Reflexology Is Another Form of Massage Therapy
Reflexology is another form of massage therapy. Similar to shiatsu,
it is a physical act of applying pressure to the feet and hands using
specific thumb, finger and hand techniques without the use of lotion. It
is based on a system of zones and reflex areas that reflect the human
anatomy on both the feet and hands which in theory have significant
effects on the entire body.
This form of massage therapy has been
around for thousands of years. There is archaeological evidence that
suggests this was used by the Egyptians in 2330 BC, China in 2704 BC and
Japan in 690 BC. The West only knew about reflexology in the 19th
century.
Although reflexology is usually applied to the feet and
hands, there are those who also apply the same thing to the ear. This
technique is considered to be a modified from auricular therapy which is
an acupuncture technique.
In general, reflexology is used to reduce
stress because both the feet and hands help set the tension level for the
rest of the body. If you are able to fix that, then there is balance in
the body. It can also help those who are suffering from arthritis, back
pain, digestive disorders or problems, hormonal imbalance, insomnia,
menstrual disorders, sports injuries and tension headaches.
You
must never go for reflexology if you are pregnant, have foot ulcers or
blood clots. If you are doing this for the first time, you better tell the
professional your medical history.
Whether reflexology can help
certain conditions and diseases is still being determined. But even if
other tests need to be made, many experts agree that it is complement to
standard medical care. With that said, patients should never use it as a
replacement to medical help.
The best part about reflexology is
that it is not painful. If this happens, you should tell the reflexologist
to go down one notch. If there are certain areas in the body that are
sore, tell them to focus on it as this will decrease with
pressure.
Reflexology can be done at anytime and anywhere. If you
have the time, you can even do this once a day. In fact, given its
popularity most hospitals and HMO's now consider this for insurance
reimbursement as it is often used for post-operative or palliative care.
In fact, one third of cancer patients undergo reflexology
regularly.
Most sessions being conducted by practitioners may last
from 30 minutes to an hour. It is also a clothed session so the only thing
you have to remove is your shoes and socks. You don't even have to lie
down on a table because some will perform this while you are seated on a
chair.
At the end of each session, you should feel relaxed. How
long it lasts is a good indicator as to how effective it was. If you will
be having another session in the future, you should give feedback to the
reflexologist so they know what to do the next time you drop
by.
Reflexology is another form of massage therapy you can try if
you want to relieve tension from the body. If you are interested in trying
it, all you have to do is check if there is one within your
neighborhood.
Get expert advice about massage therapy at http://www.articlefog.com/category-massage-therapy.htm.
Here you can find all information about what you should know about massage therapy,
different types of massage therapy, massage therapy benefits and many more.
Article Source: www.ArticleFog.com.
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