Reflexology: Not Just for Your Feet

It is a common belief that reflexology is only concerned with a person's feet. This is much too simplistic an explanation. Reflex points can be found in many places over the entire human body. Here are the main methods and areas of the body used by natural health practitioners who utilize reflexology.

The body is a whole unit. The parts work together and are connected. Because of this, there are reflex points through the entire human body. A reflex point is a spot on the body that corresponds to a body part somewhere else in the body. This whole body idea is readily accepted and recognized by any holistic professional. They will use the whole body concept to create a natural therapy that is unique for each person they treat.

The main method reflexologists use is foot, hand, and ear reflexology. The most commonly used of these is the foot. A map of the body is placed over the foot and used to manipulate certain organs in the human body by using pressure on the area of the foot that corresponds to that organ.

Another type of reflexology that is sometimes used is bowel reflexes. Some natural health practitioners believe there are reflex point within the human bowel. When there is a discomfort in a certain part of the body, it can be linked to inactivity or problems found in the bowel.

Iris reflexes, or iridology, is a study of the idea that the iris reflects inherent weaknesses or tendencies in the body. A pie-shaped map is used to apply the areas of the iris to parts of the body. A trained iridologist will read this map and deduce information about the health of the patient.

An addition way to practice reflexology is to use body reflex points. This type of practice utilizes reflex points over the entire body that correspond to internal organs. There are even reflex points used on the tongue. Like other methods, there is a map of the human body that is used to correspond reflex points with other parts of the body.

There is no part of the body that is isolated from the rest. For example, when you ingest something that does not agree with you, it not only affects your stomach, it affects the rest of your body as well. In addition, if you take good care of one part of your body, the rest will be affected. Take good care of several parts of your body and the affect is multiplied.

SOURCE

Wolfe, Frankie Avalon, Ph. D. "Complete Idiot's Guide to Reflexology". 2006. Penguin Group. New York, NY, USA.