Collect Questions

At the weekend I was asked to make an appointment for Reflexology by a lady who had a fungal infection under both big toe nails. I said I couldnt do Reflexology on Health & Safety grounds so we have made the appointment for IH instead. She just wanted a treatment for relaxation.
I was just wondering, though, has anybody tried doing Reflexology wearing latex gloves. I guess you wouldnt get the same sensitivity and also the latex may interfere and block the therapists healing energy.
Just interested in anybody else's thoughts.
Thanks
Jackie



Hi Jackie
I have emailed you directly as we have a mutual friend who uses latex gloves to give reflexology and I'm sure she'll be able to help you further.
BTW I personally do not see fungal infections UNDER the nail as a contraindication. I think many many people have this condition under the nail and both they - and us - are unaware if they are wearing nail varnish!! Also I am not aware that we can spread the fungal infection as it stays under the nail.
If I am wrong please correct me though!
Hope you are well
Sarah x



Hi Sarah
Many thanks for that, I have emailed our friend for her opinion.
Best wishes



i tend to agree with sarah and i would treat. i'd be careful, mind you, but i would treat. this link also says fungal nails are not contagious. http://www.medicinenet.com/fungal_nails/page4.htm
you could always offer advice re treating the fungus... tea tree!



Phew, glad it's not just me that thinks that Rosie! I was worried I had said the wrong thing and you'd all think me unprofessional!!
Sarah x



well as i have a few minutes to kill i was looking up more pages... some say it is infectious, some say it isnt!!! but then, isnt that slightly true of verruccas now? mixed opinions?
hmmm but then maybe its the risk of spreading it from toe to toe, rather than us passing it around?



I treat clients with fungal nails too, wash hands v well after and I put canesten cream on them (my hands) just in case. I tried the latex gloves once but no good, just gave up and treated carefully. I hadn't the heart to turn them away, but did suggest the tea tree etc. Apparently the meds to get rid of it are v dodgy when TTC. Clients with PCOS, insulin resistance and liable to fungal things sadly.
Jan x



I too treat people with fungal toenails but I do point in out to people and suggest they get it checked out and treated. You can be treated with oral antibiotics or by painting the nails with stuff (sorry, my brain is too tired to think of the real word). Nail infections can be very stubborn and take ages to respond to treatment. As stated here, tea tree is one natural form of treatment for fungal nails and athlete's foot. A pregnant client of mine who didn't want to go down the drug route cleared up her athlete's foot with tea treee.



Thanks for all your comments. Maybe I am being over cautious. Anyway, the client wasnt offended and happy to have IH instead, so i will leave it at that I think.
Sarah mentioned to me a mutal colleague of ours who sometimes wears gloves to work and I have contacted her. Incidentally, she does Hopi Ear Candles as well - which I am trying to decide whether to do a course in - so we have arranged a swop, she doing Ear Candling on me and I am doing Reflex on her, wearing gloves !! Should be an interesting afternoon.
I will report back how I get on