Reflexology promotes self-healing

Relaxation is the most important step toward healing.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Most people probably pay little attention to their feet unless they are injured or so sore that each step becomes a challenge in pain tolerance. But to a foot reflexologist, the feet are a pathway to whole body wellness and balance.
Dating as far back as ancient China and Egypt, touching, massaging, or anointing the feet was a symbol of comfort, support and wellness. Mary K. Griffiths, a registered nurse from Canfield, believes reflexology is a way "to help the client find that place within themselves that they can begin self-healing."
Griffiths became certified at the National Institute of Massotherapy in Akron in 1994, where she studied shiatsu, Swedish massage, touch for health, and reflexology. She learned "zone theory" reflexology, which divides the foot into zones, bars like longitude and latitude, each representing a different organ in the body.
The concept behind reflexology is that there are nerve endings in the feet, hands and ears called reflex points, and by applying pressure to these points, energy blockages may be cleared. No one is really sure how this works, but one possible explanation is that the 7,000 nerve endings in the feet interconnect through the spine and brain to all other organs in the body, and stimulation of these nerves affects the corresponding organ.
Relaxation
Griffiths believes relaxation is the most important step toward healing. "If the client is not relaxed, their sympathetic nervous system will be active, and adrenaline, norepinephrine, and cortisol will increase. These chemicals are released in 'fight or flight' response. In our modern, stressful lives, we are unable regulate them in a healthy way and tune into the parasympathetic nervous system which activates relaxation by reducing blood pressure and slowing the heart rate. Nothing can heal unless we relax."
After Griffiths relaxes her clients with deep breathing exercises, she "fluffs" the foot by rubbing briskly for complete relaxation. Then she begins to work on the diaphragm, represented right below the ball of the foot, the adrenals, and the spine, which runs from the heel to the tip of the toe. The right side of the body is represented by the right foot and the left by the left foot. Griffiths points out that foot reflexology is not massage, but acupressure. As she touches the feet, her skill and intuition guide her to problem areas in the body, where there might be an energy blockage or imbalance, or potential illness with a particular organ.
She tells of a girl, MacKenzie Hagy, of Canfield, who began treatments for severe sinus problems at age 8. After four months of reflexology, Hagy stopped taking her medication. "Now, at age 12, MacKenzie is so self-aware," says Griffiths." She can tell when a cold is coming on because she feels 'crunchies' in her toes, and will do reflexology on herself, or ask her mom to help."
In addition to "crunchies," which is a congested feeling, the client may feel a pinching or tenderness when the foot is touched, which represents the energy problem in the corresponding organ.
Emotional pain
Griffiths is also often able to discern where emotional pain is being stored in the body. She says, "After relaxation, confidentiality is the most important element. When a client relaxes, if there is trust, they begin to open up and talk. They often find clarity in issues, which lead to their self-healing."
Another client of Griffiths, Dawn Schwartz, of Austintown, suffers from hypothyroidism and often feels a lump in her throat. It disappears after a foot reflexology session, leaving her feeling "completely better and relaxed."
Increased circulation, relaxation, and release of tensions are known benefits of reflexology, which often leads to natural wellness. Some also believe that it can detoxify organs and rejuvenate tired tissues and cells. And most people simply find foot reflexology enjoyable.
It is always recommended, especially if you are a novice, that you seek someone trained in any holistic modality for best results. A professional can give much more insight and depth into any healing situation.
Fun tricks
However, just as many people practice yoga or meditation for self-healing and wellness, foot reflexology can easily be learned, and it can be fun, too. There is a wealth of information on the Web, including charts which are maps of the soles of the feet designating each organ's location.
You can even buy reflexology socks with the chart on the soles! Kevin and Barbara Kunz are well-known for their books on reflexology, including "The Complete Guide to Reflexology, and My Relexologist Says Feet Don't Lie," which gives information on how to observe your feet for "stress cues."
Also included are instructions on how to apply pressure to the feet, information on scientific research in reflexology, and disorders related to stress cues in the feet. There is even a Web site devoted to foot reflexology for dogs.
XLaughing Crow is a practitioner of holistic healing. She may be reached at laughingcrow@neo.rr.com