Reflexology is a form of complementary and holistic healthcare.

The therapy is based on the principle that the body can be divided into ten vertical zones, each corresponding to an area of the foot, so that the feet are in effect a map of the body in miniature. On each foot and hand are found areas known as reflex points corresponding to each gland and structure in the body. A sensitive area of the foot indicates a problem/ need for balance in a corresponding organ of the body and, by working on the appropriate trouble spot the problem can be helped.

Reflexology can be an effective way of relieving pain and helping to restore the body’s natural balance and well – being. Treatment is based on the gentle massage of the feet and the specific areas related to the parts of the body. Reflexology can offer health benefits of reducing stress, improving circulation, cleansing the body of toxins and the revitalisation of energy levels.

Reflexology will not fix problems such as broken bones or hernias but if used regularly it will enhance any other treatments received by keeping the circulation stimulated and the lymph system active. Feelings of vitality and well-being are often experienced after reflexology treatment which encourages the healing process throughout the body.

 Reflexology can treat nearly all health problems. Although all reflex areas will be massaged, the therapist will pay specific attention to the actual problem area. So, for migraines, strokes, multiple sclerosis, etc. pressure will be applied to the reflex point in the foot or hand that relates to the head and the connecting areas. In this way the reflexologist will treat all disorders according to where in the body they occur, for example, neck, back and hip problems, sciatica and arthritis will be treated in the musculoskeletal area and angina, high blood pressure and any circulatory problems will be treated in the heart reflex area and so on. 

A reflexologist does not diagnose but refers clients to their GP should any severe reactions occur.

Holistic treatment sees the maintenance of health as a continuous process with links to the body’s own mechanisms to achieve homeostasis. The body is continually seeking to balance the functioning of systems and organs to maintain health. Holistic care recognises this and seeks to build upon and use these powerful internal resources.

An holistic approach means accepting that each person is unique.

The maintenance of health is regarded as relatively unique to each individual, dependent on lifestyle and including physical and mental well-being. This recognition of the uniqueness of individuals is apparent particularly in Chinese medicine, where the patient is treated rather than the disease. This results in different people with the same symptoms and same disease receiving different treatment.

Holism encompasses the physical, emotional, spiritual and environmental aspects of an individual. The theory is, that body, mind and spirit form an integrated whole and are inextricably connected with the environment. For someone to be healthy all these elements must exist in a dynamically balanced state of well-being. This idea is not new and Plato in the third century BC said, “no attempt should be made to cure the body without the soul”. Imbalances in any of these aspects leads to disease and ill health. A physical symptom such as a headache may be related to an underlying psychological problem and although dealing with the physical symptom alone may well relieve the pain temporarily, it will not necessarily bring about a long term solution.

Holism recognises the self-healing potential of the individual and the individual’s power to influence this potential. It has been said that, ‘ healing isn’t simply a matter of finding the right drug or operation, but a complex process of accepting responsibility for your own life’ (L McTaggart; ppxviii). Symptoms can often, in traditional healthcare be seen as constituting the disease rather than the body’s fight against disease. Moreover, traditional medicine, being essentially allopathic, aims to suppress or destroy symptoms. The body is treated systematically, ‘ like a machine that can be understood in terms of it’s parts’ (D.F.Rankin-Box; pp 1). This approach should not be completely dismissed but, it frequently minimises the impact of broader factors in our lives that can have serious implications for health. If  the self healing capacity of the body is recognised then the approach to the person as a whole by the therapist is seen as beneficial in the healing process. In fact, such an approach is likely to lead to easier identification of treatment based on fuller knowledge of a person.

In holistic healing the relationship between the therapist and patient is one that is open, equal and reciprocal. An holistic approach should affect the doctor as well as the patient. Emphasis is placed on the sharing of decision-making and the setting up of acceptable goals for both clients and practitioners rather than on treating patients. In fact, ‘cure’ derives from the word ‘curiosity’ and in complimentary therapies, clients are encouraged to be curious and take destiny into their own hands. Illness represents ‘a creative opportunity for a patient to learn more about him/herself’ (D. Watson; pp188)

A holistic approach to healthcare involves working with many interlinked aspects of a persons life in order to obtain a balanced state of well being. This involves not only complementary therapies but due consideration of the benefits that can be achieved by use of western medical techniques. To fail to consider all such options is to fail to be holistic. The empowerment of the patient or client is a vital part of this approach and nurturing the body, mind and spirit  is a key component of long term health.

References 

D. Watson; 1995; Dictionary of Mind and Body.

D.F.Rankin-Box (ed) ; 1988; Complementary Health Therapies : A Guide for Nurses.

B. MacEoin; 1999; Natural Medicine.

L. McTaggart; 1996; What Doctors Don’t Tell You.S. White; 2000; Aromatherapy, a Practical Introduction