Improve Blood Circulation and Sleep Better with The Science of Reflexology (How-To Guide Included)

Few people are familiar with reflexology, a type of massage that has remarkable health benefits for the central nervous system and immune system. Many people who experience occasional or chronic insomnia use reflexology to help them unwind and sleep better at night.

Although you can do reflexology exercises on yourself, having someone else do them is usually more beneficial, particularly when using the feet. These two reflexology exercises can improve the quality of sleep you or a loved one gets at night.

 

Reflexology Exercises for Insomnia

This first Reflexology exercise is performed on the feet.

1. Have the person you are performing the Reflexology exercise on lay down, relax and close their eyes.
2. Tell them to start breathing slowly and deeply, being sure to use their stomach instead of their chest to breathe in so that they get a full breath into their diaphragm.
3. Find the middle of the foot, and move up 2 inches or so (1 inch in children or in those with smaller feet) until you reach the middle of the foot about an inch or inch-and-a-half below the bottom of the toes. You’ll be able to feel the center point or “diaphragm area” of the foot as you press in.
4. As the person breathes in deeply, relax the pressure on the diaphragm area of the foot.
5. As they breathe out slowly, push slowly and firmly onto the diaphragm area of the foot.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for 1 to 10 minutes as the person continues to take deep breaths in and out until the person is completely relaxed or asleep.

This second Reflexology exercise is performed on the ear. This exercise can easily be done on yourself.

1. Lay down in bed and relax, closing your eyes.
2. Work to breathe in and out deeply and fully from the diaphragm.
3. Find the “Insomnia 1” point for Reflexology on your ear. The best way to locate this point is to put your finger where you would have an ear piercing on the upper part of your ear. The Reflexology point is not on the curved part of your ear, though; it’s on the inner flat part of your ear next to the curve.
4. Hold the “Insomnia 1” point of your ear, squeezing it somewhat firmly between two fingers for a minute or so, and then release.
5. Repeat step 4 for 1 to 5 minutes.

Insomnia is a serious problem for many these days, but by making improvements in lifestyle and diet, and by adding in relaxation exercises such as the ones listed above, insomnia can be cured.

As with any exercise, it’s important to consult a physician before beginning a Reflexology program, as some health conditions aren’t conducive to Reflexology techniques. For those able to use a Reflexology program, however, it can have tremendous overall health benefits to the body.

 

Source:

http://www.how-to-do-reflexology.com/reflexologysleepingtechnique.html

http://goodnurture.blogspot.com/2012/01/reflexology-for-insomnia-and-better.html

http://thescienceofeating.com/2015/08/18/improve-blood-circulation-and-sleep-better-with-the-science-of-reflexology-how-to-guide-included/

 

 

 

10 Science-Proven Benefits of Massaging Your Feet Before Bed (From diabetes to insomnia)

It's likely that you would be highly skeptical if I told you that massaging your feet could cure your sore neck or help your liver function better. You're probably surprised by it if you're not skeptical of it, and if you're not surprised, you've probably heard of reflexology.

Through the stimulation of pressure points on the hands and feet, reflexology is a therapeutic approach to reducing pain and enhancing overall health. You can still benefit from this therapy if you perform it on your own, even though most people seek the services of a professional reflexologist for it. However, I'll first go over all the advantages reflexology can offer you, as well as the reasons it works, before I demonstrate how to apply it to yourself.

How Does Reflexology Work?

Reflexology is a type of science based on the idea that there are “zones” or reflex areas on the hands and feet that correspond with all of the glands, organs, parts and systems found inside or on the body.

According to the idea of reflexology, applying pressure to these points using specific thumb, finger and hand techniques results in a reduction of stress in the body. This reduction of stress is said to promote many positive physiological changes that can heal a number of ailments.

There are studies that have seen a correlation between reflexology and improved symptoms of certain ailments. These include eight randomized clinical trials which found that reflexology was effective for treating diabetes, premenstrual syndrome, cancer, multiple sclerosis, symptomatic idiopathic detrusor over-activity and dementia.

Benefits of Reflexology

Although one of the best benefits of reflexology is it’s ability to help treat or cure certain harmful ailments, it can also benefit relatively healthy people as well. Here are some other ways that reflexology can help you:

• Stimulates nerve function
• Increases energy
• Boosts circulation
• Eliminates toxins
• Prevents migraines
• Cleans urinary tract
• Speeds up recovery time from injuries
• Treats sleep disorders
• Reduces depression
• Relieves pain

Reflexology also allows you to target specific points on your body by using the same principles of acupressure.

 

Reflexology Foot Massage

Now that you know about all the ways that reflexology can benefit your health, I am going to show you how to perform it on yourself with this simple foot massage!

1. The first thing you are going to do is sit on a comfortable but solid chair. Lift up one foot and rest it on the kneeof your opposite leg so that you can easily rub and massage the bottom of that foot. Make sure to keep your back straight and not to slouch.
2. Next, you need take a look at your Acupressure Foot Chart (click here) and identify what part of your body that you want to treat. For example, if you are having neck pain, find the number that the “neck” area is listed as. Then find the corresponding area of your foot located on the chart that is labelled with the same number. This is the area of the foot that you will be manipulating.
3. Once you have found the area of the foot that you will be applying pressure on, use the tip of your thumb to press and knead that area deeply for between 1-2 minutes. Then repeat this with the opposite foot and the opposite thumb.
4. Repeat this process for any other area on your body that you want to treat.

You can perform this type of massage daily. However, these pressure points will adapt to the stimulation that you are putting them through and eventually it will not be as effective. Therefor, after every 10 days of consecutive reflexology you should take a 3-4 day break to allow the pressure points tolerance to decrease.

Try this method out if you have any aches, pains or ailments that you are currently experiencing, and let us know about your experience with reflexology in the comment section.

References:
http://reflexology-usa.org/information/downloads-online-resources/defining-reflexology/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21111551
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/other/benefits-of-reflexology.html
http://www.chinese-holistic-health-exercises.com/foot-massage-techniques.html
http://www.chinese-holistic-health-exercises.com/support-files/reflexologyfootchart.pdf

Press These Points On Your Baby’s Feet To Make Them Stop Crying Immediately

Reflexology is a traditional Chinese cultural practice that dates back thousands of years. But it has recently gained a lot of recognition in the West as a valid medical procedure that can be used to treat a wide range of physical conditions.

Reflexology is an ideal method for soothing babies because it's likely the safest and most natural form of treatment out there. Babies will frequently react to physical pain by crying because they are unable to express to you what is bothering them. Reflexology offers a useful method for figuring out what your baby is going through as well as how to address it.

Reflexology Foot Guide for Babies

Babies are said to be much more responsive to reflexology than full-grown adults. This is mainly because they are more receptive to physical touch in general. When a baby or child is in distress, it is our natural response to comfort them physically by holding them, rubbing their back etc. This makes reflexology the perfect treatment for them.

 

Reflexology is the application of pressure to certain points on the body, mainly focused on the feet. This is said to help treat a variety of health problems associated with their corresponding body parts. The above guide shows these body parts, and which area of the baby’s feet that affect them.

 

Head/Teeth

To treat problems involving the head and teeth, the tips of the toes are the parts of the foot that need to be rubbed. This is great for treating many health issues that occur above the neck, such as ear infections. It is especially helpful when the baby is teething, as performing reflexology on the tips of the toes can help to reduce the pain caused by this.

 

Sinuses

The area on the foot associated with sinuses is in the center of the “Head/Teeth” area, similar to the placement of the sinuses in our heads, which is right in the center. Applying pressure to the center of a child’s toes can help reduce the severity of a variety of sinus problems ranging from a runny nose to the common cold and other respiratory problems. Although this is by no means a cure for any illness, it is said to reduce their symptoms and make them more bearable.

 

Chest

The chest area on the feet is the top of the foot that touches the ground, above the arch. Performing reflexology on this area provides similar effects to the sinus area, in that it relieves congestion. However, this area relieves congestion in the chest rather than the sinuses, making it effective for treating chronic coughs or colds that cause phlegm build ups. In fact, several studies have found reflexology to be very effective at reducing all forms of congestion.

 

Solar Plexus

The solar plexus is a complex collection of nerves located between the stomach and the lungs. It is hard to narrow down the cause of solar plexus pain due to its location and variety of nerve endings, however it can be treated by performing reflexology near the upper area of the arch of the foot. This is the area right before the arch ends and the foot meets the ground.

 

Upper & Lower Abdomen

The area of the foot that corresponds with the abdomen is the entire arch of the foot. The upper abdomen correlates with the upper half of the arch. Performing reflexology on this area of the baby’s foot can help with digestive issues such as bowel obstruction and heartburn.

 

The lower abdomen correlates with the lower half of the arch. Performing reflexology on this area can help with post-digestive issues such as constipation and bloating, which may be factors behind your baby’s discomfort.

 

Pelvis

The heels of a baby’s foot corresponds with their pelvic area. Issues that commonly effect the pelvic area of a baby include muscle tightness and postural problems. This can be treated by applying pressure to the heel area of the foot.

 

In conclusion, remember that reflexology is only effective at reducing pain caused by certain conditions and other specific symptoms such as congestion. It is by no means a “cure-all” for certain diseases and should not replace proper medical attention that your baby would require if suffering from a serious condition. It is simply meant to increase their comfort, as well as yours, during periods of pain and stress.

5 Reasons to Put Essential Oils on the Bottom of Your Feet

Why do we apply essential oils to our foot soles? Oiling the bottoms of the feet is a growing trend because it frequently goes hand in hand with foot reflexology.

There are at least five significant advantages to using therapeutic-grade essential oils in this area.

 

Oils Delivered Faster Through The Bottom of your Feet

The pores are thicker on the sole of the foot and our legs act like straws sucking up the compounds quickly into the bloodstream. If applied all over the bottom of the foot, the oil can be detected in every cell of the body within 20 minutes!

 

The soles of the feet and the palms of the hand are the only sites on our body without Sebaceous Glands.

Since Sebum is an oily substance it would actually further “shield” the body from absorption of anything. Since the palms and the soles do not secrete sebum, they are more ready to absorb oil.  Do not want to apply oils on “sweaty” hands or feet. Dry them off first so that the EO is not repelled by the water.

 

REFLEXOLOGY!

Every nerve line in the body ends in the feet.  According to research, each foot has 7,200 nerve endings. Did you know that? In most reflexology systems, the big toe represents the brain and head. The next two toes represent the eyes, and the next two toes represent the ears. The top third of the sole is our chest, the mid third is our stomach and digestive system… it can get very intricate, but is SO cool. No wonder we apply oils to our feet- our feet represent our entire body!

 

Less Irritation and Sensitivities

Also, the safety is high when oils are administered on the bottom of the feet with a lower risk of skin irritation and sensitivities. The skin on the soles of the feet are less sensitive than the skin throughout the rest of the body, allowing us to use even the “hotter” oils (oregano, thyme, citrus oils…) here without the need for dilution.

 

Bypass the Liver

When using the foot application, the oils will be bypassing the liver and will not accumulate there.  Instead of being processed by the liver, the oils reach the lower bronchial capillaries via the circulator system and the entire organism unprocessed.

References:

• Menon GK, Cleary GW, Lane ME. The structure and function of the stratum corneum. International Journal of Pharmaceutics. 2012;435(1):3-9.
• Graham-Brown R, Burns T. Lecture Notes: Dermatology. 9th ed. Oxford, England: Wiley-Blackwell; 2007.
• Andrews SN, Jeong E, Prausnitz MR. Transdermal delivery of molecules is limited by full epidermis, not just stratum corneum. Pharm Res. 2013;30(4):1099-1109.