When I sat down to write this blog a memory surfaced from a few years ago when I presented a short class on emotional self-regulation through reflexology to eight, nine and 10-year olds. Their teacher was a client of mine and she was concerned about their well-being; they all lived in impoverished and less than optimal home environments.
I started off asking them to trace their feet and then draw in the arch of their feet what they typically ate for dinner. I was shocked and saddened to see that most drew in slices of pizza and/or chicken nuggets. Not one vegetable or fruit.
So, here’s the point:
ALL organs and systems of the body rely on the health of the digestive tract. It’s that simple.
And the digestive system is designed to break down and absorb FOOD. Real food; nothing else. Vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and high-quality protein.
The digestive system prepares food for consumption through five activities:
- Ingestion
- Movement
- Digestion – the breakdown of food by chemical and mechanical processes
- Absorption/Metabolism
- Defecation
A high level of functioning is essential for the body to absorb and utilize the nutrients it needs. Without food to sustain them, the cells – and ultimately, the organs and glands – are unable to function. A slow decline in the ability of the cells to operate leads to a complete breakdown…..
A breakdown that the body’s immune system is unable to restore.
Immunity
Scientists are discovering that the strength of the immune system is largely influenced by the health of the digestive system. It turns out that 75% of the cells necessary for the immune system to function effectively are connected to the gastrointestinal tract.
Reflexes
Most of the digestive reflexes lay between the diaphragm line (just under the heads of the metatarsals/metacarpals) and the pelvic/iliac crest line. On the foot that would be the arch; on the hand the palm.
The digestive reflexes on the feet and the hands are some of the easiest to reach and work. The tissue is soft and there’s plenty of it to sink into. The hand just seems to naturally wrap around the foot’s arch or the hand’s palm.
Inquire about your client’s digestive function. Pay attention to the digestive reflexes when giving a reflexology session. And then inform them of how much better digestion will operate when a person is relaxed from a reflexology session.
REFLEXOLOGY > RELAXATION > IMPROVED DIGESTION > STRONGER IMMUNE SYSTEM.
Love it!
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