Sunday, March 9, 2008
Reflexology Practice – Moving into the New Millennium
When I entered the arena of reflexology over 19 years ago, I was very aware of how fringe or 'weird' the subject appeared to be to those who were unfamiliar with it. It is a blessing that the subject has now moved from being viewed as 'fringe' to a subject of fascination, and from reflexology being thought of as 'weird', to being recognized as a wonderful (full of wonder) experience.
Complementary vs Alternative
When I came to reflexology in the 1980s the subject seemed to be viewed by the general public as distinctly an 'alternative' option and hence the phraseology that was adopted in many peoples' mind.
As a teacher in the subject for over 11 years, I have seen a real move towards the serious and recognized value of reflexology as a complementary therapy. Reflexology is now recognized as 'complementary' to other types of treatment, rather than as an 'alternative'. This is a good thing as we, as Reflexologists, are not an alternative to anything. We aim to 'complement' everything that our clients are doing to assist themselves. We 'complement' (add to) anyone's actions in order to help them, hence being complementary practitioners.
The practice of reflexology is now accepted alongside a whole range of options that are available to people – as demonstrated by Reflexologists working in GP practices, hospitals, hospices, prisons, physiotherapy practices etc. I have seen students qualify and move into all of these areas of professional practice and many, many more.
Millennium Shift
When I started teaching, I used to say to my students that we were on the crest of the wave, with the wave building and about to break. However, the real shift seemed to take place at the beginning of the new millennium. It brought some wonderful and important realizations and awareness that affected all areas of complementary therapy and specifically reflexology. We can now say that the wave has broken, as reflexology has flowed into all sectors of the community. People from all walks of life will now seek out a professionally qualified Reflexologist. Reflexology is also being found in private practice, charitable sectors and, more recently, within the business communities. Reflexology is as appropriate for men as it is for women, for young or old, for those who are well or unwell. It is truly a holistic therapy that is open to all.
Reflexology Evolving.
The biggest shift has been in the range of ways in which reflexology is practised. We have William Fitzgerald, the American ear, nose and throat surgeon to thank for re-discovering, publicizing and teaching reflexology when he discovered the method of Zone Therapy. He passed his knowledge onto Joe S Riley, who in turn taught 'the mother of reflexology' Eunice D Ingham. Doreen Bailey brought reflexology to the UK in 1966, having trained with Eunice Ingham. She began the first tuition in reflexology in the UK and passed on the principles she had learnt from the USA. Both William Fitzgerald and Eunice Ingham taught that a firm or hard pressure was needed on the reflex points in order to break down the uric acid crystals that had accumulated. The original works of Eunice Ingham give a beautiful account of her exploration of the subject and encourages the reader to explore and become proficient in the art.
Historically, it has become a commonly accepted principle that we need to use force to break down the uric acid crystals before the client can expect a benefit. This method of practice has been followed for many years, and yet I believe that there may be another way. I personally do not like pain and do not like to inflict pain on others either. I believe that there are different methods of using reflexology according to each individual. I believe that there is no specifically right or wrong way, just the right way for each person or practitioner. Some people prefer a firm pressure in order to feel that something is happening, and yet others are more likely to benefit from a subtle and gentle method. This was understood and taught by Joyce Graham from Aylesbury, a gifted nurse, who even as early as the 1970s began passing on the softer way of working. She shared this knowledge with many who have continued to share their experiences of how powerful the gentle way of working can be. We have her to thank for her insight and awareness.
If some people know that they may (or are likely to) experience pain, then their barriers are likely to go up, and that in itself may block or interfere with the pathways of energy that reflexology is harnessing. Some of the more subtle and gentle approaches to reflexology may be more acceptable to people who are sensitive and like an enjoyable treatment.
I believe that it is unnecessary to cause any pain or discomfort to the client, as the methodology of practice is significant. It is also a relief to practitioners who find that they cannot manage to apply the heavy pressure to the client, as it has caused them to experience pain or discomfort in their fingers, thumbs, wrist, elbow or neck. There have been cases of practitioners who have had to reduce or curtail the number of treatments that they can do, as they experience pain in a similar way to RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury).
Practitioner breaks down the crystals
Practitioner – – Breaks down the uric acid crystals/crystalline deposits – – Client gets better
Clients break down their own crystals
Practitioner focuses on the client – – Client gets better and therefore their uric crystals break down.
The Gentle Touch
As a practitioner and teacher of Gentle Touch™ Reflexology, I have spent years evaluating the efficacy and results of a gentle method of treatment. I encourage students to try an experiment for themselves – to press firmly with their thumb on their arm for a few seconds, wait a few moments (for their skin and thumb to recover) and then press lightly to the side of the previous press. In both cases the student should feel their arm and bone, however, some people can also feel the skin layers, blood vessels, muscles, etc., as well as the bones. In other words it possible to actually feel more if we go lighter! I have been questioned many times by Reflexologists who use a heavier pressure and who are unsure how we feel things with such a light pressure, yet when students choose to learn something like Gentle Touch™ Reflexology, they often acknowledge that they are actually sensing and feeling much more.
To Crush or not to Crush?
I have read numerous books and articles on reflexology and attended some superb lectures, courses and seminars and notice that there seems to be a generally held principle about reflexology. This principle is that a Reflexologist will break down the uric acid crystals in order to help the patient towards better health. There are many practitioners who follow the Ingham method and use a firm pressure to break down the crystalline deposits. Historically this is how we were given the information on what we are aiming to achieve, however, we now know that it is important that we focus on the client and not their condition. Equally we should focus on the client and not their 'crystals'.
As Reflexologists we can make a promise to ourselves to offer our best for each and every client, however, we cannot make any promises of cures or even of any results, as we have no idea what will happen with each client, or what is 'meant to be'.
It is the healing potential that we are working with and our role is to act as facilitators of their own healing. It is a subtle progression to realize that we do not have to break down anyone's crystals as it is not us (the practitioners) who have the power, it is the client who has the power.
In the first example the Reflexologist has the power and in the second example the client retains their power.
Reflexologists = The Facilitators
Our power as practitioners is nothing when compared with the power of the therapy. When I practise Gentle Touch™ Reflexology, I can feel the power of the therapy and am very aware that any force that is physically utilized is nothing in comparison to 'the force'.
Brenda's Story
Brenda came to learn about reflexology, having already completed another training course in it. Brenda had always wanted to work very lightly and gently with her clients. She had heard about Gentle Touch™ Reflexology and decided to undertake the full practitioner diploma course rather than the conversion course. Almost immediately she reported that she was getting better results from her clients, who enjoyed the treatments; however, some of her clientele wanted to continue the original pressure, as they believed that was better for them. This is the great thing about the variety of different types of reflexology that are now currently available. There is always the right treatment or practitioner for the client. The individual needs simply to look and find the right method for them. Brenda is now practising Gentle Touch™ Reflexology whilst also adapting to anyone who prefers the heavier pressure.
This is another way of looking at reflexology in this day and age. We have moved on from thinking that we all have to undertake reflexology in the same way and with the same methodology. Maybe it is now time to open the doors and our hearts to the great variety of ways that it can be practised. Some practise with a hard pressure and some with a gentle touch whilst some clients need to feel the pain (no pain no gain?) and others dislike pain and choose a delightful experience. There is no such thing as right or wrong. It is just what is right for each person and we individually need to maintain the right to choose our own route.
The Future
We cannot really know where we are going within reflexology. However, the great diversification that has already taken place, and which has been shown to be a good thing, gives us an indication that there are many more progressions ahead. The forthcoming registration process is vital for the Industry as so many people are now getting on the bandwagon. It is important that standards of training are being protected and upgraded, as students need to be confident that they are getting the level of training that they require.
Qualification vs Qualified
There are now so many places where one can learn about Reflexology (including some distant learning courses). As a result, both the public and potential students need to be clear about their requirements. Are they looking merely for a qualification or to be properly qualified? In the last millennium there were far fewer options for training – now it is harder to know the level or depth of a practitioner's training, professionalism and understanding. The rationale and understanding of how the energy systems work must be explained before reflexology can be practised. Anyone who has completed a thorough and indepth course (i.e. an Association of Reflexologists accredited course giving the qualification MAR) will have covered these issues and should be appropriately insured.
Conclusion
The new millennium is taking us into an exciting era and we will see many more people turn to this simple massage of the feet or hands in order to bring about health, happiness and comfort in their lives. This is a possibility for all in the gentle and effective world of reflexology. I have thoroughly enjoyed my journey within Gentle Touch™ Reflexology over the past 19 years and look forward to what is coming next. Each of us can choose the right route forward for ourselves and I feel very positive about the future for us all.
Reflexology in Conception, Pregnancy and Postnatal Care
The woman sounded very distressed.
She was coming up to the 39th week of her pregnancy, and the baby was still breach, so understandably, especially as it was the first time, she was very anxious.
“Look, I can’t promise Reflexology will turn the baby… in fact, I am not sure anything can at all… however: I am sure of one thing and that is, feeling anxious and fearful will not help you face this situation in the right way. Why don’t you come and have a treatment and we can take it from there?”
Amanda, as it turned out, came to see me that very day. A tall woman in her mid-thirties, this was her first child: a common occurrence nowadays, where the average age for women to have children is 35.
As soon as I touched her feet, I could feel tension swoosh all over my solar plexus: the tension reached the base of my spine. This is normal for me: for some reason, I can tune into other people’s emotional states very easily. I have used this ability with excellent results in my work.
The baby, according to the nurse, had ‘engaged’ with the bottom in the birth canal. No wonder Amanda was sick with worry: but I sensed there was more, so I asked her. It comes out that she had had a previous pregnancy, and the baby had been still born.
While piecing up all the jigsaws of the puzzle, I reasoned that her deep state of tension was probably blocking the natural flow of things, preventing her body from preparing the baby for labour. The previous trauma was still there energetically and emotionally speaking: she was probably subconsciously re-living that trauma, now that labour was approaching.
Assuming that it was her state of mind that was causing the foetus not to turn head down, I worked on the thyroid, the spine, the adrenals, the pituitary, the solar plexus, gently but firmly (if it makes sense), in order to ease any feelings of anxiety.
A mother myself, I also talked her through the process of birth, the flow, the letting go and the accepting the pain of the contractions as something that helps the process, therefore as something good.
I asked Amanda to talk to the baby and say to the little person that everything was ok and that she was safe: this seemed to calm Amanda greatly.
An hour later, the bump had changed shape and Amanda had felt the foetus move. The baby did turn eventually in the next few days.
Magic? I, myself, wasn’t sure at all of what was going to happen: you can never give an iron cast guarantee with complementary therapies, as there are so many factors involved. In this case my ‘diagnosis’ and the action taken had been effective.
This is the dilemma the complementary therapist is often faced with, as you can’t make false promises and when things do work, it’s very difficult to explain how.
Pregnancy Reflexology is in itself a branch within Reflexology.
According to the IFR (International Federation of Reflexologists) it is not safe to treat the mother before 16th weeks of gestation. Other schools put the limit at 12 weeks.
I have personally treated healthy women at their 12th week, giving a very light treatment, which is still quite effective, simply because reflexology is a vibrational technique.
Through pressure in specific points, the therapist is able to access the energy pathway and clear/stimulate a corresponding organ, this purely on the energetic level. The way reflexology works is in fact based on the same principle of acupuncture, except that reflexology uses a ‘map’ on hands and feet, to access body organs, as opposed to meridians.
After the 16th week it is universally deemed safe to stimulate most points, with the exception of liver, pituitary, reproductive organs, and may I add any vigorous work on the endocrine system at all. This is to avoid any accidental ‘labour trigger’: the foetus should be well established anyway at this stage, as all organs are formed and the baby is only growing bigger from then on.
Caution is always required when treating pregnant women, but it’s definitely worth considering receiving a treatment. The help and relief mothers receive from a reflexology session is very substantial, and as a therapist the work is even more rewarding. There is always something special about the energy surrounding a mother-to-be.
Reflexology can help with circulation, any muscle/skeletal problem, and very much any anxiety associated with fears, conscious and subconscious. I once treated a lady whose water retention was so bad in the legs and feet, that while treating you could actually see the liquid shifting upwards. Other times, I have spent a good part of the session explaining how labour works and how to support this process instead of unwittingly sabotage it. A mother myself, I am a good advert for what I preach: my first labour lasted four hours, the second a mere 45 minutes!
According to the London School of Reflexology, whose founder, Louise, runs a one-day course in conception, pregnancy and post-natal reflexology, this therapy has a key role in balancing hormones and therefore is a substantial player in assisting with ovulation and conception.
If one component of the endocrine system is out of balance, the whole system will be unbalanced: while trying to conceive, it is therefore important to work most organs related and subsidiary to hormone production (adrenal, reproductive, pancreas, parathyroid and thyroid, lymphatic). These very points will then be carefully avoided throughout the pregnancy.
Only after the 37th week is it then safe to start addressing endocrine glands and reproductive system, in preparation for labour. A study had shown that women who received reflexology during pregnancy had a labour 60% shorter than counterparts who didn’t. Having gone through two labours, although very short ones, I really think this alone should convince women to have a few treatments during pregnancy!
Labour can be triggered through pressure on specific points, which can be quite painful as they are usually very sore in preparation for delivery. This is because the energy is gathering.
In my experience, a short delivery is often the product of a mind that allows the body to do the work, welcoming contractions pain as a positive factor, as addressed overleaf. The more mum ‘welcomes’ contractions, the quicker the whole process will unfold; it’s probably easier said than done, as pain is subconsciously associated to danger. But there is good pain, and contractions are just that. If you are an expecting mother, remember this: each and every contraction is opening up the birth canal and bringing you near to the moment when labour will be a distant memory!
What everybody says about reflexology, universally, after trying it for the first time, is how different they expected it to be and how lighter they feel. In terms of post-natal care, this is exactly what reflexology has to offer, lifting the gloom and providing the body with a much needed energy re-charge, after the hormone drop that follows birth. It’s vital that mothers not only take care of their baby, but also of themselves: a happy mother is a guarantee for a happy child.
Babies can also be treated, albeit very lightly and for a short time. The Reflexologist should avoid the reproductive organs in children generally and if using essential oils, use only the ones that are safe, such as lavender and chamomile roman.
As you can see, reflexology has a lot to offer to mother, during pregnancy and after. Complementary therapies have a lovely habit of becoming so much more than a random session: touch therapies in particular provide a fantastic medium to bond with your children at a non-verbal level.
Although alternative therapies are very popular, it is sadly true that only 0.5% of research funding is allocated to complementary health, precluding, in practice, the possibility to scientifically prove the validity of therapies such as acupuncture, shiatsu, reflexology and more, which, empirically, we know work.
Complementary therapies often bridge the gap and provide solutions where allopathic medicine can’t go.
That’s very much the experience many mothers in my clinic have had. Doctors and nurses themselves often recommend alternative therapies, as they view such therapies as ‘complementary’ and not in competition with ‘normal’ medical care.
“Massage saved my life, when I was pregnant with my first baby”, says Penny from London, who received massage and reflexology treatments over the last three months of pregnancy. “The baby was huge and I started feeling very uncomfortable from the end of the 6th month. My lower back ached, my legs were swollen and I had terrible heartburn. I couldn’t sleep at night because it hurt everywhere. Massage relaxed me and helped with the water retention, but I believe reflexology alleviated any other symptoms, making a horrific situation much more tolerable.”
As a therapist, I have heard similar testimonials over and over again. It’s a huge step forward that many hospitals are now offering complementary care.
Amanda, I heard, did have her baby naturally and there was therefore no need for a Caesarean, which was a huge relief for her. I could totally sympathise with her initial anxiety and subsequent relief, when things turned out fine.
She is now a firm convert to reflexology although she doesn’t quite understand how it works. “I still don’t understand it, but it doesn’t matter; it worked for me”, she said last time we met, when she came to thank me.
I couldn’t help but have a peek at the lovely baby girl who was blissfully sleeping in the buggy.
There and then, watching the beautiful baby, a bit of nostalgia got hold of me. My children, who are now seven and nine, are well past the baby years, and they have come into being real little people now. Babies have something so pure about them. ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have another one?’ I thought to myself. Note: need partner to have baby! Currently single and happy to be, not good start!
So if and when I have another baby, and that’s a really big if, I’ll make sure I receive reflexology. For the moment, I am happy to share the joy of pregnancy and childbirth watching from far, and using my knowledge and personal experience to help mums give their child the best possible start.
Reflexology from the Grassroots Up
Throughout the '90s the interest in and demand for natural therapies increased dramatically. Recognition of 'alternative' (now called complementary) health services has been achieved to the point where these services have their own associations, academies, accredited courses, publications and practitioners available in nearly all areas throughout Australia.
One such natural therapy is reflexology. Reflexology uses the soles of the feet as a mirror of the body, with different areas on the feet corresponding to different organs and body parts. The reflexes in the feet (and hands and ears) are stimulated with various massage techniques to promote healing in the body.
Lynn Hatswell is a well-established reflexologist. These days she concentrates mainly on teaching, sharing as much of her experience with students as she can. Lynn does stress: "We're not about curing, or healing from the outside ... but clients' symptoms reduce, their aches and pains tend to subside."
Lynn says of her 20 years working with clients: "Sometimes you see them for a long series of sessions. Sometimes it's only once or twice; the improvement is so great you don't see them again, they go hoorahing off into the sunset and then, over the next year or two, you get their daughter, husband, auntie - they all come wanting the same result."
The author supervising a reflexology student practitioner
One past client was a man who'd had an enlarged prostate for six months. He went to Lynn only a few weeks before he was booked for surgery; she did two sessions a week with him and showed his wife areas to work on between sessions. After two weeks the prostate stopped enlarging and he had better bladder function. The doctors were very impressed with the way he sailed through the surgery with no problems at all.
Another client was a woman who came because of sore, tired feet. After her feet improved, she decided to keep having sessions fortnightly. After a couple of months Lynn could see she was looking better, and asked how she was doing. Pains in her neck and shoulders had eased. Also, she said, she didn't get nosebleeds any more. The client's medical history made no mention of nosebleeds, although Lynn had felt something in her feet around the sinus reflex area. The woman said she'd been having nosebleeds for years, from a couple a week to two a day, but she hadn't had one for the past month.
Lynn says: "The impact of reflexology in treating a person depends on their response, whether they're willing to let go of whatever it is and where it comes from - what it's about underneath".
Sometimes clients get insights from their sessions with Lynn, as to the mental/emotional problems or blockages behind their physical ailments. "That's the best part", says Lynn, "not 'you've fixed it, my pain's gone' but 'I've realized something, I've just realized what's creating that pain', or 'I had this incredible dream, and it suddenly registered...'"
Lynn started out in the field of natural therapies over 20 years ago, when there were no natural therapy academies, and virtually no practice of reflexology was evident. In her earlier years, Lynn admits, she would have found reflexology 'airy fairy'. She was a medical secretary in a more orthodox lifestyle.
She was already intrigued by natural therapies, however, when she heard about Findhorn, a New Age community in London (now called the Findhorn Foundation). She'd already done a meditation class the previous year (1977) when meditation classes were just starting in Perth.
A couple of months after her meditation course she'd started to become fed up with her medical secretary job. For some time she'd felt it wasn't right for her. She thought: "This is not me any more I can't be in this environment." So, in 1978 Lynn travelled to England and stayed in Findhorn for about two weeks. There her interest in natural therapies was first triggered by Prenatal Therapy - working on the reflection of the spine on the feet, as a reflection of the prenatal experience. She did a weekend course on the subject in London before returning to Perth.
Lynn decided to go back to her secretarial work for a year, to save enough to not have to work the year after so she could focus on natural therapies. A few months later, in March 1979, basic kinesiology classes were starting in Perth. There she met Derek DeBradley (now a well-respected kinesiologist). He was a part time masseur in one of the only two health clubs in Perth at the time.
Derek asked Lynn if she had done any reflexology. She said she hadn't but had learned about Prenatal Therapy (now called Metamorphosis) the previous year in the UK, and that it was originally derived from reflexology. Derek had learnt some reflexology with a masseur in Perth who had trained in the US.
Lynn and Derek started to explore the reflexes using kinesiology muscle-testing as a way to test their methods. Apart from the occasional weekend course by a visiting reflexologist, they were the first people to develop reflexology in WA.
At the same time Lynn and Derek started the first kinesiology practice group. Some of the group became increasingly interested in reflexology. So it began a spontaneous teaching as Lynn and Derek showed the group what they knew. Others heard about it from the first group, and it began to snowball from there.
Within a year Lynn and Derek saw that their method of working and testing the reflexes produced results. They'd mapped their own chart of an anatomical reflection onto the feet.
From September 1979 Lynn didn't work as such for over a year. She shared a house with a friend and lived off her savings. While Lynn had become more interested in reflexology and Prenatal Therapy, Derek's vocation was kinesiology. Over the next few years Lynn continued to refine their reflexology chart while seeing Derek only rarely.
After not having worked for a little over a year, Lynn did some part-time office work on and off. Well-paid temporary jobs for five or six weeks would come her way, which would then tide her over for several months. By 1985 she didn't have to take these jobs; she was working full time with reflexology and Metamorphosis. "It doesn't have to take that long these days", Lynn says, "but I was formulating the pattern as I went."
For a while, any information passed on about Lynn's work, or any other endeavours in the field of natural therapies, was entirely via the grapevine. There were no natural therapy academies, no mind/body expos, no holistic sections in the newspapers; nothing in the way of recognition for natural therapies.
Lynn says: "For the first few years - 1979, '80, '81 - it was very early days. Possibly 1% of the population, if that, had the slightest clue about what reflexology and kinesiology were. In those days if you were into natural therapies you had to be really interested in it, because it was considered a bit strange. It certainly was an unusual occupation then."
But by the mid to late '80s natural therapies became quite popular. The interest expanded and mushroomed at an incredible rate into the '90s. "The last few years, it has become more and more popular", Lynn says, "with people taking a real interest in their own health. A lot of people now come for maintenance of their health, not just because they're ill."
In 1989 Flora Casotti came into Lynn's first certificate class. With her keen interest in natural therapies, Flora soon began to practise then teach reflexology. Together Lynn and Flora continued to refine the reflex charts, incorporating the traditional Chinese medicine five element colours, considered in Chinese medicine for thousands of years to relate to various organs. These charts are now becoming accepted as the first Australian reflexology charts.
In 1990 Lynn, Flora and their associates felt it was time to form an association, which was at first an interest group, only some of whom were actually practising. The Reflexology Association (RAA) of Australia is now a much more professional association with radical changes in the last few years. The course run by Lynn and Flora - originally 70 hours - is now 250 hours, along RAA guidelines and is government accredited.
Lynn sees reflexology as a complementary treatment, as opposed to alternative. "It fits in very well with orthodox medicine", she says. She considers that reflexology and other natural therapies will be connected in a more formal or acknowledged way to the medical profession in the future. There is already the beginning of some recognition and acceptance. Lynn says it helps that a number of nurses and midwives have trained in the courses. As Lynn puts it: "It's easier for the medical profession to accept reflexology from nurses who are part of the medical system."
The integration of reflexology and other natural therapies into 'conventional' or 'modern' treatment is evident in the fact that a number of the smaller health funds will now refund for reflexology.
"I started from the grassroots up," Lynn says. "From very small beginnings it's been quite a journey."
Reflexology for Stroke
Introduction
Stroke is the biggest cause of severe disability in adult life in the UK and the third commonest cause of death in developed countries.[1] Every five minutes one person will suffer a first stroke, with about 10% of those people being under the age of 55.[2] In the elderly population, stroke remains a major cause of death.[3] The use of reflexology to aid the rehabilitation of people with stroke has been undertaken and people's intrinsic ability to self-heal combined with this gentle treatment encourages that process.[4]
Working a reflex point on the big toe
Most people are aware of reflexology as a complementary therapy whereby specific pressure is applied to the feet and sometimes the hands. Modern reflexology dates back to 1913 when Dr William Fitzgerald introduced 'zone therapy' to the Western world. Reflex areas on the feet and hands relate to areas within the same zone of the body and by working these areas in a specific way it can help to restore the body to its natural state. It is a balancing treatment that works on the body, mind and emotions, with people who receive treatment reporting a feeling of well-being and a reduction in a variety of symptoms relating to digestive disorders, headaches, muscular aches, fatigue, and a multitude of stress-related conditions. The importance of reflexology being 'complementary' means that it can be used alongside other orthodox medical treatments or complementary therapies.
Although I am concentrating on stroke in this instance, reflexology does not treat specific symptoms of disease but rather treats the whole person and as a result most people benefit from several sessions of reflexology adapted as a treatment plan tailored to the individual's needs.
Risk Factors of Stroke
The term 'stroke' is used to describe "rapidly developing clinical symptoms and signs of focal, and at times global, loss of cerebral function lasting more than 24 hours or leading to death, with no apparent cause other than that of vascular origin".[5] Stroke can be referred to as a 'cerebral thrombosis' or 'cerebral embolism'. Other terminology denoting the varying degrees of stroke include 'transient ischaemic attack' (TIA) and 'cerebral vascular episode', formerly called a cerebral vascular accident or CVA. Most strokes are caused by a blockage in one of the arteries carrying blood to the brain. A stroke may also be caused by a haemorrhage in the vessels of the brain caused by a ruptured artery. Depending on the damage situated in the brain and the area in which the thrombus is localized, the person will have different physical symptoms.
Factors that put people more at risk of having a stroke are high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, high blood cholesterol, being overweight, high blood sugar and, for women, the contraceptive pill, with many of these factors correlating with a stress-related lifestyle.
Aims of Reflexology
The holistic focus - looking at the whole person - is essential to me as a reflexology practitioner, and after taking a detailed case history it is important to find out what the client hopes to achieve from reflexology. Healing is more likely to take place when someone is fully relaxed, and reflexology encourages greater relaxation and increases the overall effectiveness of the individual's ability to heal. With the condition of stroke, it is not just the actual symptoms experienced during the episode that are the problem, it is the devastating effect left on the person after diagnosis, due to localized damage of the brain and forced changes due to physical limitation.
Case Study - William
Aims of Treatment
The aims of treatment for my client, William, were first and foremost relaxation, enabling him to switch off from everyday stresses created by work and his lifestyle. Another main aim of the treatment was to ease the muscular ache in his shoulders, which was the result of the stroke. The antihypertensive and anticoagulant medication prescribed following the stroke reduced William's blood pressure to normal, as this was high preceding the stroke and diagnosed as a main contributing factor. William hoped that reflexology would help to stabilize his blood pressure further, so dependency on the drugs could be reduced (under GP supervision).
Other conditions noted during treatment and through the initial case history information showed that William had a tendency to feel discomfort and increased sensitivity in the gut, therefore alleviating the symptoms of this was also seen as a secondary aim of reflexology. However, this was not the reason that William undertook reflexology, as his primary aim was to alleviate the pain he felt in his shoulders.
How Did the Stroke Affect William?
Physically
Physical symptoms clear at the onset of William's stroke included problems with balance and co-ordination; paralysis on the right side of the face affecting the mouth, accompanied by dysarthria (slight slurring of speech); difficulty in swallowing for a few days following the stroke; pain in both shoulders particularly when the arms were lifted above shoulder height and when turning or stretching; and increased sensitivity to cold temperatures. This last observation may be due to the fact that he was prescribed medication with anticoagulant properties to reduce his blood pressure, in effect making him more susceptible to feeling the cold.
Mentally
The association of stroke with the brain is very relevant to the mental effect that it can have on the sufferer. William took one month off work at the recommendation of his doctor, which was totally out of character for him as he had rarely had a day off sick before this. William's acknowledgement of the effects of his stroke and his acceptance that he needed to relax highlighted the seriousness with which he addressed his state of health after the stroke.
Emotionally
Disturbances in mood will occur if specific parts of the brain are affected. A severe loss of appetite may follow a stroke, and the physical limitations brought about by stroke may lead to depression. William did not suffer severe symptoms such as these; however, his self-confidence was negatively affected by the loss of control he experienced after his stroke, i.e. not being able to drive or work. William was very positive once his condition had been diagnosed, as he regarded this as a warning sign for him to slow down.
Socially
Physical symptoms that continue for some time after the stroke will interrupt the social life of the person. For example, if the person has difficulty swallowing or paralysis of the face, it may be embarrassing for them to eat out socially or even be seen in public. There is also stigma attached to loss of bladder and bowel control, which could cause embarrassment and inconvenience to the stroke sufferer. William was slightly uncomfortable with the thought of eating out in a public place until his face had fully recovered, as he found it difficult to consume liquids without dribbling.
Initial Reflexology Consultation and Observation of the Feet
William suffered a minor stroke in January 1999, although he was originally informed that it might be Bell's palsy. His GP diagnosed hypertension and the results of a CT scan showed that he had suffered an acute ischaemic stroke; consequently he was signed off work for four weeks. He was told not to drive for at least one month and then to have a check-up with the doctor to ensure that he would be safe after this period of time. He believed that the onset of the stroke was caused by stress brought about by work pressures.
My initial consultation with William (aged 55) took place 15 months after the stroke occurred and gave me a clearer picture of different aspects of his life: past and present state of health, and his diet and lifestyle. At the time of taking the case history, William was still in a demanding job that involved a great deal of travelling by car. To this end, it was fair to say that he was under considerable pressure at work. William used to smoke 20-30 cigarettes a day when he was younger but gave up completely over 30 years ago. His exercise routine included walking at the weekends in addition to being physically active both in and out of work. He had been having difficulty sleeping preceding the stroke but noted that he had always been a light sleeper and easily woken. When asked what he did to relax he firstly said he didn't know but with further probing he said that he had a drink (alcohol) or watched TV.
His weight at 13 stone was also a contributing factor to the stroke and as a result William had already started to amend his diet. Although William claimed to have no known allergies, some foods caused him discomfort and it was evident that his digestive system was severely affected. William said that his current liquid intake was two pints of water per day, and six cans of cider plus two to three glasses of white wine per week.
I took William's blood pressure before and after the initial treatment and during the course of his reflexology treatments. His prescribed medication included Aspirin (75mg per day), Atenolol (50mg per day) and Amlodipine (10mg per day).
Observation of the feet is a major part of treatment to gain further information about the client and the condition of his health. William's feet were dry, cracked and scaly in texture with rippled, loose skin on the dorsal and plantar surfaces. There was a mixture of mottled tones, red and white denoting areas of inactivity and hypersensitivity. All his toenails were yellowing, with some blackened and very uneven, indicative of a weakened immune system. Calluses had formed on his upper fourth and fifth toes, inner big toe and inner heel. A noticeable tiny lump was felt beneath the surface of the skin on the left big toe, which is the reflex area associated with the brain.
The treatment plan involved working the areas of imbalance which were shown as marked sensitivity in all the toes with emphasis on the left big toe (brain reflex opposite side to paralysis), shoulders and spinal reflexes, the digestive system, solar plexus, heart and diaphragm.
Results of Reflexology
I believe that progress was made in reducing William's blood pressure during the reflexology sessions and this became apparent to me from the readings taken before and after treatments and his GP reducing his dosage of Amlodipine from 10mg to 5mg following his sixth reflexology treatment. It appears that William's shoulders have also benefited from reflexology, as when he originally started treatment both his shoulders were tense and painful; after each session they improved gradually and now cause him no distress. William reduced his intake of alcohol and cut down on foods high in fat. He also introduced fresh vegetables and fruit into his daily diet and as a result the irritability of his bowel has considerably eased.
I am aware that William was quite sceptical about the benefits of reflexology when I first started treating him, but I am now constantly reassured that he feels a positive benefit from it. Needless to say, this case confirms that William has gained a lot since having reflexology treatments, because with increased relaxation his body has been able to heal naturally and his ability to get a good night's sleep has improved.
Case reports and anecdotal evidence indicate that reflexology is useful for the treatment of the effects of stroke, in particular the stabilization of blood pressure, however more research is required to ensure that clinical recommendations for treatment can be supported.[6]
Future Treatments and Forward Planning
William continues to have monthly reflexology treatments to aid relaxation and maintain homeostasis. He has since retired from his full-time job, and his physical demeanour has dramatically improved through losing excess weight and eating a more balanced diet. It is wonderful to see William so contented, relaxed and positive, compared with the tired, stressed individual he presented at the initial consultation. As a result of this case, implications for future practice include clinical research and the use of study to establish a proven correlation between reflexology and the administration of orthodox medicine in improvements in hypertension and effects of stroke. It would no doubt be beneficial to organize other studies to support the use of reflexology in stroke rehabilitation relating to the many effects that stroke can have, e.g. paralysis, problems with balance and co-ordination, pain and numbness, bowel or bladder control problems, fatigue and emotional problems. To ensure that holistic attributes are applied, this may be carried out through the use of diary-based assessments.
Reflexology for skin disorders
Working the liver area in a reflexology treatment, this also contacts Pericardium 8 an acu point that helps to clear excess heat, an ideal point to utilise in eczema.
Disorders
The skin problems that a reflexologist may come into contact with include: eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, urticaria, seborrhoea, shingles, erythema and ringworm.
Eczema
The word 'eczema' is taken from the Greek Ek Zeein, meaning to boil, seethe, or anything thrown off or out by an internal reaction. All of these definitions imply excess heat or excess turmoil within. Eczema and many other skin disorders often manifest because of poor function and activity in the internal organs. Any malfunction within is often displayed by the large amounts of toxic waste that the skin will try to eliminate when it cannot be excreted by other means. As a result of an imbalance, we may see a variety of skin disorders ranging from occasional pimples or pustules to chronic eczema. Eczema is a disorder that is often exacerbated by stress-related problems. In many cases it is just another attempt by the body to throw off the accumulated toxins from the system, which have amassed owing to the changes in the internal environment, passing these out through the skin. We know that stress can play a large part in these many skin diseases because stress can inhibit many functions of the body. A reflexologist sees these disorders as neither solely allergic in origin nor mainly as an inherited tendency, as these conditions have so many variable causes in the way they often appear and a proficient practitioner will embrace the total holistic concept.
According to TCM theory, the skin is related to the lungs, and it is amazing to see how many sufferers of eczema also have asthma or breathing problems. Stimulation to the adrenal glands reflex point would help release powerful anti-inflammatory properties, which will calm the most persistent itching, relieve any tendency to wheeziness, help the bronchiolus to relax by opening up the air passageways, and get rid of congestion and any tendency to breathlessness, calm the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx and aid the elimination of mucus.
Constipation
Constipation is another well-known problem that may cause skin eruptions. If the bowels do not eliminate in the correct manner some toxic waste is released through the skin in the form of minor eruptions. A malfunction of the hormones or the sebaceous glands can cause acne. Autoimmune disorders may affect the skin, as in the case of lupus erythematosus. In these instances we see the skin acting as a gateway through which the body eliminates lots of waste products. Many internal disorders resulting in skin eruptions are often brought about or exacerbated by incorrect eating habits or allergies to certain foods. If foods contain additives, these can often be the underlying culprits. So we see that skin disorders can be exacerbated by incorrect eating habits which cause an internal imbalance.
Patient having treatment. It is imperative the patient relaxes, they are then less anxious and do not worry, part of the treatment process.
Treatment session taking place on a student (See board behind me).
Dermatitis
The skin is very susceptible to outside influences; it may come into contact with many irritating substances, such as household products that may contain harsh chemicals, often causing dermatitis (inflammation of the skin). In panic, patients often apply substances or salves to the skin and this may force the problem deeper. It is imperative that the offending substance is found so that it can be tackled at its source.
Analysis and treatment
Skin assessment is one of our foremost tasks when we first apply our skills during foot or hand analysis. We need to check for any abnormality such as: skin colour, pallor or cyanosis, skin texture, skin temperature and humidity. During the normal ageing process the skin becomes thinner and loses some of its suppleness but it is necessary to examine the elasticity of the skin. This needs to be observed closely to see if there is a condition of anhidrosis which may be due to poor peripheral circulation. One of the main aggravations we often find with the skin is a fissure or slight defect in the skin of which the patient is often unaware. This could prove to be a site for entry of bacteria which can be exchanged quite easily by personal contact or touch. It is of the utmost importance that the practitioner ensures the highest standards of hygiene when handling any area that has a break in it to prevent infection or cross infection A reflexology practitioner must adopt best and safe practice at all times. Also, it is crucial to note if there are any signs of circulatory problems such as swelling, blanching, varicose eczema or any other pigmentation that may be present. If there is any severe skin problem on the hands or feet we first have to establish if it may be an allergic disorder, such as contact dermatitis, which may be caused by a multitude of substances to which the skin is sensitive. Even sweaty feet can release chemicals from dyes in shoes or by a reaction to washing powders, when traces may be left in footwear. These skin eruptions can vary from slight redness to severe inflammation It is so much better for the patient to try reflexology first, prior to the use of any prescribed corticosteroid creams. Reflexology improves the general elasticity of the skin because it stimulates the whole blood transport system, oxygen, nutrients and other necessary chemical messengers, such as hormones, overall circulation improves which then improves the general tone and quality of the skin.
We must also inspect nails for fungi or viral infections. These can easily be transmitted by touch and it is imperative that the practitioner safeguards themselves from cross infection. The most common examples are caused by the tinea group, which include tinea pedis (athlete's foot) and tinea unguium (ringworm of the nails). These may be caused by direct or indirect contact with other people or contaminated articles that may contain recently shed infected skin cells. Ringworm, a tiny organism, flourishes in moist, warm areas making the skin become very itchy and flaky. Usually it affects the top layer of the epidermis and it is when shedding takes place that infection can be spread. Thus, it is imperative for the practitioner to maintain a very high standard of hygiene at all times: ensuring each patient has their own towel, sweeping the area before and after each treatment session and washing one's own hands.
Diet should also be looked at, as this is often the reason that the person's defence system is low. All processed foods should be eliminated, restrict foods that have hidden sugars, any words ending in 'ose' indicates a sugar, ie lactose, sucrose etc. One should also be aware of sugar substitutes, as they do not contain any nutritional benefits whatsoever, they are artificially refined carbohydrates and there is no need for them in the diet.
Often eczema sufferers have a totally congested and acidic system. This is shown by the colour of their skin, which may have a grey tinge or poor colour. You may find the colon area on the feet or hands puffy and inflamed; this may be due to a deficient diet often high in either hidden sugars, dairy products or processed foods The ingestion of known irritants such as tomatoes, oranges, green peppers, cucumber, potatoes, mushrooms, condiments, spices and curries, also excess tea and coffee, can play a part in causing more aggravation to the existing problem.
When patients come for reflexology they are often unsure as to whether they will get a response or not. They are therefore amazed at how the essential moisturising factor of the skin seems to be improved with regular reflexology treatments. Treatment appears to advance the whole natural process of skin shedding and skin renewal; it is the stimulation to cells within the stratum geminativum that helps in this exfoliating process. Stimulation also seems to help its secretory functions. The two main excretory substances are sweat and sebum (see below).
Reflexology also brings about a profound sense of well-being and complete relaxation, thus reducing any stress, which is often very evident in people suffering with a skin complaint. A reflexologist will aim to help regulate the general homeostasis of the body. As the kidneys play such a vital role in regulating the composition of the internal environment, extra stimulation on this reflex point is very important. The kidney reflex needs to be worked several ways to ensure proper activity within the organ. The internal environment of the body is kept within narrow but normal limits by feedback mechanisms; many systems or organs of the body are involved. The hypothalamus regulates many hormonal functions. The lungs improve the gaseous exchange within the alveolus helping the intake of oxygen and expulsion of carbon dioxide which is by diffusion. The liver balances the blood glucose concentrations maintaining the correct levels. The role of the skin is in making sure that the body temperature does not deviate too much beyond accepted limits.
Reflexology has a wonderful way of helping balance all the above systems of the body and all secretory functions. Secretion is one of the skin's most important functions. Sebum, a natural lubricant from the sebaceous glands, keeps the epidermis supple and helps to reduce any tendency to dryness; it also protects with its antibacterial action and antiseptic properties. Perspiration contains some sodium chloride, small quantities of urea and lactic acid; it is secreted from the sudorific glands. These two main substances together create what is known as the 'acid mantle', with a pH between 4.5 and 6; this helps protect the skin from any growth of organisms. It is essential that the correct balance is maintained. The pH of the skin is most important, just like the pH of the body fluids, all of which must be maintained at a neutral pH level.
The sweat glands are governed by the sympathetic nervous system. Often when there is excess stress or an emotional overload, activity within the glands increases and they discharge cellular matter as well as fluid. This is shown when there are sweat spots on the feet or hands; these often arise when there has been any overload on the emotions or there is undue stress. Eccrine sweat is a slightly acid and watery fluid which contains and excretes a certain amount of urea, one of the chief waste products of the body. Excess tension in the body can exacerbate this natural process. If the liver or renal function is slightly defective, this waste product will then try to pass out through the skin. If the person has a skin disorder, this action can be inhibited further causing internal imbalances. It is vital that the sympathetic nerves are calmed down and the hormones of the endocrine system are stimulated, as both are involved in the regulatory mechanism. Thus, in the case of skin disorders, such as eczema, reflexology seems to help in the healing process with an action similar to an emollient softening and soothing the skin if it is dry, hard or cracked.
Usually, at the first treatment session, I suggest a fast for 2 to 3 days (see chapter 11, page 385) with lots of water to flush through the toxins. However, I instruct patients to do this only if they confirm that their GP is in agreement and they are able to have a quiet couple of days. Then a restricted diet for about 2 weeks is recommended. The diet should consist of lots of raw salads or lightly cooked vegetables; dressings can be made with olive oil and lemon. Quantity does not matter, individuals should let hunger be their guide. They must ensure, however, that they do not have any mucus-building foods during this period, then a bland diet together with reflexology sessions should follow until all eruptions have completely healed and disappeared.
It is important to check first to see whether there are any stomach problems; flatulence or acid regurgitation is often a sign that there may be an allergy or a lactose intolerance, and dairy products could be making the problem worse. Reflexology is a marvellous way to detoxify the body; working on the liver reflex will help to eliminate any excess heat in the body and help normalise and balance its function.
Energy in the body takes many forms; chemical energy, electrical energy and heat energy from muscle contraction. This energy flow is maximised during a reflexology treatment, ensuring improvement in health and harmony of the body in general.
* Extract from Reflexology: The Definitive Practitioner's Manual by Beryl Crane. Element Books Limited Shaftesbury 1997.
Case study
Acne Vulgaris or Acne as most people refer to it, is quite a common condition usually affecting most adolescents. This is a disorder of the sebaceous glands where the sebum, an oily substance that each gland produces, cannot flow out of the hair follicle because the exit has become blocked by a plug of skin debris or the sebum has hardened. The sebaceous gland then becomes inflamed because of the accumulation of sebum and an acne type spot will appear. If there is any build up of bacteria, pustules containing pus or a papule which are small superficially raised red spots all cause further inflammation.
If adolescents observe strict hygiene and use a recommended product to counteract the excess grease that is produced by the sebaceous glands and if they take extra care with their diet by cutting down on excess chocolates and sweets, in the majority of cases this distressing condition can be controlled. However, as there is more than one factor that causes acne, there is still a small percentage of young people who have to seek medical advice.
A young woman aged 16 years old had suffered from Acne for over one year. She had tried many over the counter soaps and other products. Throughout this period she had repeatedly been to see her General Practitioner, who had prescribed a series of topical treatments, some of which had angered the skin. He had suggested an oral drug over a period of some weeks, however the young woman's Mother felt that there were too many side effects. This young patient was very distraught when she presented herself on her first visit, and she had tried to conceal her facial spots with make up. She told me she was unhappy at school because people had commented about her problem. Her Mother said it was increasingly evident that she was now using many excuses not to attend school. She was tearful and had great mood swings. Her Mother said there were so many arguments between her and the younger brother that their home life was becoming intolerable.
The Mother and Father had been patients over the last seven years. The daughter had been to see me before with painful menstruation when she was just 13 years old, and had felt some considerable benefit from treatment. This young lady is now quite tall but she was rather overweight. She used to play a lot of netball but she had now declined to do so as she was unhappy about using the communal changing area as her back and chest were also covered in acne. The patient told me her bowels were very sluggish. She often missed a day but then she could be very loose. She also complained of always feeling tired. She told me she did not drink much water, her main intake of fluids being from carbonated drinks or tea and coffee and she admitted to having snacks of crisps at break time each day. She often got her own tea in the evening as both parents worked. Mother would pick up the young son from the Grandparents, who collected him from school and gave him his evening meal. I could see that this young lady had not only suffered physical scarring from the acne but she had also been psychologically affected.
At this first visit I noticed how much her feet were sweating excessively (Hidrosis) and her feet were very tense. Endocrine areas that were extremely sensitive were the pituitary, thyroid and intense sensitivity of the adrenal gland. the liver, kidneys, large and small intestine; also the shoulder and spinal reflexes were all tender. Next we addressed diet. I asked her to cut down on all her refined carbohydrates and reduce her fat intake. I suggested that she had fish or chicken and plenty of vegetables and salads. I further suggested that she took a piece of fresh fruit daily to school instead of the crisps. She was also recommended to increase her water intake to 6–8 glasses of water per day. I asked her not to wear make up and to get plenty of fresh air and regular exercise. After a complete treatment she looked relaxed and her cheeks were quite pink. I applied extras palpation on the TB.6 point on the forearm, a pressure point for any skin eruption. I also applied a bean on the following auricular points, the Adrenal Gland (on the tragus) for its anti-inflammatory properties and the Wind Stream point (on the Scaphoid Fossa) which is ideal for any skin irritation.
The activity of the sebaceous glands is controlled mainly by the Adrenal Gland in females, and this gland is also very tender when the sympathetic nervous system is in overdrive. The pituitary gland governs a series of hormones with many different functions. The thyroid also plays a role in the general wellbeing of the skin and helps the hair, skin and nails to stay in good condition. Any homoeostatic imbalance within these areas can cause no end of problems to manifest. The intestines had also been sensitive to stress causing a slightly irritable bowel. The liver and kidneys showed up because of the excess toxins within the system.
This young lady responded to treatment from day one, she had six consecutive treatments and we saw a steady improvement over these visits. She still attends every four weeks. The scarring is gradually disappearing, she still gets occasional spots, but she knows that she had eaten the wrong things the previous day or that she was over stressed at school. However, she is meticulous in her hygiene routine. It is a much happier young lady who now attend on her own and has a much more positive attitude to life.
Reflexology Sound.
The development of Intuition and Sound Reflexology was a gradual progression for me. I found that the traditional benefits of reflexology, treating the whole body and a wide range of symptoms for various ailments, could be greatly enhanced by using my own intuitive skills to 'feel' or 'sense' which reflexes were out of balance. Recognizing that the feet encompass the whole body and its systems so easily, I was able to develop an intuitive approach to this ancient art by finding those reflex points that required treatment. I named this 'Intuition Reflexology', which in due course evolved into a treatment incorporating sound as well. Intuition is often called the sixth sense because of its relation to the other five senses that play such an important part in our lives.
For example, the laying-on of hands can be used to direct energy to help or heal someone who is ill. This sense of touch is used in Intuition Reflexology to locate energy blockages in the body. By stimulating or soothing the corresponding reflexes, the person receiving the treatment is able to respond, or 'to heal'.
Helen Perkins vocalizing with intuition and sound reflexology during a treatment
To fully appreciate how this works, it is important to understand that the human body is a living energy, made up of varying electromagnetic particles, forming a dense area that is our physical structure and extending outwards in fine layers, sometimes called the aura. Modern physics together with the Greek and philosophical Eastern traditions have formed new concepts, changing the view we have of health and well-being.
These energies, or life force, which flow through meridians in Chinese medicine (as 'chi') or through chakra energy gateways in Indian medicine (as 'prana'), sustain and regulate the function of the organs and body systems. Symptoms of ill-health can be traced to an energy flow that has been interrupted, causing a blockage, stagnation and disease. The particular area of the body affected has simultaneously changed the surrounding energy field, so it vibrates at a different frequency to when it was healthy. The reflexologist can also use the sense of hearing to 'feel' or be aware of the atmosphere while working with the client. Hearing an inner voice often helps to understand the nature of the complaint and what other reflexes might be useful.
The intuitive reflexologist may also 'smell' something that has a relationship to the problem or nature of the person they are treating. It may even suggest an aromatherapy oil that could be useful, either through application to the appropriate area of the body or used in an oil burner.
Vision through the mind's eye can also occur, for both parties. The client may be relaxed or sleeping well, dreaming of colours and images. At the same time, the reflexologist may 'see' these visions, which might lead on to colour healing. This can be visualized to the client, or involve the use of a colour torch or colour healing bottle touched on the appropriate reflex point.
Using the sense of taste, the reflexologist may experience a flavour, dryness or excessive saliva in the mouth, which indicates some symptom in the client's being that needs to be addressed. Water and diet are vital to good health, and in particular the drinking of fluids after a reflexology treatment helps with the circulation of nutrients and elimination of toxins from the body. Still in this area, the tongue is a vital organ for the power of speech, and the larynx and throat for the passage of air and breathing – in short, the power of life. An extension of this concept is the rapport and communication between client and reflexologist – knowing when to speak and when to be silent.
Music can also be helpful during a session, an idea that I developed when I started to 'hear' a tone whenever I paused on a reflex spot that required balance or healing. Consulting with the client, I started to vocalize with sound as a healing tool on to the particular reflex point – a further use of the sense of the spoken word. Vowel sounds can be pronounced in such a way as to create an effect in parallel to the actual words that carry meaning to the listener. The sense organ that hears these words is the ear, yet the tone or pitch through which it is carried is also a vibration that is felt within the energy field.
In science, Kirlian photography has been used to identify the energy fields around an object, and ultrasound can record a sonar reading of the shape and mass. For those people with a vivid use of intuition and other senses, disease may be perceived, for example, through differences in touch, density and light, temperature, sound, odour, colour, light and shade; there may also be visual imaging and inner feelings.
Intuition Reflexology therefore senses the vibration of each reflex point, while Sound Reflexology makes the corresponding sound. As sound, too, has different frequencies, these can be used to help heal the body. This is not as unusual as it may at first appear. Different cultures over many hundreds of years have used these simple but effective self-help methods that are today becoming more widely recognized and accepted. Musical instruments such as gongs, singing bowls, tuning forks, the Australian didgeridoo, kettledrums and the medieval monochord make sounds for healing. The most recent innovation is using electronic frequencies, such as in the study of cimatics and in radio-frequency acupuncture. There are now many workshops for training or 'freeing' the voice, and the 'voice print' can be identified with certain disorders in the body using bioacoustics.
Intuition and Sound Reflexology uses all the senses to determine the exact pitch, tone or syllable articulation that needs to be vocalized by the reflexologist. The musical pitch, tone and style will vary from one person to another as each client's energy field holds the pattern and uniqueness of that one individual.
The reflexologist senses first with the fingers, interpreting the vibration of the reflex point or area, and then, with the intent of healing or balancing, will produce the sound. The sound is vocalized three times by the reflexologist, with periods of silence in between, to allow for any adjustments that need to be made to the sound if the vibration of the reflex changes. In addition, the silence allows the sound to continue to its destination, penetrating the energy blockage or energizing and complementing its field.
Sound Reflexology can be used with any condition; however, in the case of the long-term or chronically ill, regular Intuition and Sound Reflexology is often able to bring a reversal of symptoms, allowing a better quality of life. 'Singing to the bones' and other skeletal problems also works very well.
Different styles of 'singing' and voice work are practised in the workshops as the Sound Reflexologist needs to be totally uninhibited; intuition or inner feelings may sense a sound that might otherwise be considered discordant or disharmonious. Many cultures around the world use sounds regularly to express themselves: singing, chanting, wailing, shouting or humming. There are many more that can be just as effective for the reflexologist and their client. Clients' responses can vary during treatment – sleep, relaxation, imagined colours, colours in motion like waves or dots, and feelings flowing or pulsating to a specific part of the body.
Those that do not 'see' in this way might sense a tingling, heat, cold or pain in a particular area. Past memories may surface, or emotions such as joy, anger or gratitude. Often, there is an energy shift or realignment, which can be experienced as a twitch or jerk of the body. In some cases, the client may like to join in with the sounds, as a cathartic experience.
In any event, individual response should be encouraged as part of the session – there is no 'right' or 'wrong' reaction – the sixth sense will lead the way.
Case Studies
Case Study 1
Client R: a woman of 73 years, who has upper back scoliosis, with the clavicle and scapula raised slightly on the right side. She has 'tennis elbow' pain in her right side. R manages to live with her back discomfort and has recently found that a course of Intuition Reflexology helped a digestive complaint that otherwise meant surgery. She was willing to try Sound Reflexology for the tennis elbow pain. She had four treatments twice a week for two weeks and was very responsive. She was able to 'see' moving colours and experienced waves of sound coming upward from her feet and directly into her elbow. She relaxed well and the pain was gone after the course and has still not returned after three years.
Case Study 2
Client T: a woman of 50 years, who was physically abused when she was in her forties. She experienced severe pain in her left buttock and thigh and had tried many other therapies. The Sound Reflexology was carried out weekly for six sessions. The sound used was discordant, perhaps reflecting T's pain and anguish from her past trauma. After the fifth treatment, when she reached home, she experienced a severe headache and vomited. The pain had gone the next day. The sixth treatment was used to check that her whole system was in balance after the release.
Case Study 3
Client J: a woman of 63 years, who has diabetes and multiple sclerosis (MS). She has been having regular Intuition Reflexology to help the mobility in her feet as she is able to walk with a frame. As with most cases of MS, one side of the body is affected more than the other side. J's left foot drags when she is walking and her left hand is stiff. Concentrating more on the left hand and foot, Sound Reflexology is being used on a weekly basis. J relaxes well and 'feels' the sound, which is mainly lower tones with vowel pronunciation, move up and around her neck. She is excited by this experience and feels better in herself. This case study is ongoing.
The author with Client J using intuition and sound reflexology at the Sue Ryder Care Hospice in Peterborough
Case Study 4
Client A: a woman of 49 years, who has MS. She is experiencing lower back pain. She has been having reflexology to help the mobility in her hands, enabling her to write. There has also been a problem with constipation, which has been cleared. In applying sound to the reflexology with A, I use deep, comforting sounds with overtones. She sees waving lines of colour, changing their shades and settling into her lower body. Her back pain has been significantly reduced. This case study is ongoing with weekly appointments.
Reflexology Around the World
There is a concept that we are all one – that we are all part of humanity and everything that makes up the elements of the universe.
No one person lives in isolation; we are all part of a larger consciousness. This concept can be applied to reflexology. Whatever happens to any individual reflexology practitioner may affect other reflexologists. Wherever the ability to practise reflexology is threatened or granted credibility, it will affect other reflexologists globally. That is why we keep a watchful eye on how reflexology is received by health authorities around the world.
Reflexology has been defined as a touch therapy. It involves the application of the appropriate pressure to the reflexes of the feet and hands by a trained practitioner to bring about a physiological and psychological change by stimulating subtle energies. Treatment in the East and West is very much patient centred regardless of which technique is used.
Beryl Crane and her husband (seated) getting ready to be received by the
Minister for Health Beijing, Professor Hang Xiongwen
As I travel around the world lecturing, I come into contact with many different types of reflexology with different training methods, and reflexology is recognized in too few countries.
I personally have always used combination treatments incorporating the hands, feet and, in later years, the ears. I have always embraced the zonal and meridian theory. I find a reasonably firm pressure, working within the patient's pain threshold and adapting my pressures on the reflexes according to the state of the body, to be my best guide. I have utilized acupressure therapy, which is really a traditional Chinese art technique, as a further adjunct to my reflexology. Using specific acupressure points on the feet, legs, hands and arms stimulates the meridians, which promotes healing either directly or indirectly to modulate the autonomic nervous system.
When training other graduates in reflexology, I have always aimed at the highest level. All my graduates achieved over a 70% pass in anatomy and physiology and reflexology. This ensured that the education was maintained. Contra-indications should always be addressed. It should be borne in mind that if any factor suggests that the treatment is unsuitable, one should err on the side of caution and if in doubt, do not treat.
The capacity of reflexology and its all-embracing range of benefits are even more remarkable today. Every reflexologist can attest to an increase in the blood circulation. Tension is immediately relaxed in the nervous system and the normal energy flow is restored, and numerous disorders are helped.
Many explanations have been given for the marvellous results a reflexologist obtains when giving treatment. Basically, I think the most important thing is to cover the dorsal and plantar areas as thoroughly as possible. If the foot is in the correct position, not only the nerves but also the acu-points can be worked from toes to knee. Even though reflexology and the meridian theory are totally different concepts, the nerve line at the commencement of the meridian will access the central nervous system.
We know the acu-points on the extremities are particularly potent, with the points on the feet being more dynamic than those on the hands. These are designated as the fountainhead or well points on the fingers or toes, and the source points are found around the ankle or wrist. We know that the energy or Qi at this point is very powerful and has a very strong action. The energy at the sea points, which lie on the elbows or knees, is said to be more general and less active, thus achieving a slower response. Therefore, if these acu-points are incorporated into every treatment session the patient benefits twofold.
Reflexology is at an interesting stage in its development: research programmes are emerging from around the world; there is a greater demand for complementary therapies, and some countries are beginning to recognize their worth.
Recently Prince Charles urged the government to put millions of pounds of public money into researching alternative health-care. The Prince of Wales is Patron of the Foundation for Integrated Medicine (FIM) its aim being to raise the profile of complementary medicine. FIM have been very instrumental in helping us to further our quest to be recognized at the professional level that reflexologists deserve.
Background
Because the issue of safety is paramount, the regulation of reflexology is very much under way. Regulation is most important, as it means that the general public are assured of having treatment by suitably qualified practitioners. Here in the UK we launched both the newly formed Reflexology Forum and World Reflexology Week (WRW) on Monday 25 September 2000 at the Royal Society of Medicine, Wimpole Street, London. Invitations had been sent to government officials and over 500 members of the press.
At the Royal Society of Medicine at the Launch of the Reflexology Forum
The launch took the form of an address by three speakers: Michael Fox, chief executive of the FIM, which had been instrumental in bringing the Forum together and had allowed us to use its head office, which provided us with neutral territory for the organizations to meet; Simon Mills, independent chair of the Reflexology Forum, who had helped us to develop the regulatory path we must now follow; and myself, as president of the International Council of Reflexologists (ICR).
The Reflexology Forum has created a body with two main aims:
1. To develop a national qualification framework based on the revised National Occupational Standards (NOS) for reflexology, which should be published later this year;
2. To pave the way for regulation – 'Paving the way to regulation' is the wording that is on our banner.
We are still on the bottom rung of the stepladder. We still have to examine the options open to us, i.e. voluntary or statutory self-regulation. There is still a lot of work to be done before we become totally unified. The Reflexology Forum may well be a pilot scheme for other complementary therapies to follow. It is quite true that there is a great variation of training throughout the UK. There must also be some monitoring of quality and this can only be achieved by having a controlling body, which will go some way towards creating the correct structure to regulate reflexology.
In my launch address, I spoke about how the initiative of WRW was first formulated in London in 1997 at one of the ICR board meetings and how, in 1999, the Governor of the State of Hawaii issued a proclamation to this effect, announcing that every year, during the last week of September, celebrations for WRW would take place. Over 32 countries had been notified about WRW, and information is still coming in from them, reflecting the enormous amount of enthusiasm that everyone entered into this global event.
Hopefully, we can all look back on our achievements in the coming weeks to see if all the hard work and time spent have been worthwhile and maybe this year there will be even more participants.
For many weeks the Education Working Group of the Reflexology Forum have been meeting, discussing and finalizing the revised National Occupational Standards for Reflexology with the help of Stephanie Kiryluk, the Complementary Medicine Project Manager of the Health Care National Training Organization. Eventually a final draft was agreed and Stephanie then forwarded the finished documents to everyone who would be attending the Reflexology Forum Meeting on the 7th February 2001 at the FIM Head Office in North London. All representatives of the major reflexology organisations agreed these standards, and the Project Manager will now be submitting them to the Projects and Standards Advisory Group for approval. This is another step forward in the development of Reflexology in the UK as a profession.
Various Types of Reflexology in the UK
The Ingham method was formulated by Eunice Ingham, who is known as the 'mother' of reflexology, and this forms the basis of Western reflexology practice. This specific method utilizes the finger and thumb to walk all areas of the feet. Doreen Bayly was also a pioneer in reflexology. She trained with Ingham and returned to England to practise and teach reflexology. Many different versions have grown from this as people adapt their method, but hopefully the key principles have not been lost.
From this original technique of pure reflexology, many of the light touch techniques emerged, some linking one or more points; when linking, constant light pressure is maintained. There is a lengthy list of differing techniques for contacting the reflexes, which can be positively daunting to a reflexologist who wants to pursue all avenues. For instance, there is synergistic reflexology and colour reflexology, and also the MagneTech, which is an instrument that can be used with perfect safety on the reflex points. The rotational effect changes the poles 260 times, far too fast for the body to recognize that the north pole is supposed to calm the body down and the south pole revitalize the body. A pure magnetic field is produced, and this provides a sustained and stabling effect, thus enabling the body to regain control and balance.
Vertical reflexology is a system that you can read about in another article in this issue of Positive Health, (see page 15) the theory being that, when treatment is given in the standing position, the vertical weight bearing amplifies the stimulation. This only confirms the use of the many implements sold to the public in China: many weight-bearing stones and appliances, some of which are electrical with a lower platform moving, some excruciating to stand on, and some with an area shaped like the feet with raised nodules on the spinal area – this multi-pointed sole massager is specifically used for low back pain. The standing position is usually recommended for only three minutes. Stimuli are on the arch of the foot, and the treatment is repeated 3-4 times each day until the person has more mobility and less pain.
Germany
In Germany there is a method called energetic reflexology. There is no physical contact; the hands are held as near to the feet as possible without touching, and movement can be all over the feet. If the therapist feels there is a blockage, then the hands become static, the theory being that the energy from the therapist's hands unblocks any imbalance.
Hungary
Education is now quite comprehensive. There is a state authorized exam in reflexology, and there are over 1000 reflexologists in practice either working from home or in clinics.
China
The Rwo Shur method was brought to China in 1986 by Father Joseph, a Catholic priest who was born and raised in the eastern part (German section) of Switzerland. Father Joseph, who speaks English, French and German plus several Chinese dialects, went to Taiwan in 1970. He belongs to the Missionary Society of Bethlehem, which has missions in several different countries around the world. He suffered with rheumatism in the knee and could hardly walk. A colleague had brought a reflexology book back to Taiwan and this friend worked on him, following the diagrams in the book. Father Joseph found the treatment very painful, but received almost instant relief. He obtained and read the book Good Health for the Future through Foot Reflexology, written in German by a Swiss nurse, Hedi Masafret, and started practising immediately. He was a totally self-taught man.
Father Joseph worked on the many Christians who could not attend church due to ill-heath. He would go and visit them, treating them and training many others on the way. Over a period of time many thousands of people were helped. Some doctors heard about the priest who could help most problems, and it had already been noted that there was a drop in the amount of medication being prescribed. Father Joseph then received a letter from the Health Minister forbidding him to do any more reflexology. He immediately wrote a letter to the President and Vice President of Taiwan, and he also encouraged anyone who could speak on his behalf to do so as well. The Vice President invited him for a meeting together with the Health Minister. The Vice President was quite sympathetic and said to the Health Minister, "You cannot forbid Father Joseph from doing reflexology. Just because it is a method that you do not understand, how can you forbid other people from doing it?" The Vice President found a hospital where Father Joseph could continue his work, and he worked under the guidance of a doctor. Many doctors still wanted to get rid of him, but he had the protection of the Vice President.
Soon, however, Father Joseph became exhausted and he realized that he could not continue the work by himself. He started to train many other Chinese helpers, and there was hardly anyone in Taiwan that had not heard of reflexology. He was then asked to introduce the method to Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and China.
Rwo Shur are the two characters of his name Joseph, and it was subsequently called the Joseph method. The Rwo Shur Health Method came to China in 1986, although Father Joseph never went to China until 1990. That is where I first met this most remarkable, wonderful man. The Chinese people loved him, as he is a very charismatic character. Treatment was very aggressive and painful in those early days; nowadays, hopefully because of the Western influence a much more nurturing touch is used. Treatment can still be painful, as the theory is such that you only get the best results if you work a little deeper. Sometimes treatments are twice a day and they work to the level of pain that you can stand. It is quite amazing how many successful case histories they have amassed.
Many of the Far Eastern practitioners now use wooden or magnetic implements to push and probe the reflexes; many also use the knuckles. A lubricant, cream or oil, usually herbal in origin, is always used during a treatment session.
My first visit to China had been a personal visit in 1987, and this was brief but most exciting. It was a short trip that became a memory of a lifetime; the country was steeped in history. I was told that a short trip into China would only be a preview and little did I know that I would visit time and time again as I grew to admire and love the people that I became involved with in the reflexology world. I saw great changes in the people and watched the country change and develop further over a few short years, even from the wearing of their traditional blue outfit to modern Western dress.
I had become interested in reflexology in the early 1980s, and my obsession grew. This science became so fascinating that I was hungry for information from every source. Unknowingly, in 1987, I had already become involved with China, as on this first visit I had a body massage at the hotel where we were staying, which also involved my feet being worked. The Chinese therapist had asked me if I was involved in healing because my surname 'Crane' denoted 'longevity'. I replied that I was already participating in a growing and deep commitment to reflexology, which was beginning to take over my working life. He did not understand about reflexology, as all areas of my feet were worked in the most excruciating way. So, when I started my school in 1988, I used the Latin term of 'Longus Aevum' (meaning 'Long Life') on a banner beneath two graceful Crane birds, and this is my individualistic logo to date.
So when an invitation arrived on my desk six years later inviting Westerners to attend the first China Reflexology Symposium in Beijing in 1993 and also offering me the chance to present a paper, I decided that this visit was a must. It was the start of many return trips to China and a wonderful friendship with Hang Xiongwen, chairman of the China Reflexology Association (CRA) and Zhang Hongjing its general secretary. I also developed a friendship with Christine Issel, the Australian and Danish reflexologists and the many worldwide reflexologists I have met and exchanged views with since. Of their 31 regions, 29 sent a representative to the first CRA Symposium, so many people practise in China. Many doctors, because they have to retire at the age of 65, find that doing reflexology in private practice is an advantage. Many have submitted anecdotal evidence to the CRA on the therapeutic value of reflexology.
The culmination of all these marvellous visits took place in October 1998, when the CRA took us on an awe-inspiring visit to the Great Hall of the People, where we were introduced to leading personnel of the Chinese State Government. Not only was Chairman Hang Xiongwen proud and visibly moved by this acceptance and endorsement of reflexology by the Chinese Health Officials, but as an early visitor my heart also swelled with pride that this wonderful science was shared by so many, as over 800 delegates gathered together to have a photograph taken.
When we returned this time, there was evidence of even greater change – the brand new futuristic airport was open. The pavements and pathways have all been renewed; several more shopping malls have opened and there are also walk-in reflexology clinics. Reflexology has become big business. One of the reflexology clinics had 100 couches laid out, and at 10 pm in the evening every one of these was occupied. Clients are allowed to smoke, and many overseas visitors and businessmen frequent them. Some of the smaller centres have as few as ten beds. Treatment is very uniform and very painful; no contraindication list is given to you, as the therapist tells you what is wrong with you. This is not how I see reflexology progressing.
China has gone through a transition, but the experience will always be different to anything else because of its culture, which is evolving and exciting and, as is often stated in many guide books, 'China is still a country like no other'.
Receiving treatment at Reflexology Clinic Beijing
United States of America
Reflexology in practice in the United States is the same as in the UK. Most people work from home in private practice, some have their own clinics or work within a beauty salon or other multi-discipline centre, and a few work within a hospital setting. Treatment is the same, and you go to whomever you are most comfortable with. In the United States the Reflexology Association now covers a similar curriculum to the UK. You can still get the short courses, but most people now realize that educational standards are of the utmost importance and they aim for the highest level.
The situation in the US is somewhat unique, as, unlike most nations, the United States has no national health laws. Most of the power to make laws regarding health is held in the hands of each individual state. To obtain a reflexology law with the necessary standards would require legislation being passed 50 different times. This would require an immense amount of time and thousands and thousands of dollars.
Reflexology treatment is seen as a stress reducer, with less emphasis on disorders. People in the US use the term massage very loosely to include many of the touch therapies. Massage therapy is very powerful in the United States: each state has its own association and millions of dollars in its national treasury to spend on legislation. So it is very hard to work against the massage profession in the US, as they are most determined to have anyone who touches and works on the body in any way to be licensed and ruled by them. However, because of the reflexology following, and in order to keep its regulation separate from the massage laws in the US, the Reflexology Association and the American Reflexology Certification Board (ARCB – a voluntary independent certification board) work hard to promote public safety through the recognition of practitioners meeting certain standards. Part of the ARCB's time is spent in educating other bodywork disciplines and government officials about the differences between reflexology and massage.
Massage has to be licensed to protect the public in order to:
* separate themselves from prostitution;
* receive insurance rebates, because insurance companies usually only reimburse licensed professionals.
Reflexology has only 24 state associations; many are very small, some having less than 50 members. There is only one state that has its own reflexology laws – the state of North Dakota – and there are two states, Washington and Arkansas, that have reflexology mentioned within the massage laws.
South Africa
The following in-depth report came from the South African Reflexology Association (SARS), which has been working for many years to become recognized, and reflects the current status. The reflexology world has been and still is watching with great interest to see the outcome. We can only thank Jessica Hart, the chairperson, for such a full picture of the work to date.
* An application was made to the Chiropracters, Homeopaths and Allied Health Service Professions Interim Council in 1995;
* After due consideration, the Interim Council invited the professional associations of the ten modalities, therapeutic reflexology being one, to be involved in rewriting the Act in order to be included in same;
* A presentation was made to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health in June 1998, in support of the application for therapeutic reflexology to be considered for statutory registration;
* A further presentation was made to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health on 30 October 2000;
* After extremely wide consultation with all stakeholders, the Chiropracters, Homeopaths and Allied Health Service Professions Second Amendment Bill was passed on 3 November 2000;
* The Bill was signed by the State President at the end of November and the Act was published in the government gazette on 1 December 2000;
* This allows for inclusion of ten professions under the Act: chiropractic, homeopathy, Ayurveda, osteopathy, naturopathy, phytotherapy, therapeutic massage, therapeutic aromatherapy, therapeutic reflexology and Chinese Medicine/Acupuncture;
* The draft regulations for the Act have been published in the government gazette, and will lie open for public comment for one calendar month. The public comment period should close by mid-January;
* Once relevant public comment has been worked into the regulations by the Department of Health, the regulations will be published for the final time in the government gazette;
* At that time the State President will sign off the Act, and the Minister of Health will instruct the registrar to open the necessary registers, therapeutic reflexology being one;
* The Minister will also give special notice in the government gazette for the setting up of professional boards;
* Once the register has been established, it will be mandatory for every therapeutic reflexologist to register with the Council in order to practise legally;
* It is anticipated that the register for therapeutic reflexology will be opened by February 2001;
* Nominations for, and election of, the candidates to represent therapeutic reflexology at professional board and Council level will be decided by the registered therapeutic reflexologists;
* The Council, after consultation with professional boards, will make recommendations to the Department of Health in terms of legislation for the professions that fall under it.
Jessica further informs us that, in terms of education, with statutory registration the Council will take on the role of education quality assurers, and all training institutions offering therapeutic reflexology will be assessed by the Council to ensure that the education criteria are set and standards maintained.
Denmark
In Denmark it said that over 26% of the population have received reflexology treatment. Reflexology graduates are now listed in the thousands and reflexology research is funded by the government.
Russia
Reflexology is not recognized by the authorities. It is in fact illegal to practise it. It is not well known by the general public, although they do embrace complementary treatments such as massage and bodywork.
New Zealand
In New Zealand, government recognition is also being sought for a national educational curriculum.
Japan
There are no laws governing reflexology in Japan. The Reflexology Association of Japan (RAJA) is run by a mother and daughter. Maki Fujita, the daughter, trained in the UK, and when she returned to Japan she set up a school. Since 1997, she has trained 5,990 graduates of reflexology. There are over 30 reflexology centres dotted around Tokyo and the outlying districts, and approximately 6,000 treatments per month are undertaken in their salons, which are located in shopping malls and other busy areas. They are most professional in their décor, some having as few as ten treatment couches and others as many as 30. They have an appointment system, but also pick up a lot of passing trade.
Japanese Contraindication List
Contagious and infectious disorders of the feet or body
Pregnancy
Those on heavy medication
Heart disorders
Inflammation of the venous system, such as phlebitis or thrombosis
Schizophrenia, phobias and epilepsy
Cancers, tumours and AIDS
Oedema
Diabetes
Gallstones
Kidney stones
Thyroid imbalances
If you have any of these disorders you are advised not to have treatment.
The couches are low lying and the therapist kneels at your feet. After reading a contraindication list (see table) and assuring the therapist that you do not have any of the problems stated, you commence your treatment. Your feet are first soaked in a hot tub of a herbal mix for a few minutes, and you then have a choice of whether oils or powder are applied to your feet prior to treatment. This is very uniform, each patient getting the same treatment, and you can have 30 minutes or one hour. Knuckles are used on the plantar surface of the foot, and, even though there is no verbal exchange, you are very much aware of the therapist finding every sore spot. There is a lot of work and probing on the longitudinal and transverse arch. The massage strokes are very firm on the leg, and almost agony in certain places as they work the line of the meridians. After treatment there is an increase in your sense of well-being, and greater flexibility and relaxation of the musculature of the leg and foot. On a side note, a headache that I had had for two days was completely eradicated, and not a word had passed between the therapist and myself. I was handed a small cup of herbal tea before I left feeling very invigorated and refreshed.
Conclusion
Reflexology has also come to our high street. Boots the Chemist has now set up complementary clinics in some of its flagship stores around the country, where reflexology as well as massage and aromatherapy are being offered to the general public. It is vital for the success of reflexology that there is some form of unification and registration. Do not let us lose the whole ethos of reflexology, which offers a gateway to health and healing.