Reflexology is a well known therapeutic method where the patients pain is relieved by stimulating predefined pressure points on the hands and feet. This controlled pressure helps to alleviate the source of discomfort. In the absence of any particular abnormality or malady, reflexology can be just as effective for promoting illness prevention and good health as it may be for stress relief, illness and injury.
A reflexologist works from maps of predefined pressure points which are located on the hands and feet. These pressure points are presumed to connect directly through the nervous system and they can affect the bodily organs and glands. The person doing your reflexology will manipulate the pressure points according to specific techniques of this type of therapy. When using this type of therapy, any part of the body that seems to be the source of illness, pain or potential debility can be significantly strengthened by applying pressure at the respective hand or foot location.
Origins
Reflexology is known to be a healing art of ancient origin. Even though its origins are not documented as well as others, there are reliefs on the walls of a Sixth Dynasty Egyptian tomb, and they depict two seated men receiving a massage on their hands and feet. Then from Egypt, the practice could have entered the Western world during the conquest of the Roman Empire. There have been many discussions around the fact that the Inca civilisation may have subscribed to the theories of reflexology and then passed on the practice of this treatment to the Native Americans in the territories that eventually entered the US.
This type of therapy promoted healing by stimulating your nerves in the body, it also encourages the flow of blood. In this process, reflexology does not only quell the sensation of pain but it relieves the source of the pain as well.
You might have heard a few stories where reflexologists have claimed success in the treatment of many conditions and injuries. One of these conditions are fibromyalgia. Those who have this specific type of disease are strongly encouraged to undergo reflexology therapy in order to alleviate any number of chronic bowel syndromes that are associated with the condition. As an alternative to drug therapy, frequent brief sessions of reflexology is recommended for controlling the muscle pain associated with fibromyalgia and for relieving difficulty in breathing that is caused by tightness in the muscles of the patients throat and neck.