Migraines and headaches can get the best of us. What seems to be a perfectly good day can take a turn for the worse the minute you start to feel that raw pain. And if we are being honest, we most likely don't have a concierge reflexologist at our fingertips to do the trick! Use the chart above the next time you are in a pinch and have got to get rid of that pesky headache. Massage each of the points by putting pressure on both the top and bottom of your foot (like a tiny finger clamp) for 5-10 seconds, alternating between each point! Happy days aHEAD (see what I did there?)

So let's say you are cooking some delicious dinner, a stew of some sort, and as you pick up the spoon to stir, you realize you are unable to grip the spoon. As the spoon falls to the floor, pain shoots up your arm from your wrist. I know this sounds like a bad commercial, but it is a problem all too common for my patients. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

CTS has many causes including repetitive motions, commonly found in the workplace. (Think typing or stapling, yes, stapling). There are quite a few things you can do to help CTS, but since we are in the business of natural healing, let's talk about the pressure points that can relieve the pain from CTS.

 

The first point that can help treat wrist pain is located at the center go the inner side of the forearm two finger widths above the wrist. Gently massaging this point on both arms using the fingertips can help in relieving carpal tunnel syndrome, wrist pain and nausea. This point is also beneficial for treating motion sickness and vomiting during pregnancy, digestive disorders and headaches.

The second point is especially useful for treating neck , shoulder and arm pain associated with CTS. This point is located on the outer side of the arm, in the hollow in the center of the wrist at the crease. Stimulating this point also helps in relieving rheumatism, tendinitis and tennis wrist pain and strengthens the wrist. In addition, it is also useful in treating ear problems, deafness and painful throat.

The "Great Mound" is effective in treating wrist and thumb pain. This point can be found in the middle of the inner side of the wrist crease. This point aids in relieving all types of wrist problems like wrist tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and rheumatism. 

Last is a point known as the Arm Three Li, and it is extremely beneficial for treatment of wrist and arm pain. This point is located on the outer side of the wrist crease, two finger widths away from the crease. This point is very effective in treating wrist, elbow and shoulder pain issues along with general ache in these areas and paralysis in the upper limbs. This point is also helpful in treating nausea, vomiting, ulcer pains and digestive disorders and building of energy level in the body.

If you are experiencing spoon dropping pain, talk to your reflexologist about what their recommended course of treatment, as well as what you can do at home to help things move along!

So what is plantar fasciitis? It is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It involves pain and inflammation of a thick band of tissue, called the plantar fascia, that runs across the bottom of your foot and connects your heel bone to your toes. It commonly causes "morning foot" which is a stabbing pain that occurs with the first few steps you take in the morning. Sound familiar? There is an actual diagnosis and even better, a way that we can treat the symptoms through reflexology!

Risk factors for plantar fasciitis are obesity, arthritis, flat feet, high arches, running or walking long distances, being a dancer and wearing high heels on a regular basis. Essentially anyone can have this problem. If you are in good shape because you are a runner or walker, you are at risk. If you are in bad shape because you aren't a runner or a walker, you are at risk.

While reflexology is subtly aligning your body, it is also triggering hormones that reduce pain and stress throughout the body. It also stretches the areas the cause plantar fasciitis, relaxing the ligaments and muscles of the foot and calf. This increases circulation and flexibility which reduces pain and inflammation. It is a cycle and reflexology can help break it!

Join us again to learn exercises you can do at home to help prevent plantar fasciitis!

Regular reflexology treatments are beneficial in regulating the hormones involved in the reproductive system. This is demonstrated not only in successful pregnancy, but also in improvements in PMS, heavy or irregular periods and painful menstruation, with patients reporting positive feelings, better relaxation, deeper sleep, improved sex drive, regular cycles, better flow and of course, in some cases, pregnancy. 

"That is all fine and great," you say, but it doesn't apply to me because I have (insert a reason here). On the contrary, studies that have been conducted on reflexology and infertility, did not take the finest of women, who were most likely to become pregnant anyways. The studies include (and some done solely on) women with polycystic ovaries, recurrent miscarriage, annovulation, dysmenorrhoea, unexplained infertility and hostile cervical mucus. And guess what? Balancing the body, releasing toxins from reproductive organs and clearing energy pathways through reflexology can help not only relieve the symptoms, if not eliminate problems altogether.

Let's talk about babies and how they get into this world. No, this isn't th ebirds and the bees talk. Watch enough television and you can have that figured out. Today we are talking about reflexology and the effects it can have on pregnancy as well as labor and delivery.

the changes a woman's body endure while pregnant, can often be overwhelming. Luckily, maternity reflexology has been effective in treating morning sickness, lack of energy, pain and discomfort, digestive disorders, heartburn, indigestion, fatigue, swollen extremities, backache, cramps and incontinence.

Studies have shown that continual treatment during  pregnancy reduced heartburn, hypertension and swelling by a sweet 50 percent. The study also used reflexology as an alternative for labor inducing drugs with much success.

In another study, first-time mothers between the ages of 20 and 25 who received reflexology regularly during their pregnancy had an average labor time of just five to six hours (with some lasting two to three hours). Many of these women did not require anesthetics during or after delivery.

Be warned that maternity reflexology is an art and should only be performed by professionals who have their certification in maternity reflexology. Without proper training, one could induce labor far too early on accident.

Lucky for you, I have my certification and have seen first-hand the benefits of reflexology during pregnancy!

Join us on Monday as we talk about reflexology and infertility!

When dealing with achy joints and painful movement, these are the areas of the feet to focus on! Refer to this foot map for the exact placement of the corresponding areas.

Arthritis is one of those things that we recommend regular treatments for. it is much easier to keep under control when the reflexes are worked often! Be Well!

It's Monday! Tired? Weekend too much? Or are you energized now but know around 4 o'clock you will be wishing your desk was a pillow?

What is it all about? Say it with me. BALANCE. Do I sound like a broken record yet? But really, if you think about it, your body is telling you something when you are exhausted. Why is it that one person can work full-time, have three kids, keep a clean house, cook dinner from scratch every night, all while writing a New York Times Bestseller?  A maid. Well, maybe they do have a maid, maybe they don't. It is clear however, that they have a lot more energy than someone who can barely make it through a day without needing a nap. Try these three reflexology points to rebalance your body for more energy!

Long-term stress can fatigue the adrenal glands. Stress causes the adrenals to release adrenaline and cortisol and if you’re always stressed, your adrenals are working overtime. (Remember our talk about adrenals and weight gain?)

The reflexology point for the adrenals is located right below the pad of your feet at the top center of your soles. To massage this point, use the knuckle of your index finger. Press into the point and then twist your wrist back and forth as if you’re turning a door knob. Massage for 15 to 30 seconds at a time, up to a total of 2 minutes two to three times a week.

The Thyroid 

Hypothyroidism occurs when your thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormones, slowing down your metabolism. Low thyroid function can cause people to feel tired, sluggish and depressed.

The reflexology point for the thyroid is the curve just below the ball of your foot. To massage this point, use the knuckle of your index finger. Start at the top of the ball of the foot just under the point between the big toe and the second toe. Press into this point and follow the curve of the ball of your foot with your knuckle until you reach the inside edge of the foot. Then repeat. Massage for between 15 to 20 strokes.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Kidneys are considered “the root of life.” Essentially everything that can feel like depression, tiredness, weakness, lack of energy can be attributed to the kidneys.

You’ve got a kidney reflexology point on each foot. It’s located on the sole of the foot. To find this point, imagine a horizontal line dividing your foot in half from the tip of your big toe to the base of your heel. It is located right below the adrenal pressure point.

To massage this point, press it with your thumb and rub up and down. If you feel extra-sensitive spots, press deeply and massage in small circles. Alternately, you can use your knuckles to rub in an up and down motion.

There is no "quick fix" for energy, unless you buy it in a bottle, and those are worse for you than having no energy at all! Keep practicing. Day by day your body will feel more and more energized. You will surprise yourself with how much you can accomplish when your body is balanced!

The need to "earth" has only recently come onto the scene. Recently as in, the last few decades or generations. Let's just face it. Most of us have become "city folks." Even if we don't technically live in the big city, we are more likely to sit inside and watch a movie or surf pinterest than we are to go outside and play barefooted. It is what it is.

So what are we missing out on? A. LOT. Believe it or not, when you are connected with the ground, say through walking barefoot in grass or even gardening with bare hands, you are exchanging electrons with the earth. It acts as a detox for your body. This allows for better sleep. reduced stress and tension, less pain and better immune function. Not only that, but it could potentially eliminate the harmful effects of electromagnetic fields given off by all the electronic devices in our world (think cell phones people).

So how can you earth? So easy!

1. Walking outside barefoot

2. Sitting on the ground

3. Gardening without gloves (think hands in the dirt).

4. Even small things like mud masks!

According to earthing experts, electrons drawn into the body from the earth neutralize damaging free radicals and by extension reduce disease-related chronic or acute inflammation. 

So how does this relate to reflexology? Walking barefoot (the most common way to earth) stimulates the pressure points on the feet. If you've been with us for any time at all, you know that those pressure points directly correlate to the systems in your body. Stimulating the points means stimulating the whole body, Detoxing the whole body!

How cool is that?