Reflexology: The Definitive Practitioner's Manual: Recommended by the International Therapy Examination Council for Students and Practitoners. Beryl Crane

work on the hands only.

      • Problems in the reproductive system – these can be exacerbated by excess weight of the trunk on the lumbar spine and pelvic areas.

      • Oedema of the legs – this is a fluid accumulation in the lower parts of the body, often due to varicose veins.

      • Disorders of the legs or lower back – these occur if undergarments are too tight or from prolonged sitting with the legs crossed or standing in one spot for too long. Many such everyday activities may cause a restriction to the blood flow and this may cause tingling and even discoloration in extreme cases.

      Many times behaviour patterns and sedentary lifestyle or physical inactivity can create a disorder or exacerbate a problem. Too much standing, or too much sitting, or any activity in excess, are contributory factors that the reflexologist should always bear in mind. Being overweight can also cause too much pressure in vessels; that is why it can often be a common problem of pregnancy.

      It is imperative that if there is any prolonged inactivity, simple stretching exercises are suggested. Even flexing and rotating the feet and wriggling the toes will promote a healthy return of the circulation. Or you can get up and walk around on tiptoes to relax the shoulders, then walk on the heels for the lower back.

Recommending treatment

      Reflexology is beneficial for many of the behavioural problems discussed above, especially vein problems and haemorrhoids, because stimulation encourages the venous return to the heart. It also stimulates the connective tissue and improves circulation generally, and helps disperse oedema, especially if there is swelling in a joint, and alleviates pain in spinal areas, possibly because of increased blood supply so nutritive compounds are transferred to muscles without any overload of toxic lactic acid (which is produced through voluntary muscle contraction). It helps in tissue renewal as it triggers growth hormone release from the pituitary, which stimulates new bone growth, aiding in healing of fractures.

      Before commencing treatment, one has to consider many different factors. For instance, is the illness of sudden onset, or chronic? If it is chronic the system would be very depleted. The age of the person is not really important because young and old alike will benefit. Contraindications must always be considered, also the person’s threshold of pain, and their reaction to reflexology during, between and after treatment. A patient should always react positively; if there is any uneasiness during treatment one should always stop and use one of the many relaxation techniques. These can be used to calm, tranquillize, balance or revitalize. The body seems to know when it needs invigorating and when it needs to be restful. When treating patients we have to take into consideration all these many factors.

      Contraindications to treatment

      Specific factors in a patient’s condition may make it unwise to pursue a reflexology treatment. These can include medication and some illnesses. Reflexology can often be given on the hands when a person is very sick or depleted as this ensures that there are less toxins released into the body. Every practitioner must learn to be able to adapt their pressure and area to work on, according to each of their patient’s individual needs.