Reflexology is an ancient healing practice that involves application of pressure on reflex points in the feet that correspond to organs, glands and different parts of the body. The roots of this therapy can be traced back to Egypt where historians have found sketches of men giving foot massage to each other perhaps as a form of medicinal treatment. Reflexology is used to treat different ailments like headaches, nausea, lower back pain, irritable bowel syndrome, premenstrual syndrome, diabetes, asthma and dementia. Research has shown that reflexology can also be used to alleviate pain and anxiety in cancer patients, especially those undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Some reflexologists also claim that reflexology can help identify tender spots at specific locations in the feet which can lead to diagnosis of several medical illnesses.
Unlike other therapies, reflexology is a non-invasive and holistic treatment that is well established in modern science and is a respected field in complementary medicine. Today, it is widely accepted as a complementary treatment to be used alongside conventional medicine to speed up the process of healing. The reflexologists are skilled in identifying spots in hands and feet where pressure needs to be applied. Although reflexology is not a massage, there is a certain way of applying pressure using fingers, thumbs and hands, and reflexologists are trained in this technique.
Reflexology works on the principle that congestion or tension in any part of the feet will mirror the same tension in a corresponding part of the body. The treatment aims to restore vital systems of the human body so it can function in a healthier way. Reflexology has many benefits and long-lasting effects, and is considered a safe treatment. Reflexology can work at many levels from calming and soothing the patient to boosting their entire body function or treating them for specific illnesses.
The pressure applied through the fingers helps in stimulating the nerve endings in the foot which send signals through nerve pathways to the nervous system. Here, they are processed and filtered to work on the corresponding body part or organ which the reflexologist intends to target. Like any other treatment, reflexologists need to examine the patients first and take down their medical history. Then a treatment plan is devised before the therapy is given to the patient.
Why reflexology works better than other therapies is because it focuses on the entire person and not just a single body part. Reflexology works on addressing the cause of the disease rather than the symptom which is why it is so effective. This holistic approach addresses all the problems that are going on in a person’s body rather than dissecting his illnesses in sections. Most diseases can have multiple causes, that is why it is so important to cater for all those reasons. If the person is not cured completely, the illness is likely to return. The very concept of reflexology is based on this understanding, and the patients who have received this therapy have recovered much faster from illnesses as compared to others who have been given conventional medications.
