Academy of Ancient Reflexology

Professional Therapeutic Reflexology

Why Reflexology May Help With Fibromyalgia

getty_rm_photo_of_woman_holding_neckOver the years, I have worked with a number of clients suffering with fibromyalgia. In all of these cases, people came to me having heard that my sessions brought more relief than just massage therapy (which they were already receiving).

I don’t for one minute believe that my skills as a massage therapist exceeded those of the other therapists – but I did have an advantage.

My protocol was to first do foot reflexology to relax the nervous system and then massage the targeted areas of tenderness. Without fail, the addition of reflexology – given first – got far better results than just massage.

What the Research Says

Studies on fibromyalgia (FM) are beginning to explain why reflexology is such an effective approach to this chronic condition. The research now points to FM as a central nervous system (CNS) disorder, not an autoimmune affliction of the peripheral tissue, as once believed.[1]

Since reflexology has such a strong positive influence on the nervous system, it makes sense that it can provide such positive benefits for people with FM.

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia affects more than 3 million Americans, mostly women. It is a complex chronic disorder characterized by primary symptoms of widespread muscle pain and tenderness, fatigue, headaches, difficulty sleeping and irritable bowel syndrome.

fMRI tests show that when people with fibromyalgia are exposed to non-painful stimuli, areas of the brain are activated that normally are only activated by painful stimuli. Researchers believe that this may explain why people suffering with FM are often hypersensitive to all sorts of stimuli, such as light, sound, certain foods, heat and/or cold, not just pressure or touch.

What Causes It?

Two factors seem to contribute most to the likelihood of developing FSM: genetics (FM tends to run in families) and post traumatic stress syndrome. (Although there is an association between PTSD and FM, it’s important to remember that one does not necessarily cause the other.)

Review of a study of 600 participants with FM suggested that trauma often causes a person’s limbic system to go into overdrive, contributing to the CNS hypersensitivity as discovered in other studies.[2]

Treatment

Working with the fibromyalgia population is definitely not a one size fits all situation. What works for one person may not for another, so flexibility, patience and compassion are essential.

Most people dealing with FM find multiple strategies necessary in order to even decrease stress, improve sleep, reduce depression, and reach any level of daily functionality. Approaches, such as gentle reflexology and massage, acupuncture, yoga, as well as prescription meds are common methods amongst sufferers.

I can tell you though, from my own personal experience, that to bring any level of relief to people living with fibromyalgia is very rewarding. I encourage you to offer reflexology to those you know with FM, and if you’re also a massage therapist, add that in as well to add to the results.

 

[1] Michael J. Schneider, DC, PhD, David M. Brady, ND, DC, and Stephen M. Perle, DC, MS (2006) Differential diagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome: Proposal of a model and algorithm for patients presenting with the primary symptom of chronic widespread pain. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2006 Jul-Aug;29(6):493-501.

[2] Walen HR, Oliver K, Groessl E, Cronan TA, Rodriguez VM. Traumatic events, health outcomes, and health care use in patients with fibromyalgia. J Musculoskeletal Pain 2001;9: 19-38

Brain Development and Stress

bigger neuronsData from a Princeton University study adds still another reason to reduce stress in our lives.

Prior to Professor Elizabeth Gould’s research, modern neuroscience was predicated on the hypothesis that all brain neurons emerge during prenatal and early postnatal development; that brain cells were thereafter fixed. Brain development was believed to be determined by effort and determination.

Her research demonstrated two important findings to the contrary:

1. The primate brain (that includes ours!) is always creating new neurons.

2. The structure of the human brain is largely influenced by its surroundings, not by individual effort and determination. The research proved that chronic stress halts the production of brain neurons. This groundbreaking study revealed that the brains of stressed primates literally stopped creating new cells and neural pathways. In addition, evidence showed that existing cells retreated inward. (The brains were said to “disfigure.”)

Gould’s research carries monumental implications when we consider, not only our personal health, but also a society in which stress factors continue to mount.

Fortunately, there is much we can do with reflexology for our clients and ourselves when it comes to both combating stress and encouraging brain development. Reflexology is a modality proven to shift the autonomic nervous system from its “flight or fight” response to stressors to the healing state of “rest and repair”.

When people request a stress-reducing session from me, I immediately focus in on the reflexes of the central nervous system and the solar plexus; add in the adrenal reflexes to support those busy glands in their efforts to respond to excessive stimulation and the diaphragm reflex to aid in deep, relaxed breathing and improved oxygen delivery to the brain.

It’s nice to know, isn’t it, that both stress reduction and brain development can result from something as simple as a soothing session of hand or foot reflexology?

Please join us for an upcoming Reflexology for the Hands workshop or (foot) Reflexology workshop and learn more!

The Tragedy of Parkinson’s Disease

Reaching outParkinson’s disease is tragic. It’s challenging to live with – on levels I can’t even imagine – and heartbreaking for loved ones to witness. The incredible success that actor Michael J. Fox has had in managing his symptoms is due in no small part to his financial ability to resource the absolute best treatments available world wide. Sadly, that option is not available to most.

Erica Blinkhorn, a graduate of the Academy’s 2015 certification program, decided to see if a combination of hand and foot reflexology might help an 81 year-old woman with her chronic symptoms. You can read Erica’s exact protocol and the results of her research here. The study revealed a surprising outcome with a non-related health complaint as well.

Reflexology for Cancer Patients

MoisheIt seems everywhere I turn these days someone has cancer. It’s either someone in my immediate circle or some celebrity being reported on.

Cancer is the great leveler. No matter the stature or prominence of the individual, when cancer enters a family, it is usually an isolating and fear-provoking experience.

I want to share the power of reflexology as a safe and positive addition to other cancer treatment approaches; one that has proven to change suffering to healing, desperation to hope, anguish to contentment and fear to peace.

I also want to introduce my friend and colleague from Israel, Moshe Kruchik – a man moved to create a testament to the gift we give our fellow human beings when we honor and respect their body’s innate drive to heal.

A number of years ago, Moshe took it upon himself to organize the first International Symposium on Reflexology and Cancer. Out of that memorable event came the book, Reflexology for Cancer Patients, a selection of 53 papers from 12 medical doctors and reflexologists who have used reflexology to improve the quality of life for cancer patients. The book also tells the story of survivors who claim reflexology as an integral part of their recovery process.

The book reveals how reflexology closed the lonely chasm that develops between family members and patient by including the family as part of the reflexology team. Being able to offer purposeful, loving touch removed the fear that the patient was too fragile to approach, to touch; and in doing so strengthened the bonds that always existed.

An appendix at the end of the book provides useful information regarding Complimentary and Alternative Medicine Therapies in Palliative Care (CAM) including definitions of therapies recognized by CAM; prevalence of use in various populations; cost effectiveness; risks, benefits, contraindications; which therapy is best for individual disease processes (based on evidence-based research).

I think Reflexology for Cancer Patients is much more than worth a read. It’s inspirational –  and imperative for any reflexologist wanting to provide care to those people in their life who are suffering with cancer.

The book can be purchased directly from Moshe’s website or through the book’s Facebook page.

Your Two Brains

vagusI have been intrigued with the “gut brain” and the vagus nerve for some time now. I think that my curiosity has blossomed into love though; sparked by numerous articles that have come my way in the last couple of months. The most recent was published by Neuroscience News and reveals a relationship between Parkinson’s disease and the vagus nerve.

The study sited in the Neuroscience News publication clearly identifies a link between constipation, the vagus nerve and Parkinson’s disease. It’s an important study; I hope you will take a moment to read it. If it’s true that chronic constipation and other digestive issues are early markers for Parkinson’s disease, it makes sense to take steps early in life to ensue a properly functioning gastrointestinal tract.

According to an older research study published in Denmark, chronic constipation is the second leading ailment that brings people to seek out reflexology. I can certainly agree with that; it’s one of the top reasons people have sought out sessions from me.

The Vagabond Nerve
The wandering vagus nerve (vagus is Latin for “wandering”) is the most important nerve of the parasympathetic system that influences digestion. This vagabond nerve meanders from the brain to the stomach and digestive track, with stops along the way at the heart, lungs, spleen, liver and kidneys. Branching nerves are involved in speech, eye contact, facial expressions and even your ability to recognize other people’s voices.

The vagus nerve is also known as cranial nerve X, the tenth and longest of the cranial nerves to emerge from the posterior skull. It has approximately 1000 single nerve fibres and over 100 million nerve cells.

A couple of points that that have really grabbed my attention are:

~ Ninety-five percent of serotonin produced by the body is found in the digestive track, not the brain, as previously believed. Serotonin is often prescribed for reasons of psychological health, but interestingly, also for digestive distress. That makes sense now. In addition, dozens of other neurotransmitters and hormones we thought only to exist in the brain and spinal cord are now known to also live in the intestines.

~ One of the more fascinating facts about the vagus nerve is that 10% of these nerve communicate to the organs in the gut, while an astounding 90% communicate back to the brain. That certainly explains why in traditional Chinese medicine, the gut is referred to as the second brain. Maybe it should be the first?

Since the vagus nerve operates as part of the autonomic nervous system (the critical part that runs the show, behind the scene), we aren’t aware of its role in our lives; however, without proper functioning of this nerve, it would be difficult to carry out the everyday functions that we take for granted, like breathing, eating and speaking. No wonder I’m in love with this nerve!

The Vagus Reflex
The vagus nerve reflex is found bilaterally on the plantar surface of the feet under the medial sesmoid bone of the first metatarsal. Try incorporating it into your sessions with people struggling with respiratory and digestive issues. Who knows – it may end up being good medicine against future brain disorders.

Read more research on the vagus nerve.

 

Fibromyalgia Mystery Finally Solved!

It’s not all in your head! It’s in your hands!

Before you get too excited, that is just what the latest study on what causes fibromyalgia states. Ever notice that there’s a new study released almost every few months? And that none of them point in the same direction?

A 2011 report in Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology named fibromyalgia as the second-leading cause of visits to the rheumatologist. With no agreed-upon cause and certainly no cure, over six million people in North America are diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome!

And yet, fibromyalgia can take years to diagnose. It’s tough to label, because the symptoms – sleep problems, headaches, muscle pain, fatigue, trouble concentrating – can all be attributed to other maladies as well.

If you work with clients living with fibromyalgia, you may wish to read Jackie Anderson’s case study offering reflexology to a 68-year-old woman suffering from fibromyalgia for several years. Jackie is a registered nurse, Harvard graduate in mind/body healing and certified reflexologist from the Academy of Ancient Reflexology’s 2008 summer Therapeutic Hand & Foot Reflexology Professional Certification program.

In this study, Jackie’s study begins with the subject’s increase in symptoms from the first few sessions, leading ultimately to some surprising results. You can read the full study here.

Or you could just jump to the chase and offer hand reflexology, if what the latest study says is true!!

 

Living With, or Healing From Headaches

220px-MigraineWith media reports as prevalent as they are for headaches, you’d think there must be an increase in people affected. That turns out not to be true. In the United States at least, the statistics have held pretty steady over the last decade: approximately 12 million people visit doctors annually seeking relief from headaches. At least one-quarter of that group suffers from severe chronic tension or migraine headaches. So, why the increase in reported headaches then?

A little investigating uncovers two reasons:

  1. Advanced diagnostic machines;
  2. A more-informed and assertive patient population.

Those two factors have led to a doubling of tests being performed in the last 10 years.

Advanced testing procedures are not without drawbacks though. They are expensive, can lead to additional and often unnecessary procedures (like biopsies) and increase exposure to radiation.

And it turns out maybe not the best course of action.

New research has shown that lifestyle changes often have the biggest impact on reducing the incidence of headaches, and particularly those associated with sleep. According to one study, for example, 50% of people reporting chronic migraine headaches also disclosed poor sleep habits. A change in sleep habits made a significant difference for these subjects.

Scientists now believe that it makes sense to approach headaches first from a self-care strategy, leaving a medical consultation as a follow-up in the event that lifestyle changes aren’t the solution. I agree with that line of thinking; most – not all, but most – headaches result from habitual practices that sabotage our wellbeing. And that is why I created the Say Goodbye to Headaches class.

The challenge to living headache-free is two-fold: first to identify the behaviors that contribute to head pain, and secondly, find agreeable substitutes for those behaviors.

In the Say Goodbye to Headaches class, attendees learn how to help clients to identify their headache triggers from a list of nearly 70. They learn how to coach clients in creating lifestyle changes they are willing to make and how to offer a hands-on reflexology session designed specifically for that client.

I hope you will join us. With 12 million sufferers in the country, I figure you must know a few you can help!

Say Goodbye to Headaches – a one-day class

Saturday, June 20 in Gainesville, Florida

Friday, August 28 in Lac Brome, Quebec

Saturday, September 12 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

 

Resources:

Migraines and Insomnia

Lifestyle Change for Headaches

 

Reflexology After End-Stage Liver Disease and Transplant

LiverThe liver is the body’s chief chemical factory with more than 600 functions; obviously an important organ in human functioning. In Chinese Medicine, the liver is key to healthy “qi” (life force). The health of the muscles, tendons and ligaments are, in particular, associated with the health of the liver. The emotion controlled by the liver is anger. The attributes associated with a healthy liver are flexibility, vision, assertiveness and self control; those of an unhealthy liver, anger, rage, a feeling of inadequacy, irritability and fear of responsibility.

How might living with a diseased liver and then a donated replacement affect someone, both physically and metaphysically? When Cristina Posse, a 2014 Academy grad met such an individual, she set out to discover if foot reflexology, offered nearly four years post diagnosis and transplant, might offer relief to this man’s myriad difficulties and daily symptoms. Read the methods Cristina employed and the results attained.

 

Happy Birthday Eunice!

EuniceEunice D. Ingham, affectionately known as the grandmother of foot reflexology in North America would be celebrating her 126th birthday today, were she still alive.

Eunice had a very unconventional upbringing – especially for a female – that likely helped shape the independence, strength and confidence that she displayed for a woman of her era. Her life and the legacy she bestowed to the world are not to be made light of; indeed, her contributions were significant.

In my mind, the three greatest gifts of Eunice Ingham were these:

  1. She separated the work on reflexes of the feet from Zone Therapy (a predecessor of reflexology that involved application of pressure throughout the entire body).
  2. She determined that alternating pressure to reflexes stimulated healing, rather than having a numbing, analgesic effect.
  3. In response to the medical profession’s rejection of reflexology (It was considered too time consuming, and thus not cost effective.), Eunice took reflexology to the general public and non-medical healthcare providers of the day (chiropractors, osteopaths, naturopaths, chiropodists, massage therapists and physiotherapists) – a decision that would ultimately be responsible for the widespread popularity and recognition of reflexology in the world today.

I had the pleasure a couple of years ago, while attending a Board meeting of the Reflexology Association of America, to visit one of Eunice Ingham’s homes. It was both thought and heart provoking to imagine her living her life’s work in that location. Hard to describe, but very moving for me. Without that woman’s work, my path in life would be very different; without her dedication and perseverance perhaps none of us today would be receiving the health-promoting benefits of reflexology.

If you are interested in knowing more about Eunice D. Ingham, Christine Issel has written a wonderful biography, entitled Eunice Ingham: A Biography – Her Life and Legacy of Reflexology. You may order it directly from the publisher. It’s a fascinating story of an American pioneer and trailblazer

And now for a little fun! First person to provide the correct answers to the following questions will be sent an autographed copy of Eunice D. Ingham’s biography by the author! Number your answers, one under each other, in the Comments below. Go!

  1. What does the “D” stand for in Eunice’s name?
  2. How old was Eunice when she passed?
  3. Eunice’s more permanent homes were in South Dakota, New York and Florida. True or False?
  4. Name the two books that Eunice published on reflexology.
  5. New Frontier Publishing released posthumously Stories the Feet are Telling, what was to be Eunice’s third book. True or False?

PTSD and the 5 Elements

Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of inquiries on various reflexology Facebook group pages about working with people suffering with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), so I’d like to speak about it again here.

Bottom line – reflexology is very beneficial to someone suffering from PTSD. At the same time, it would be prudent for the therapist wishing to work with this population to research and study the various ways in which someone with PTSD sometimes reacts to new or sudden situations outside his or her control. The therapist must be comfortable to witness and prepared to support a client through the changes that may well occur from receiving reflexology on a regular basis. It’s all good – and there may be some bumps along the way.

An earlier post I wrote reported on a research study completed by Darlene Torroll, Academy grad, on her work with a woman suffering from chronic physical symptoms that resulted from trauma the subject experienced as a child.

Today I’d like to introduce you to a compelling report by my friend and fellow reflexologist, Iris Ahronovich, that looks at the emotional pain controlling the life of someone living with PTSD. Iris has extensive training and experience as a reflexologist, first in her country of birth (Israel) and currently, her country of residence (the United States).

In conjunction with a large Israeli institute that treats wounded warriors, Iris provided foot reflexology to 10 veterans over a 12-session study, combining the traditional 10-zone/organ map of the feet with a Five Element approach. This allowed her to identify and directly address the underlying emotional component of each subject’s pain, according to the emotions governed by each of the four elements: earth, water, fire and air. The results are nothing less than inspiring.