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Go Back   Spiritual Forums > Complementary Therapies & Traditional Medicine > Reflexology

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  #1  
Old 06-02-2011, 03:15 AM
Deusdrum Deusdrum is offline
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Reflexology. You Love it.

Hello Reflexology area, I see you are feeling lonely, being the only section without use.

There there. I have come to spread the good word of reflexology to all, and ensure that you will have your voice heard, and enter into the Forums, and be left out no more!

Being as how i really have only vague impressions, i will resort to using wikipedia to enlighten us as to what you are all about..

"Reflexology (zone therapy) is an alternative medicine, complementary, or integrated medicine method of treatment involving the physical act of applying pressure to the feet and hand with specific thumb, finger and hand techniques without the use of oil or lotion. It is based on what reflexologists claim to be a system of zones and reflex areas that they say reflect an image of the body on the feet and hands, with the premise that such work effects a physical change to the body.[1] A 2009 systematic review of randomised controlled trials concluded that "The best evidence available to date does not demonstrate convincingly that reflexology is an effective treatment for any medical condition."[2]
The Reflexology Association of Canada defines reflexology as:
"A natural healing art based on the principle that there are reflexes in the feet, hands and ears and their referral areas within zone related areas, which correspond to every part, gland and organ of the body. Through application of pressure on these reflexes without the use of tools, crèmes or lotions, the feet being the primary area of application, reflexology relieves tension, improves circulation and helps promote the natural function of the related areas of the body."[3] There is no consensus among reflexologists on how reflexology is supposed to work; a unifying theme is the idea that areas on the foot correspond to areas of the body, and that by manipulating these one can improve health through one's qi.[4] Reflexologist say that the body is divided into ten equal vertical zones, five on the right and five on the left. There are also three transverse lines, the upper region of the shoulder girdle, the waistline, and the pelvic floor.[5] Concerns have been raised by medical professionals that treating potentially serious illnesses with reflexology, which has no proven efficacy, could delay the seeking of appropriate medical treatment.[6] Reflexology is proposed by reflexologists as a complementary therapy and should not replace medical treatment.[7] A systematic review of the efficacy of reflexology found one study showing a statistically significant effect in the treatment of urinary symptoms in multiple sclerosis patients. All other conditions reviewed in this study showed no evidence of any specific effect.[8]"


Very interesting. I wonder if the zones correlate at all with acupuncture meridians.
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  #2  
Old 06-02-2011, 03:37 AM
Deusdrum Deusdrum is offline
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Well Deusdrum, if you would have read down in the wikipedia article a bit, your question would have been answered. Apparently reflexology has a good long history, spanning both time and place.

"
Various versions of reflexology have been practised. This has been documented on four continents: Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America. The most common theory is that the earliest form of reflexology originated in China, as much as 5000 years ago. The early Taoists are described as having originated many Chinese health practises.
The Cherokee tribes of North America practise a form of reflexology that they pass from generation to generation.[citation needed]
Reflexology travelled across India, Japan, and China. Traditional East Asian foot reflexology is called Zoku Shin Do in Japanese. This is the foot portion of the Japanese massage technique. The roots of Zoku Shin Do go back to China over 5000 years ago.[citation needed]
Many changes took place in zone therapy, or reflexology, over the years. In China, the practice of acupressure using the fingers turned into the practice of acupuncture using needles. The belief in the reflex points still existed, but the practise was taken in a new direction with a new theory of claimed meridians. The Chinese concept of meridian therapy is a fundamental part of the claims of reflexology.[11]
The precise relationship between the ancient version practiced by the early Egyptians and reflexology as we know it today is unclear because different practices involving the manipulation of the feet in an attempt to affect health have been used throughout the world.
The precursor of current reflexology was introduced to the United States in 1913 by William H. Fitzgerald, M.D. (1872–1942), an ear, nose, and throat specialist, and Dr. Edwin Bowers. Fitzgerald claimed that applying pressure had an anesthetic effect on other areas of the body.[12]
Reflexology was further modified in the 1930s and 1940s by Eunice D. Ingham (1889–1974), a nurse and physiotherapist.[13][14] Ingham claimed that the feet and hands were especially sensitive, and mapped the entire body into "reflexes" on the feet. It was at this time that "zone therapy" was renamed reflexology.
Reflexologists in the United States and the United Kingdom often study Ingham's theories first, although there are also more recently created methods.["
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  #3  
Old 06-02-2011, 07:14 AM
Adrienne Adrienne is offline
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hello Deusdrum, how very nice of you to pay a visit to Reflexology. Do you mind if I join you in conversation ?

I was wondering when someone would post something here ? No longer have to wonder !

I find this an interesting topic, and would be interested in learning more. I was in a bookstore once and saw a chart, 4 pages to be exact, of this reflexology map. Very interesting, and since I hear the question in your mind ~ a 4 page chart ? I will answer it. Yes, it was for the hands and the feet, which surprised me to start with as I had always thought, reflexology was just talking about feet. Then it goes further, and gives maps of the front and backs of each hand, yes there are differences. And it also gives maps for, yes you guessed it ! front and backs of each foot. Let me tell you I was momentarily lost looking at all these maps !

Just think of the possibility of being able to massage these certain areas to regain health in other parts of the body. Amazing !

blessings,
Dream Angel xx
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  #4  
Old 06-02-2011, 07:26 AM
Deusdrum Deusdrum is offline
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Dream Angel - Happy to have you, more than welcome, thanks for joining in.

I had a neighbour once that was a reflexology practitioner. I think feet are underestimated in terms of importance. Hands too. (which ididnt know had anything to do with it either) They are what support us, carry us around, bear our full weight, allow movement within our physical environment. Makes perfect sense to me, to massage them, learn how to keep them healthy, aligned or whathaveyou.

After reading that wikipedia entry, was surprised to see how long reflexology has been around, in its various manifestations. 5ooo years, apparently. Must be something to it if it is still with us today.
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  #5  
Old 06-02-2011, 07:35 AM
Adrienne Adrienne is offline
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Thank you Deusdrum. You are right about the importance of the hands and feet, and making sense to take good care of them for many reasons. You don't realize how important even the smallest part is, such as a thumb until you don't have the use of it. I had my hand in a cast and didn't realize how much one needed the use, particularily of the thumb, until it wasn't being used, temporarily for me. I was so happy to get that cast off !

Yes, I too, was amazed about how long reflexology has been practiced. I wonder why it is that we don't hear more about it ? hmm, conflict with the medical doctors and their treatments ? Would be so nice if some of these practices would work together with one another, don't you think ?
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  #6  
Old 06-02-2011, 08:08 AM
Deusdrum Deusdrum is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dream Angel
Thank you Deusdrum. You are right about the importance of the hands and feet, and making sense to take good care of them for many reasons. You don't realize how important even the smallest part is, such as a thumb until you don't have the use of it. I had my hand in a cast and didn't realize how much one needed the use, particularily of the thumb, until it wasn't being used, temporarily for me. I was so happy to get that cast off !

Yes, I too, was amazed about how long reflexology has been practiced. I wonder why it is that we don't hear more about it ? hmm, conflict with the medical doctors and their treatments ? Would be so nice if some of these practices would work together with one another, don't you think ?

Thumbs are important for sure. Their opposibility ( i dont think thats a word..) Hope your thumb is in good health now.

Yeah it would be nice if the medical establishment could incorporate some tried and true "alternative" therapies. I think there is a sort of arrogance to how the structure is set up, as if doctors and hospitals have some sort of authority over health. Obviously not always the case, but even the mentality that a doctor automatically knows what's best for his patient is somewhat misguided, imo. Of course it depends upon the doctor, but a more equal relationship would be beneficial.

A doctor once asked me if i was still having trouble getting to sleep. I said no, i was sleeping fine at night. So i had my checkup, and at the end he wrote me up a prescription for some kind of medication for insomnia lol

I looked the medication up online when i got home, and read nothing but negative responses from people who had taken it, so decided to flush them down the toilet, which btw is i now understand the wrong thing to do, as it gets into the water system. (Maybe should have occurred to me from the beginning that probably wasn't a good idea.)

Anyways, i am now considering maybe giving myself some foot massages. Love a good foot bath also. Good to keep those extremities warm i think. Also want to try an acupuncture session. I know a girl in town who does it, would like to see what it does, what its all about exactly. My friend seemed to think it was pretty good.
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  #7  
Old 06-02-2011, 08:24 AM
Adrienne Adrienne is offline
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Yes, my thumb is in good health thanks. Which makes me wonder now that we are talking about this... maybe I should check that map and see what other problems may be associated with the thumb , in regards to reflexology? I have to find where I put that map first, lol !

Quote:
A doctor once asked me if i was still having trouble getting to sleep. I said no, i was sleeping fine at night. So i had my checkup, and at the end he wrote me up a prescription for some kind of medication for insomnia lol
he wasn't even listening to you ! Just listening to some of the warnings on medicines makes you wonder.... why take it in the first place ? I am thinking of something I heard on tv, can't remember the medicine name, but think it was something to aid you in sleeping. But after listening to all the warnings, who needs the sleep ?

Foot bath sound good, massage too. Peppermint lotion soothes the feet.

I have wondered about acupuncture, let me know how it goes if you go. Two questions I guess I would have, do the needles hurt ? and do they clean the needles between patients ? I would certainly hope so, but how does one really know ? Guess the best thing there is to know and trust the person/ place you are going to.
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  #8  
Old 06-02-2011, 12:47 PM
pre-dawn
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Deusdrum
Yeah it would be nice if the medical establishment could incorporate some tried and true "alternative" therapies. I think there is a sort of arrogance to how the structure is set up, as if doctors and hospitals have some sort of authority over health. Obviously not always the case, but even the mentality that a doctor automatically knows what's best for his patient is somewhat misguided, imo. Of course it depends upon the doctor, but a more equal relationship would be beneficial.
Be careful what you wish for. Your paragraph points to the reason why we should be careful.

An alternative is called such because it is an alternative. Once the medical establishment appropriates it and takes it under its wings it will cease to be alternative. The doctors, hospitals, FDA, government, etc. will control it and will try to get maximum $$$ out of it.

IMO, to have the medical profession accepting alternative therapies will be a disaster, for the practitioner, the clients, and your pocket.

In order to stay alternative it has to remain truly alternative in all respects.
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  #9  
Old 07-02-2011, 03:37 PM
LightFilledHeart
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I've been working long distance with an amazing healer who works with angels, asecended masters, and the subject's Higher Self. Primarily he is guided to make alterations deep within the person's energy body, including pin-pointing the source of past or present life trauma and clearing those out. Sometimes he will recommend something you can do physically on your own, and the last time I worked with him it was a reference to reflexology. He recommened I stimulate a point on the foot to bring energy up the leg I was having pain in, and it has definitely been helping. Have you ever wondered why you want your feet rubbed when another part of the body aches or is in distress? I think it is because we unconsciously know that stimulation of reflexology points on the foot effect and bring healing to other parts of the body
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  #10  
Old 24-02-2011, 03:07 AM
Roselove Roselove is offline
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I <3 reflexology, great to get your energy flowing!
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