Looking for more information on foot reflexology benefits? Did you know that by touching a specific point on your sole, you can treat from a bad digestion to back pain? There are so many nerve endings in our soles that can produce the reflex effect from the ovaries to the brain.
The foot reflexology is the therapy in charge of treating the ailments of several points of the body touching a specific place in the foot.
Have you never heard of reflexotherapy? Do you want to know exactly how this therapy works and what benefits it has for our body? In this article, we tell you everything you need to know about the foot reflexology benefits!
What is foot reflexology?
Reflexology is an alternative therapy based on massages and pressures on a specific part of the feet, deals with other parts of our body.
Pressing on a specific point of the sole of the foot, we can get a reflection in the area that we want to treat. Through these massages, organs and different body parts are toned. With this, the balance of the whole organism is maintained and health is improved.
It is not necessary to confuse the reflexology with a normal massage since these relieve the tension of the muscle and the joints, but they do not have benefits on other parts of the body.
Foot reflexology comes from Chinese medicine, where it has been used for more than 4,000 years. In 1917, Dr. William Fitzgerald, together with the masseur Eunice Ingham, introduced this foot reflexology benefits method to the West. Ingham mixed his research with this therapy and for this reason, Ingham is considered as the mother of Western reflexology.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, our body is traversed by various energy channels called meridians. These meridians are not used simply in reflexology since they also serve as a guide in acupuncture.
Currently, it is no longer used simply by alternative medicine; there are also physiotherapists who use it in their treatments. It is not considered a science, but many professionals are interested in its practice.
How does reflexotherapy work?
Our body contains millions of nerve endings connected to each other. The foot, especially its plant, is connected by these to a large part of the points that make up our body. It is for this reason that, when touching a particular point of the foot, a reflex occurs in another part of the organism.
Even if it does not work in the same way, you can use the pulse of the heart to understand it better. Although the heart is somewhere else, its pulse can be measured by touching a point on the wrist or neck, among others. Similarly, touching a particular point of the foot is a part of our body away from each other.
For years, maps have been made of the points of the feet, but the most concrete and used is that of Ingham since it unified the various maps that were then. This map shows each organ of our body and its reflex point in the foot. For example, touching an exact point of the heel achieves a reflex in the ovaries or testes, while nerve connections with the brain are found in the fingers.
What is the purpose of foot reflexology benefits?
Foot reflexology benefits have endless healing power for our body. Besides helping to treat different ailments, it serves to prevent them and achieve body harmony.
Here are some of the benefits of foot reflexology for the body:
- It has a relaxing effect and eliminates stress
- Stimulates lymphatic and blood circulation
- Improves the body’s immune system
- Regulates the functioning of organs
- Balances energy and vitality levels
- Eliminates toxins
- It serves as preventive therapy
- Relieves pain (anti-allergic effect)
- Stimulate creativity
- Improves mood
- Avoid constipation
- Detoxifies the organism
- It is very useful in asthmatic people
- Relieves menstrual pain
- Improves the quality of sleep
- Relieves migraines
- It is used to treat fibromyalgia
These are just some of the best foot reflexology benefits. Depending on the ailment you have, if it does not appear in the previous list, you can always go to a specialist to find out if you can also be treated with this alternative therapy. In addition, this therapy can be used in all the public, from children to pregnant women and the elderly, including babies.
Foot reflexology to lose weight
Foot reflexology can also be used to lose those extra pounds and it is also a very popular used therapy. Pressing on the exact point of the foot can trigger responses of our body that promote fat burning and weight loss.
Below, we show you the steps used to lose weight, although they should always be done with the review of a specialist.
Reduce hunger
To reduce hunger, you must support the left foot with the right hand and work with the thumb the area that is a reflection of the spleen, since the stimulation of the spleen reduces hunger.
Get store the maximum nutritional value
By working the reflexes of the pancreas and the stomach, the body is allowed to absorb more nutrients from the food consumed, which is useful in case of dieting and eating less.
Weight loss
It is very important to lose weight through this therapy to stimulate the gallbladder. This organ stores bile, which emulsifies the fats of partially digested foods and produces weight loss.
Regulate the appetite
By stimulating the endocrine glands a balance is promoted in the secretion of hormones, which reduces the appetite. In addition, it helps reduce stress, which is an important factor in diet and appetite.
To work properly, you have to press the reflex points of the thyroid, the pituitary gland and the adrenal glands.
Improve the quality of sleep
By improving the quality of sleep you are less stressed and therefore, eat less. For this reason, it is important to stimulate relaxation through this therapy if you intend to lead a healthy life.
Foot reflexology: contraindications
Although doing a foot reflexology massage does not have to produce any problems, you have to take into account some side effects that can cause and the contraindications.
Here we show you when it is better to postpone your treatment with this therapy.
When is it not convenient to do this therapy?
We often see these foot reflexology benefits are huge, but in the following cases it is better not to do it:
- If the patient suffers from fungus since it can stick them to the masseuse
- If you have recent injuries to your feet
- With phlebitis or thrombophlebitis
- If you have a very high fever
- In case of surgery is necessary
- It is not recommended either to people who have suffered heart attacks or chest sores
- In case of suffering from any infectious disease
- During the first three months of pregnancy, in case of risk of abortion
- Diseases of the blood or lymphatic circulation
What side effects can it cause?
These adverse effects are common and occur largely due to the elimination of toxins that the body makes.
Not everyone suffers side effects, but these are some of those that can cause:
- Dark colored stools
- Bad smelling urine
- Fatigue
- Cough and mucus
- Accentuated perspiration
- Excess thirst or hunger
- Flatulence
- Increase in intestinal transit
- Increased urination
- Humor changes
- Shaking chills
Even so, there are endless foot reflexology benefits, it is always best to make sure before starting this reflexology therapy. Whoever does it should know exactly what to touch, so it is always best to go to a specialist.
