If you’ve ever had a massage, you know how great it feels to have the tension taken out of your muscles, and how relaxed you feel afterwards. Massages are also known to have some health benefits, such as relieving anxiety, helping with fibromyalgia and digestive orders, soothing headaches, countering insomnia from stress, lowering blood pressure, and more. One type of massage, known as reflexology, has become quite popular and is said to be great for helping to improve blood circulation, increase energy, boost relaxation, eliminate toxins, stimulate nerve energy, prevent migraines, and more
Reflexology is a holistic, alternative medicine practice that has grown in popularity over the last couple of decades or so. In general, reflexology involves applying pressure to specific points, known as zones or reflex areas, on the feet, hands, and ears. The pressure is applied through specialized techniques using the thumb, fingers, and hands. When done correctly, the treatment creates beneficial changes in areas of the body reflected by the areas being massaged.
Normally, reflexology treatments are done by professionals who have studied and trained to be able to perform them. But there are some simple techniques that a person can do on themselves in the comfort of their own homes. This should only be done for treating common ailments to help you feel better. For more important reflexology treatments, a professional should be consulted.
It’s not all that hard to use reflexology to treat yourself for common ailments at home. You can do it on your feet, or even your face. To start, you will want to have quiet, hygenic surroundings. Listening to soothing music to calm the mind and body will help improve healing. Essential oil aromas can also help provide a healing environment. Mild lighting also provides a calming environment. You should also use a comfortable couch or chair. Before each session, drink some water in order to help release toxins.
For your face, you will want to use a special reflexology tool, such as a specialized stone or crystal, that can help you to balance out your yin and yang energy. An excess of one or the other is believed to usually the cause of why you feel a little off. To do the reflexology, start with a dry, clean face. Then take stock of your body as to how you are feeling (Sluggish? Tired? Swollen? Stimulated?). Test your tool against your skin, placing it in different positions, to see which feels best to you. For example, do you feel like you need more yin in one area? Or a little of both? When you have decided which side of the tool feels best, move it along your face, following the curvature horizontally then vertically. Take your time. If your instinct tells you to use both sides (yin and yang), do it. When done, mist your skin and treat it with whichever nutrient lotions you desire.
For the feet, make sure you have studied the correct spots and know the correct pressure amount to use. You may start with whichever foot you prefer. The right foot balances the physical aspects of the left side of the brain and starting with it helps energy to follow the flow of the large intestine, which starts on the right foot and flows out the left foot. The left foot balances the emotional aspects of the right side of the brain, and starting with it allows for balancing of the most receptive part of the brain. This is necessary, otherwise the body may fail to accept stimulation. Whichever you start with, be sure to do both feet to balance your body’s systems.
When you’re done with your treatment, you should to drink a glass of water, and drink extra water for 24 hours to help detoxification. You should also rest to help boost your healing.
