Reflexology Explained

Welcome To Self-Help Reflexology : 

Welcome To Self-Help Reflexology Lorraine Watson Certified Reflexologist 2007 International Institute Of Reflexology Passionate about Reflexology Want to spread the benefits of this amazing modality A little about me

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Reflexology is the science that deals with the principals that there are reflex areas on the hands, feet and ears that directly correspond to all of the organs, glands and parts of the body. Reflexology is the unique method of using the thumbs and fingers to work on those reflex areas to unblock the nerve impulses and improving blood flow, creating a homeostasis balance allowing the body to normalize. Reflexology is not a foot massage. Massage is the palpation of soft tissue and muscle whereas reflexology is the stimulation of nerve pathways. A good foot massage will relax the body; however, the thumb- and finger-walking techniques used in reflexology involve direct application to the sensory nerves. The sensory nerves carry information to the brain while the motor nerves carry information to the body, resulting in the release of essential chemicals that the body utilizes for health and well-being. What is Reflexology?

The Top TenBenefits Of Reflexology : 

The Top TenBenefits Of Reflexology Helps alleviate stress and tension. Improves circulation throughout the body. Aids in the removal of toxins. Helps the body maintain a natural state of homeostasis. Encourages the immune system to work at its optimum level. Helps rejuvenate the system and increase energy levels. Breaks up blockage affecting the flow of energy. Relieves common aches and pains. Contributes to the overall well-being of the body and mind. Promotes healthy organ function. Valerie Voner-2003 “The Everything Reflexology Book”

History Of Reflexology : 

History Of Reflexology The history of reflexology finds its roots in cultures around the world. Many cultures use feet as a way of healing the entire body. Footwork has been around for a long time. Its traces can be found throughout most ancient peoples, with references not only to working on the feet but also to the importance of feet in daily life and spiritual life. In Egypt in the tomb of Ankhmahor, a physician to the king at Saqqara there is a pictograph that is used as a definitive reference to reflexology.

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The Papyrus Institute in Cairo translate the pictograph to say; Patient; ‘Do not hurt me’. Doctor; ‘I shall act so you praise me’.

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1907: Russian neurophysiologist and psychiatrist Dr. Vladimir Bekhterev who studied the formations of the brain and investigated conditioned reflexes. He was the founder of psycho reflexology. He also started the term “reflexology” in 1932 and lectured the “General Principles of Reflexology”. 1909: American physician Dr. William Fitzgerald a respected ear, nose, throat surgeon from Connecticut was teaching in Vienna in the same city and time frame Dr. Alfons Cornelius published his book “Pressure Points, their Origin and Significance”. When he came back to America he used Zone therapy to deaden pain, replacing drugs in minor operations. He treated lumps in the breast, uterine fibroids, respiratory problems, and eye conditions. There was controversy on zone therapy from 1915-1930’s but eventually it met an amount of success with doctors and dentist. He is accredited for the woodcut body that has the ten zones divided. 1911: German physician Dr. Barczewski introduced "action honoring book of my Reflex massage". 1915: Dr. Bowers wrote an article called, “To Stop that Toothache, Squeeze your Toe”. It was published in Everybody’s magazine. 1917: Dr. Edwin F. Bowers encouraged and helped Dr. Fitzgerald to write his first book called “Relieving Pain at Home”. 1930’s: American physician Dr. Joe Shelby Riley of Washington D.C., who Dr. Fitzgerald trained. He worked with hand, facial and ear points. He published a book called “Zone Therapy Simplified”, which detailed the first diagrams of reflex points found on the feet.

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1932: English physiologist Sir Charles Sherrington studied the spinal cord and later studied problems with spinal reflexes he won a Nobel Prize which proved that the whole nervous system and body adjusts to a stimulus when it is applied to any part of the body. He shared the Nobel Prize with Dr. Edgar Adrian a British electro physiologist, who studied the mechanism of nervous action; electrical studies of the neuron. Also in 1932, Eunice Ingham, a physiotherapist of St. Petersburg, FL. Eunice was a student of Dr. Joe Riley continued to chart the feet and further developed Zone therapy into Reflexology. She found that the “reflexes on the feet were an exact mirror image of the organs of the body”. In 1938, she published “Stories the feet can tell” and “Zone Therapy and Gland Reflexes”, in 1951 she published “Stories the feet have told”. After the books published she toured America conducting workshops teaching the lay person’s they can help themselves, family, and friends. 1950’s: Eunice’s niece, Eusebia Messenger, R.N. and nephew, Dwight Byers, joined her in conducting the workshops. As interest grew, they started a school called “National Institute of Reflexology”. Dwight and Eusebia continued teaching and researching Reflexology after Eunice’s death in 1974. 1960’s: Mildred Carter a minister wrote the self-help book called “Helping Yourself with Reflexology”. 1970’s: Dwight Byers renamed the St. Petersburg, Florida School “International Institute of Reflexology”. He wrote a book called “Better Health with Reflexology” and started schools all across the world. If it was not for Dwight, the field of Reflexology would not have gained the acceptance that it has in the past years. 1991: The American leaders of Reflexology created the American Reflexology Certification Board (ARCB) to set national certification standards among professional reflexologist. 1993: William Flocco and Terry Oleson PhD wrote a research paper and presented it to the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology it proved to show how reflexology reduces women's P.M.S. symptoms by 46 percent for the eight weeks of weekly treatments. And this was maintained with 42 percent reduction of symptoms for eight weeks after treatment. This was not as effective as drug treatments; however reflexology did not have the side effects that drug treatments had. This study was the first American scientific study that accredited Reflexology as an effective therapy for PMS.

Who Is Reflexology Beneficial For? : 

Who Is Reflexology Beneficial For? Babies Teens Seniors Kids Adults

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Everyone is eligible to receive Reflexology. There are few contraindications that should be avoided when Reflexology becomes the therapy of choice. * Reflexology on the foot is discouraged in patients with foot fractures, unhealed wounds, or active gout in the foot. Patients with osteoarthritis that impacts the foot or ankle, or those with vascular disease of the legs or feet, should consult with their primary provider prior to beginning reflexology on the feet. An acceptable alternative would be to use reflexology on the hands and ears. * Clients who report current thrombosis or embolism (which is an obstruction of the pulmonary artery or a branch of it by a free-floating blood clot or embolus) should not receive reflexology treatment. Since reflexology improves circulation, it could potentially cause a clot to move towards the heart or brain. * For women in early pregnancy (the first 6 weeks), the reflexology treatment is altered by treating the uterine and ovarian reflex points more gently or by avoiding them altogether. In general, caution should be exercised during pregnancy because of reports that stimulation may cause contractions. * Babies and young children will receive benefit from many techniques, but rarely have the patience for a whole treatment. Thus, sessions are abbreviated in length. * If you are using other touch therapies, such as massage, allow at least 48 hours between touch therapy sessions to avoid an overload on your system. *Persons whom suffer with Spinal Fluid Buildup

The Ten Zones : 

The Ten Zones In the mid 1800’s Dr. William Fitzgerald developed what is known today as Zone Therapy . 10 Longitudinal Zones encompasses particular areas of the body; therefore an organ, bone, or muscle in a specific zone will have its reflex in the same zone on the foot that correlates with that body part. Dr. Joseph Shelby Riley continued the Zone Therapy studies proving Fitzgerald’s Zone Therapy and went on to write several books supporting it. Riley and his wife also opened a school to train others in zone therapy Eunice Ingham worked and studied under Dr. Riley and in the 1930’s it was Miss Ingham that brought Zone Therapy and Reflexology together. How Can Pressing On My Feet Or Hands Help My Body?

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A Map To The Feet Susan Watson 2003 ‘Master The Healing Art of Foot Reflexology’

A Map To The Hands : 

A Map To The Hands

What Can You Expect From a Reflexology Treatment? : 

What Can You Expect From a Reflexology Treatment? You will be asked to fill out a client form sheet that will ask questions about past and present aliments and all current medicines that you may be taking. The practitioner will examine your feet for any open sores or scars. The reflexology session begins with a few massage techniques to get the client in a relaxed state. The practitioner will start with the right foot and work the reflexes completely and then move onto the left foot and work it completely. A full session will take anywhere from 45-60 minutes. Drinking lots of water after a session is vital to flushing the toxins that will be released during the session. A ‘health response’ is likely to occur after a session. Some examples of ‘a health response’; feeling energized, sweating may occur, you may be dizzy when you first stand up, old chronic pain points may feel allot less painful, you will feel relaxed, stress will melt away.

How Often Should You Receive A Reflexology Session? : 

How Often Should You Receive A Reflexology Session? In China, they receive reflexology treatments on a daily basis. With our busy lifestyles that is unrealistic. I recommend either a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly session. I like to begin a new client with four weekly sessions. More consistent sessions may be necessary if chronic pain is an issue. Thereafter, a monthly session will maintain the results achieved on previous visits. Some clients see immediate results from one session. Others may take a few sessions to see complete results. Chronic Conditions can get optimum benefit of Reflexology if performed 2-4 times a week. The motto for chronic is “more often, less time, less pressure.”

The Different Systems Of The Body : 

The Different Systems Of The Body The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spine The peripheral nervous system consists of sensory neurons, clusters of neurons called ganglia, and nerves connecting them to each other and to the central nervous system. These regions are all interconnected by means of complex neural pathways. The enteric nervous system, a subsystem of the peripheral nervous system, has the capacity, even when severed from the rest of the nervous system through its primary connection by the vagus nerve, to function independently in controlling the gastrointestinal system.

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The Endocrine System Hypothalamus Gland Pineal Gland Pituitary Gland Thyroid Gland Adrenal glands Testes / Prostrate Ovarian / Uterine

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The Muscular System Muscles provide strength, balance posture , movement and heat for the body to keep warm. 639 Skeletal Muscles Cardiac-Heart Muscles Heart muscles are distinct from skeletal muscles because the muscle fibers are laterally connected to each other. Smooth Muscles Smooth muscles are controlled directly by the autonomic nervous system and are involuntary, meaning that they are incapable of being moved by conscious thought.

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The Skeletal System There are 206 bones in the adult human skeleton, a number which varies between individuals and with age - newborn babies have over 270 bones some of which fuse together. These bones are organized into a longitudinal axis, the axial skeleton, to which the appendicular skeleton is attached.

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The Circulatory System The circulatory system is an organ system that passes nutrients (such as amino acids and electrolytes), gases, hormones, blood cells, etc. to and from cells in the body to help fight diseases and help stabilize body temperature and pH to maintain homeostasis. This system may be seen strictly as a blood distribution network, but some consider the circulatory system as composed of the cardiovascular system, which distributes blood, and the lymphatic system, which distributes lymph.

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The Reproductive System~ Female Ovaries Uterus Fallopian Tubes

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The Male Reproductive System Testes Prostrate Rectum Bladder Uterer

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The Digestive System

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Spinal reflexes Nerves and how they relate

Chronic Conditions : 

Chronic Conditions

Want To Learn More About Reflexology? : 

Want To Learn More About Reflexology? Susan Watson, a local, renowned Reflexologist for over 22 years, has written 3 books about Reflexology that help the lay person or student learn more about reflexology. Whether you want to be able to help yourself or discover if the field of reflexology is for you, Susan’s 2nd book, ‘Master The Healing Art Of Foot Reflexology’ is available to you today at an extraordinary price of only $30. Susan Watson Susan has recently opened a traveling school called Healthy Soles School Of Reflexology. If you are interested in becoming certified, visit her website and check out when classes will be in your area. www.healthysolesschool.com

‘Practical ReflexologyInterpretation and Techniques’ Susan Watson and Valerie Voner 2008 : 

‘Practical ReflexologyInterpretation and Techniques’ Susan Watson and Valerie Voner 2008 Susan Watson’s 3rd book is the first International text book on Reflexology. Available through her website; www.healthysolesschool.com or Amazon.com Cost = $65.00

What Reflexology Means To Me : 

What Reflexology Means To Me I was introduced to reflexology by my sister-in-law back in 1995. She would work on my feet and I can remember feeling great afterwards. It wasn’t until 2005 that I realized that I wanted to learn more about this fascinating method of health care. I started my training through the International Institute of Reflexology, St. Petersburg, Florida. I attended classes for the next two years and was finally certified in December of 2007. Becoming a reflexologist has changed my life. It is by far the most rewarding work I have done. To be able to help someone feel better and get healthier by performing reflexology is the best thing I have done for myself and hopefully my clients agree that the work I do for them is as rewarding. I am prone to migraines and on two different occasions, by working on myself, I have been able to stop the migraine in its tracks and avoid a trip to the hospital. I wish I had the magic words needed to convince people how helpful and essential reflexology can be in their own lives. You won’t know until you experience it for yourself. This is a photo of myself and my two sons whom live in Westmont, Il. Danny, 19 on the left and Benny 21, on the right. That’s me in the middle!!!

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Lorraine Watson Certified Reflexologist P.O. Box 2 Davis, Il. 61019 815-238-4270 815-865-8011