Reflexology is the physical art of applying pressure to the
feet or hands using the fingers, hands or tools. Reflexology can be used with
or without oils. The favored method, is to use essential oils that have been
cut with a carrier oil for greater therapeutic effect. The hands and feet are maps
to the body’s internal systems or zones. Reflexologists are able to gather information
from the hands and feet. The feet are a sensory organ, by using pressure movements
and stretching the reflexologist can interrupt the stress or accumulation of the
system’s constipation. By doing this the body will respond in a predicable
manner or effect. Using pressure and specific techniques to the feet or hands,
will create movement or stimulation in the targeted areas which the body will
respond to.
Using the body’s nervous system, the reflexologist can outline
the body’s mechanisms and interrupt the system’s constipation. Our reflexes are made to protect the body from
being hurt or damaged. If you put your hand over a fire, the heat from that
fire will trigger a sensor to pull your hand away before it gets burned. This
reaction is very common because the body’s autonomic nervous system will send a
signal to the brain, the brain then interprets the signal as something is wrong
and tells the muscle to pull the hand a way.
Stimulation to the feet or hands is a route to the different
areas of the body. The reflex images on the feet and hands are a map which
represents the paths the system can take. Within the different zones, individual body
systems can be effected with pressure. The ball of the foot—with stimulated massage
or triggering—can affect the chest, lungs and heart. The arch of the foot
contains areas that will affect the diaphragm, stomach, pancreas and duodenum. The reflexologist goal is to respond to key
areas of stress or constipation to help the individual regain his or her normal
state or function.