What is Reflexology?
When applied by professionals, this ancient form of massage can aid in several aspects of relaxation, improved wellness, and help with pain relief. Below are seven reflexology benefits and reasons to consider foot reflexology treatment.
Reflexology can flood the neural pathways with relaxation, inducing a state of peace and tranquility within the body and mind. This physiological change results in the reduction of stress. Stress reduction through reflexology therapy is frequently associated with relieving sleep disorders. This is accomplished by helping your body return to a more relaxed and balanced state, simultaneously working to restore a healthy Circadian rhythm, which is needed for sufficient sleep.
Encourages Relaxation
Promotes Nervous System Stimulation
Open neural pathways benefit our central nervous system in a variety of ways. The brain can handle inputs more effectively, essentially speeding up cognitive strengths; thus, increasing the speed of physical reactions, which boosts your memory. Overall, the entire brain can work faster and more efficiently.
Reflexology is often sought after by people in pain, because reflexology can reduce the severity of migraines and headaches by increasing blood flow and relieving muscle tension. Since stress and psychological factors often manifest themselves as migraine symptoms, stress-induced headaches can also be eliminated.
Relieves Migraines and Headaches
Revitalizes Nerve Function
Nerve endings lose sensitivity in parts of our body as we age (more so in the extremities). Reflexology has been associated with the stimulation of more than 7,000 different nerve endings during a 1-hour session, naturally increasing nerve functioning and reactivity. The opening and cleansing of neural pathways helps improve overall functionality and reduces toxicity within the body.
Probably the most well-known and verified results of reflexology is an improvement in circulation throughout the entire body, which means blood and oxygen are being cycled throughout the body more effectively.
Due to this benefit, oxygen reaches vital organ systems, optimizing their function and increasing metabolism.
Improves Circulation
Increases Energy Levels
By aligning functions of organ and muscle systems, reflexology has the potential to increase metabolism and energy creation. In other words, reflexology sessions can help to re-energize your body and mind.
Reflexology can help ease the pain and discomfort caused by plantar fasciitis. Reflexology is beneficial as it uses pressure point techniques to release tension, relieving the heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis. A natural cure for plantar fasciitis is a professional foot massage
Relieves Plantar Fasciitis Pain
The addition of reflexology treatments to your health and wellness plan can significantly influence your daily life and well-being.
Pain relief, nerve stimulation, blood flow, migraine relief, and so much more can be achieved through reflexology. And in the absence of abnormalities, reflexology may be as effective for promoting better health and preventing illness, as it may be for relieving the symptoms of stress, injury and improving your mood.
The prolonged neglect of our feet only adds to the list of aches, pains, and potential medical issues as we age. Adding frequent reflexology foot massages to your health and wellness strategy can result in tremendous, short, and long-term benefits.
How does reflexology differ from massage, Reiki, or acupuncture?
Many people confuse reflexology with massage, Reiki, or acupuncture there are essential differences between these therapies. Massage therapists manipulate larger areas of soft tissue in the body while reflexologists apply pressure to specific points on the feet, hands, and ears.
Unlike either massage or reflexology, Reiki does not involve any physical manipulation or pressure, but instead uses light touch to work with the subtle vibrational field thought to surround the body. Finally, while acupuncture and acupressure, like reflexology, use reflex points on the body to influence other parts of the body, the points are not the same and acupuncture uses points over the entire body.
While these are different practices entirely, one thing they all have in common is that they are sometimes used to help manage symptoms associated with stress.
What does reflexology do?
Although reflexology is not used to diagnose or cure disease, millions of people around the world use it to complement other treatments when addressing conditions like anxiety, asthma, cancer treatment, cardiovascular issues, diabetes, headaches, kidney function, PMS, and sinusitis.
"During the Covid pandemic I was diagnosed with stress related colitis. I had already been suffering from plantar fasciitis, needing custom orthotics, and had regular morning foot pain. I sought out the help specifically for the foot pain, and it was suggested to me to try reflexology. Because it was to address the foot pain, I decided to give it a shot. I was not aware that reflexology was more than a “foot massage”, that it involved pressure points for the whole body, and that it could also help with my colitis as well. Wow! After only two treatments with Nika, I couldn’t believe the difference. Not only did I relax, and “go to my special place” during the treatment, as I put it, but the foot became less sensitive, the pain in the foot subsided, and my colitis issues diminished as well. Reflexology is so much more than just about the feet."
- Gyula, Toronto, On
