Academy of Ancient Reflexology

Professional Therapeutic Reflexology

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.

 

Peripheral Neuropathy and Reflexology

burning feetNicole Banner, 2014 Academy grad, decided to investigate whether regular foot reflexology sessions would help someone suffering from peripheral neuropathy due to chemotherapy treatment for a rare disease he was diagnosed with. The 5-week study charts the effects of hour-long reflexology sessions on his physical discomfort, sleep patterns and medication use. It’s worth a read, especially if you know anyone suffering from this progressive condition.

 

 

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!!

 

Complications of Lymphedema

Lymphedema is an abnormal collection of high-protein fluid just beneath the skin. The word edema originates from the late Middle English period from a Greek word meaning “to swell”. It occurs most commonly in the arm or leg, although it may occur in other parts of the body as well.

Chronic retention of fluid in an area sets off a cascade of further complications. The first is inflammation, which contributes to the development of fibrosis (scar tissue) in the affected area. The presence of fibrosis makes it even more difficult for the body to eliminate the excess fluid. Increased fluid and fibrosis then cause the delivery of oxygen and essential nutrients to the area to be slowed, which in turn impedes wound healing, providing an ideal environment for bacterial growth and increased risk of infection.

Classifications

There are two classifications of lymphatic obstruction:

– Primary – abnormalities in the lymphatic system associated with congenital or genetic irregularities.

– Secondary – a result of damage to the lymphatic system (the system that transports white blood cells throughout the body, ridding the body of toxins and waste, and providing immune function). Common causes are surgery, trauma, radiation, chemotherapy, parasitic infection and lymph node removal.

Symptoms

A feeling of heaviness or fullness, swelling and aching pain in the affected area are the classic symptoms associated with lymphedema. Advanced lymphedema may also present with a number of skin changes such as discoloration, thickening, hyperplasia (cell proliferation resulting in enlargement of tissue or organ) and wart-like lesions and eventually deformity (elephantiasis).

So how would you help a woman with advanced lower extremity lymphedema (primary) when she cannot receive foot reflexology? Danielle Gilmore, a 2014 Academy grad was determined to help. See where staying open to possibility took her.

References:

National Lymphedema Network

Brorson H, Ohlin K, Olsson G, Svensson B, Svensson H (June 2008). “Controlled compression and liposuction treatment for lower extremity lymphedema”. Lymphology 41 (2): 52–63. PMID 18720912.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Lending a Hand to Survivors of TBI

IMG_0524You never know where your actions may take you. One small step may lead to BIG outcomes. That proved true for Academy grad John Guinta who submitted an article entitled Stress Relief Is In Your Hands to the Jacksonville, Florida Natural Awakenings magazine in August 2013. That single act resulted in one of the more profound and surprising research studies done to date utilizing hand reflexology.

John’s short article, meant to interest the public in receiving hand reflexology, caught the attention of a staff member of Brooks Rehabilitation in Jacksonville, Florida. The Clubhouse operated by Brooks Rehabilitation is the only facility of its kind in Florida. It runs a full-time day program offering a range of innovative activities designed to help individuals who have experienced a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) reclaim their lives.

A phone call from this forward-thinking employee resulted in a 12-week formal study that assessed the therapeutic value of hand reflexology in improving functional fine motor skills in six people who are living with the challenging repercussions of a TBI.

Following a careful selection process, the study proceeded with pre- and post-study evaluations performed by ChristyIMG_0526 Ruggiero, certified reflexologist and licensed occupational therapist, and weekly 45-minute hand reflexology sessions performed by John Guinta and Ken Cook, both Academy-certified hand and foot reflexologists and Florida-licensed massage therapists.

I hope you will take a moment to read this outstanding study and congratulate John, Ken and Christy for their pioneering study, the first ever to approach the challenges of people living with TBI with hand reflexology. I am proud and excited for the results, and hope that the future holds the possibility of teaching victims of TBI how to provide the healing benefits of hand reflexology to themselves.

 

A Complication of Paralysis

When people consider what life would be like should they lose the ability to move their limbs, I don’t thing most people think beyond the paralysis. There is no question that life would never be the same, but could anyone ever anticipate some of the other unusual issues that might result?

Michelle Collins, 2013 graduate of the Academy’s Therapeutic Hand & Foot Reflexology Certification, recently completed a research study with a young man, quadriplegic since 2002, who, four years ago, suddenly developed abnormal retention of urine.

We invite you to read this well executed and documented study of the effects of reflexology on Uroschesis.