therapies by reducing stress and tension in the internal glands and organs of the body
• Nutrition – Reflexology complements nutritional, herbal, and colon therapies by facilitating more efficient absorption and elimination in the digestive system
• Acupuncture – Reflexology helps the body to be more open and receptive to the treatment

Are there side effects?

Reflexology helps the body to normalize itself and its functions. What could be seen as side effects are the release of toxins as the body detoxifies in the act of restoring its natural balance. Any discomforts that may be experienced after the first few sessions are the organs of elimination working to benefit the body.

Possible short term discomforts include:

• sweating at night, in extreme cases a slight skin rash
• increase of elimination, flatulence
• increased urination
• fatigue

What does a session consist of?

In the first session you and your practitioner have a preliminary discussion about the intake form you complete prior to the session. This is to enable your practitioner to focus more accurately on your specific concerns and to determine the appropriate treatment.

• Please ensure your feet are washed prior to every session before coming to the clinic.
• At the start of every treatment a weak solution of witch–hazel and water is used as an antiseptic on both feet.
• Relaxing music is available for you during the session.
• As the clinic is a 100% scent free environment, no aromatherapy is used.

How long is a session?

Foot Reflexology sessions are 50 minutes, ear Reflexology sessions are 30 minutes, and the ear Reflexology craniosacral fusion sessions are 60 minutes.

How many sessions does it take?

It's usually good to start by scheduling two sessions a week for the first couple of weeks then once a week after that. For chronic conditions at least three months are needed for improvement plus at least one additional month for every year the condition has persisted. For optimum general good health and preventative measures, one session a month is optimal.

Reflexology Therapy and the Immune System

Reflexology Therapy helps bolster the body’s immune defence, as it has been shown that adults and children get fewer colds and flus when they receive treatment. The immune system operates in harmony with all the other bodily systems to maintain its own lines of defense, so the body holistically must be working well in order for the immune system to do its job. It also functions at its best when stress is successfully reduced and managed from day to day. Only when the body is well balanced is a person in good shape to maintain a functioning healthful state. Reflexology is calming to the nervous system and reduces stress in the body. It also boosts the production of endorphins which are needed by the immune cell receptors to function properly.

The lymph system is also stimulated with Reflexology Therapy, allowing the lymph to carry immune cells and nutrients throughout the body and to remove excess fluid. The lymph needs to be able to flow in order for the immune system to function. Lymph does not have its own propulsion system, so it is dependent on the person getting up to move around sufficiently. For those who can’t get up and move around like they used to, Reflexology Therapy assists in the task of lymph movement and drainage.

Reflexology Therapy and Mental Health

Reflexology Therapy can positively effect mental health due to its impact on the nervous system, blood circulation throughout the body, elimination of toxins, boosting metabolism, and boosting endorphin production. Reflexology restores mental alertness and improves the attention span. By reducing tensions and calming the mind, it is easier to think freely, come up with best ideas, and work longer and with greater clarity while doing difficult tasks, thus stimulating creativity and productivity.

Stimulating the nerves, opening neural pathways, and helping to improve the functionality and flexibility of nerves and other cells in the body not only induces a state of calm throughout the body and mind, assisting with anxiety and ADHD, it also allows for information to flow much faster and more effectively to the brain, which helps one to have faster cognitive function, improved physical reactions, and boosts memory. This also helps to improve sleep disorders such as insomnia and helps the body to attain balanced, healthy circadian rhythms.

The most well-known benefit of Reflexology Therapy is an improvement in the flow of blood circulation throughout the body. This means that oxygen gets cycled and delivered more efficiently to the brain and the vital organ systems, which function more optimally. This is important for all the body systems, as a low functioning area will negatively impact the brain. The increase in oxygen also has a positive impact on the body’s healing and ability to grow new cells.

Improved circulation also leads to better efficiency of the body to eliminate toxins and wastes. In our ever-present stressful world there are more environmental toxins than ever before. Some, we have no way of controlling, so having assistance with helping the body in this function is incredibly important. When toxins and wastes are managed appropriately, the body is able to work more efficiently.