| Reflexology |
Reflexology is a complementary therapy which is rapidly growing in popularity due to its well established reputation for helping patients de-stress and relax. My clients have found it particular effective for:
- PMT/PMS
- Headaches and migraines
- Sinus problems (including sinus pain, sinusitis, and nasal congestion)
- Stress and anxiety (including panic attacks)
- Digestive disorders (including constipation and irritable bowel syndrome)
- Stiffness
- Depression
- Tiredness (including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)
- Pregnancy (including constipation ,backache, pains, fluid retention and swelling)
Each Reflexology session lasts 1 hour and costs £35.00.
Scroll down to read the common questions my potential and existing clients ask about reflexology.
What is Reflexology?
Reflexology is a holistic treatment where pressure is applied to the feet using the hands. It was rediscovered in the 1920’s by an American doctor who utilised it for its pain relieving properties to perform minor operations without anaesthesia.
How can Reflexology help me?
As
a human being, you are a complex, delicately balanced machine that is
synergetic … everything working together for the benefit of the whole person. When
each part of you, mind, body and soul works in harmony, you feel at
your peak. At a biological level, this harmony is achieved by a myriad
of glands, organs, nerves, chemicals etc and if one of these gets out of
balance then the effects are felt throughout the whole body.
Reflexology restores your inner harmony and instils a sense of well
being. It treats the whole person and can be used to tackle a wide range of conditions such as pre-menstrual tension, headaches, migraines, sinus problems, anxiety, tension, insomnia, digestive disorders, backache, stiffness and tension.
What are the benefits of Reflexology?
- Relieving stress and tension
- Improving blood supply
- Unblocking nerve impulses
- Reducing pain
- Stimulating the body’s ability to heal itself
What can I expect during a Reflexology treatment?
A reflexology session lasts one hour. The client sitswith bare feet while the therapist applies pressure by hand to all areas of both feet. Imbalances in the body are detected as tender spots on the feet and normally these become less tender after a few minutes massage. However, it may not possible to remove all tender areas with one treatment.
Is Reflexology painful?
No. Some people feel nothing while others feel some mild sensations in their body. In either case the reflexology treatment is still effective.
What if I am ticklish?
If you tickle someone you use a very light pressure. During a Reflexology treatment I use a gentle but firm pressure to avoid tickling.
Is their any reason why I should not have Reflexology treatments?
Their are very few contra indications for Reflexology as it is a gentle, non-invasive therapy. Reflexology is unsuitable if you have a contagious illness, fever, deep vein problems (including thrombosis), epilepsey or have undergone recent surgery.
How does Reflexology work?
Different areas of the feet (or reflex areas) correspond to different parts of the body and the whole body is represented. By working on these reflex areas, a balancing effect can be brought about in the corresponding part of the body. The right foot corresponds to the right side of the body and the left foot to the left side. By working on both feet the whole body can be brought back into harmony.
Are their any side effects of Reflexology?
The aim of Reflexology is to restore harmony within the client and instil a sense of well being. During a Reflexology treatment, some clients experience fleeting sensations in their body. As part of restoring the body to balance some clients may notice subtle changes in their appetite, changes to their sleeping pattern, dream more often, go to the loo more often or feel tired. All of these reactions are short lived and the vast majority of my reflexology clients simply report that they felt tired after the treatment and then slept better.
I am pregnant, is Reflexology safe?
Obviously when you are pregnant you want to make sure everything you do is safe for both you and your baby. Reflexology is generally considered safe if you are pregnant providing all is well with the pregnancy and you tell the Reflexologist you are pregnant.
Reflexology should be avoided by women with a risk of pre-eclampsia or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and they should seek medical advice before having Reflexology. It is not suitable if:
you have a history of miscarriages
you have been diagnosed with Placenta Previa
you have been diagnosed with Hydroamnios
you have a history of miscarriages
you have been diagnosed with Placenta Previa
you have been diagnosed with Hydroamnios
The Association of Reflexologists says, "Nearly everyone can benefit from having Reflexology during pregnancy." The benefits include helping you cope with the emotional changes during pregnancy plus the physical changes to your body including tiredness. Reflexology also helps with the side effects of being pregnant e.g fluid retention, swelling, constipation, aches and pains including backache.
Reflexology can also help new mothers cope with the demands of their new baby.
How many Reflexology treatments will I need?
It is difficult to predict how many treatments are required to re-balance the body but in general, the patient should see some evidence of improvement after three treatments. In general, the longer a patient has had a condition the more treatments will be required.
Some patients have monthly Reflexology treatments to help them manage their stress levels and as part of a preventative self-care programme.
Is Reflexology available on the NHS?
Some fund-holding GP surgeries do recommend and pay for Reflexology treatments for certain conditions.
What is the history of Reflexology?
A 2,300 B.C wall painting in the tomb of Ankmahor, known as the physicians’ tomb, shows a series practioners giving patients reflexology treatments. In addition, there is evidence that reflexology was known to some early African tribes and the American Indians.
Dr William Fitzgerald and American ENT (ear nose and throat) consultant rediscovered it in the early 1920s. He found that by applying pressure to reflex points on the feet, he could anaesthetize a patient’s ear and this enabled him to perform minor ear operations. Eunice Ingham, a nurse, publicised much of Dr Fitzgerald’s research by treating patients, lecturing and training practioners including Dorean Bayley who introduced the therapy into England in the early 1960s.
Where are you based?
Vitality Therapy is based in Harpenden and serves patients in the local area including St Albans, Redbourne, Hemel Hempstead and Watford.
| To book call Joanne on 07712 52 96 52 or email Joanne@VitalityTherapy.co.uk. |