5 Things Your Feet Can Heal

When most people think of foot reflexology, they think “relaxing foot massage.”  This is absolutely true, but foot reflexology goes quite a bit beyond relaxation and can actually affect change throughout the entire body.  In particular, I find in practice that Foot Reflexoloy is especially effective for:

• PMS Symptoms, especially bloating, water retention and menstrual cramps
• Foot and Ankle Swelling
• Constipation and Diarrhea
• Plantar Fasciitis and Foot Pain
• Headache

Though it can treat quite a lot more.  Foot reflexology has been researched in treating generalized pain, to moderate the side effects of cancer treatment, to decrease PMS, to help with general relaxation and anxiety to name a few.  

While Acupuncture is my primary treatment method of choice, over the years I have had a number of patients who wanted help with their symptoms but were uncomfortable with needles and therefore came for reflexology treatment alone.  The disorders listed above are the ones I have found the most success with when using foot reflexology as a solo method of treatment.

My experience has shown me that foot reflexology can heal some of these issues, though when using foot reflexology alone a series of treatments is required for success.  I generally recommend for reflexology only treatment, that you should begin with weekly sessions for 6 weeks.  To treat PMS with foot reflexology alone can require 8-12 weeks since women only cycle once per month - we have to work regularly through several menstrual cycles to ensure that we are really affecting change through the entire hormonal cascade.

As a Licensed Acupuncturist I incorporate foot reflexology into all of my face-up Acupuncture sessions. It is so effective, I feel like it doubles the efficacy of my acupuncture treatments for the disorders listed above, as it can quickly add a powerful 2nd layer of healing to each Acupuncture session.

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Benefits of Foot Reflexology - Tried and Tested

Foot Reflexology is deeply relaxing and has many benefits.  A typical session varies from practitioner and practitioner, but at All Ways Well each session includes quiet relaxation on a massage table, a steam towel wrap to relax and warm the feet, focused foot reflexology on all surfaces of the feet - bottom, heel, top, sides, even the toes - as each of these areas have different reflex zones to treat, as well as a lower leg massage both to relax the muscles and fascia which are essential to foot function, and to stimulate the energetic channels that affect the feet.

The benefits of foot reflexology include:

• Relaxation
• Stress Reduction
• Anxiety Reduction
• Increased Circulation throughout the Entire Body
• Pain Reduction
• Specific Organ Function Moderation

Just like acupuncture, fMRI studies show that foot reflexology activates the brain in areas corresponding to the reflex zones, NOT just to the sensory area allocated to the foot itself.  This means that foot reflexology actually stimulates the brain to pay attention to the organs in question, thus validating that it can measurably affect organ function and pain sensation.


Furthermore, research has shown specific benefits when foot reflexology is used to treat PMS.  When treated once a week for 8 weeks, the women who participated in the Oleson and Flocco study in 1993 and received actual reflexology instead of placebo demonstrated significantly greater decrease in PMS symptoms, both somatic (physical) and psychological, and in some cases the results lasted for two months thereafter.

According to Chinese foot reflexology theory, which is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, foot reflexology works on several levels.  It increases Blood Circulation, it stimulates Nerve and Humoral (lymph, endocrine) Regulation, it energetically balances Qi through the channels of the feet, and it is a microcosm of the body meaning that different applications of pressure in different organ and tissue zones can affect varying degrees of change in those body organs and tissues.

A trained foot reflexology practitioner will be able to use specific depths and durations of pressure in different reflex zones to affect specific change in the body.

In my ideal world, all of my patients would receive a combination of Acupuncture and Foot Reflexology or focused bodywork to heal most effectively.  For those who are not comfortable with Acupuncture (yet?…) Foot Reflexology is an incredibly effective method for healing the body using physical and energetic techniques rooted in the same ancient history as Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Questions? Contact Rebecca via email anytime, or book a free 15 minute consultation anytime! You can also post in the comments section and I’ll do my best to address your concerns.

Until next time,

~Rebecca

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