Self Healing with Reflexology

​Reflexology is a complementary therapy which works on the feet or hands. The earliest evidence of Reflexology dates to ancient Egypt (2500BC) where there is pictorial evidence of practitioners working on the hands and feet of people.
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Reflexology works on the basis that every part of the feet (or hands) corresponds to a specific part of the body and during a full treatment, the whole body receives healing.

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During a typical Reflexology session, specific reflex areas corresponding to parts of the body can be worked and although a full treatment with a therapist has the additional benefits of stress reduction and relaxation, it is possible to do a self-healing Reflexology treatment by working these reflex areas yourself usually on the hands.

Hand treatments can be carried out very effectively and can be used conveniently as a self-healing aid without the need for any couch, cream or equipment. They are also easier to reach than the feet.
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The Hand Reflexology diagram identifies points on the hand corresponding to Reflex points on the body and a simple holistic treatment can be done by massaging the whole palm and front and sides of fingers by using ’push and slide’ compression massage which is applying some pressure with the thumb and sliding the thumb along the hand a short way then repeating from the stopping point. Any Reflex points ‘out of balance’ will feel tender and maybe hard or gritty.

​For self-treatment of specific complaints, here are some useful Reflex points:

1. Headaches – Work with compression massage on the base of the thumb which is the Reflex point for the head and brain. Working this point can alleviate headaches, migraine and an overactive mind.
2. Balancing Hormones – Pushing in the mid-point of the base of the thumb balances the pituitary gland which regulates hormones.
3. Neck Stiffness – The bottom half of the thumb below the line is the Reflex point for the neck and working across this point with a ‘push and slide’ compression massage can ease neck stiffness especially when any hard or gritty areas are worked.
4. Shoulder tension – Work the area on the palm of the hand around the base of the 5th finger to help reduce shoulder tension.
5. Backache – Work done the outer side of the thumb continuing down the hand to the wrist.
6. Sinusitis/colds – Compression massage up and down the pads and sides of the fingers can ease pressure on sinuses and pressing and sliding midway across the nail side of the thumb can ease pressure on the nose.
7. Ear imbalances – For ear problems such as tinnitus and dizziness, press gently on a point just beneath the 4th and 5th fingers to work the ear reflex and just beneath the 3rd and 4th fingers to work the Eustachian tube (ears, nose, throat) reflex.
8. Stress – Gently push your thumb in the centre of your palm (or better still, ask someone to do this for you).

Self-treatments on the hands can be done virtually anywhere and provide a simple yet effective form of self-healing. Try it out for yourself and feel the benefits.
 
©Lisa Elmore BSc MAR.