Question:
a question which will annoy many of you, I am afraid, and Iapologize.
I started to read about reflexology some years ago, and havekept a keen interest since then.
However discovering other therapies and especially learning about indian and chinese medicine made me look back at reflexology ..
indeed:
1) why has not reflexology become a part of Chinese or ayurvedic (or another) ancient medicinal system? I know that some egyptian wall paintings show some form of foot and hand massage, but is it just that (massage) or is it reflex therapy? has any text/picture that explicitely described the reflex zones been found before the 20th century?
2) In shiatsu, the kidneys zoneis believed to be found somewhere left of the ball of the foot (under the metarsals), a place quite away from where it isin eflexology...so when we give reflexology and think we are working the lung area, we actually stimulate the kidneys?
what do you think?
Hi Fadette,
For me there is a duality to the workings of Reflexology - I'm also a practioner of auricular acupuncture and find the same to be true of that therapy. The foot, like the ear is a micro-system of the body and from a western point of view,stimulating the reflex areas is stimulating the nervous system and therefore thecorresponding area in the body.
Of course there is an element of TCM in Reflexology andif you were to go to China you would find Reflexology being used as a medical tool in the same way as acupuncture and herbs. The duality is, that in working the foot we also stimulate the meridians in the body ~ of course we do!!
And yes you may be right about the kidney meridian ending just underneath the toes, but are you aware that the meridianzig zags across theentirefoot, passing directly through the kidney reflex area?
Sadly much of the TCM aspect of Reflexology was lost when it was westernised (zone therapy). (Although papers were written on "zone therapy" as far back as the 1500s). The way I see it ~ two different theories have come together and many reflexologists now recognise this and are learning more about the meridian systems and how they can be used in reflexology.
I have one client who on his first visit informed me that he had had renal cancer and as a result had a kidney removed. I asked him not to tell me which side. I wanted to see if I could see this reflected in his feet! The right foot kidney reflex was slightly tender but not much different to what you would find on most folk duringthe first treatment. On the left foot when I worked the kidney area he almost took of into space he jumped so much and there was a depression in the tissue on the foot ~ reflecting the absence of the kidney in the body!!!!
So in my opinion ~ yes Reflexology works! Yes the reflex areas are for the most part reflective of the anatomical layout of the body!!! And yes is is a good idea to re-introduce meridian therapy back into the ancient art of Reflexology!!!
Meridianmoon xxx
P.S. If you are interested in Reflexology and meridian therapy then you might like to read some of the books by Inge Dougans or a great practioners book by Beryl Crane.
wowww. thank you for that very informative message.
I am pleased you understood what I meant: not just stimulatingthe system in general but actually working on a mini-map of the body.
I could not doubt somehow of the true value of reflexology (beyond massage and stimulation..) because I did not see it mentionned either in Ayurvedic medicine or Chinese medicine.
BUt your remark about the meridian system and the fact that it is used today in China (I assume they use the reflex & meridian system, not just foot massage) has really given me a deeper understanding.
I had seen a book by Beryl Crane about meridians in reflexology, but I thought she just meant the meridians already worked on in the modern Western reflexology method, which do not correspond to the one in TCM/acupuncture.
So I will look out for these books because I am interested in seeing that link and finding out how much ancient is reflexology.
Also your story about the kidney area in the foot being very sensitive and depressed is just great to hear (well, not for that poor man although). amazing.
So did you study auricular acupressure at the same time as reflexology? and where if I can ask you?
many thanks
Fadette.
Hi Fadette,
It's Auricular Acupuncture I practice (with needles). For most of my clients I use a combination of both therapies and have found it to be really effective.
I trained with The Society of Auricular Acupuncturists.
Meridianmoon
HI
Just add a bit more info for you, Inge Dougansnewest book - The twelve meridianand their 5 Elements a great read. Her work spans more than 20 years anduses the CMT approach and refelxology.You could contact the Oxford School of Reflexology they have posters, books and courses that go into ths area in more depth.
I once sat at in seminarand a European Rxistsdelivering a work shop wondered how one could be a reflexologist and not know about meridians!!!!! Now there is food for thought!
In Europe and Sth Africa Rx courses cover merdians certainlyswitched the lights on for me - I seemed to have many un-aswered questions until I read and explored further. It is not part of any specification in Rx that I am aware of and usually done as CPD.
Lone Sorenson is another experienced and interesting speaker who has done a lot of work with brain damaged childrenusing reflexology - again using a meridian approach and facial reflexology.
Best wishes
GG
thanks a lot both oy you.
I will have a look at the Oxford school...what about the central london school? not into chinese meridians?
About that Lorne reflexologist: does she teach? where?
thanks for the title of the book, I will look it up.
I started to read about reflexology some years ago, and havekept a keen interest since then.
However discovering other therapies and especially learning about indian and chinese medicine made me look back at reflexology ..
indeed:
1) why has not reflexology become a part of Chinese or ayurvedic (or another) ancient medicinal system? I know that some egyptian wall paintings show some form of foot and hand massage, but is it just that (massage) or is it reflex therapy? has any text/picture that explicitely described the reflex zones been found before the 20th century?
2) In shiatsu, the kidneys zoneis believed to be found somewhere left of the ball of the foot (under the metarsals), a place quite away from where it isin eflexology...so when we give reflexology and think we are working the lung area, we actually stimulate the kidneys?
what do you think?
Answers:
Hi Fadette,
For me there is a duality to the workings of Reflexology - I'm also a practioner of auricular acupuncture and find the same to be true of that therapy. The foot, like the ear is a micro-system of the body and from a western point of view,stimulating the reflex areas is stimulating the nervous system and therefore thecorresponding area in the body.
Of course there is an element of TCM in Reflexology andif you were to go to China you would find Reflexology being used as a medical tool in the same way as acupuncture and herbs. The duality is, that in working the foot we also stimulate the meridians in the body ~ of course we do!!
And yes you may be right about the kidney meridian ending just underneath the toes, but are you aware that the meridianzig zags across theentirefoot, passing directly through the kidney reflex area?
Sadly much of the TCM aspect of Reflexology was lost when it was westernised (zone therapy). (Although papers were written on "zone therapy" as far back as the 1500s). The way I see it ~ two different theories have come together and many reflexologists now recognise this and are learning more about the meridian systems and how they can be used in reflexology.
I have one client who on his first visit informed me that he had had renal cancer and as a result had a kidney removed. I asked him not to tell me which side. I wanted to see if I could see this reflected in his feet! The right foot kidney reflex was slightly tender but not much different to what you would find on most folk duringthe first treatment. On the left foot when I worked the kidney area he almost took of into space he jumped so much and there was a depression in the tissue on the foot ~ reflecting the absence of the kidney in the body!!!!
So in my opinion ~ yes Reflexology works! Yes the reflex areas are for the most part reflective of the anatomical layout of the body!!! And yes is is a good idea to re-introduce meridian therapy back into the ancient art of Reflexology!!!
Meridianmoon xxx
P.S. If you are interested in Reflexology and meridian therapy then you might like to read some of the books by Inge Dougans or a great practioners book by Beryl Crane.
Answers:
wowww. thank you for that very informative message.
I am pleased you understood what I meant: not just stimulatingthe system in general but actually working on a mini-map of the body.
I could not doubt somehow of the true value of reflexology (beyond massage and stimulation..) because I did not see it mentionned either in Ayurvedic medicine or Chinese medicine.
BUt your remark about the meridian system and the fact that it is used today in China (I assume they use the reflex & meridian system, not just foot massage) has really given me a deeper understanding.
I had seen a book by Beryl Crane about meridians in reflexology, but I thought she just meant the meridians already worked on in the modern Western reflexology method, which do not correspond to the one in TCM/acupuncture.
So I will look out for these books because I am interested in seeing that link and finding out how much ancient is reflexology.
Also your story about the kidney area in the foot being very sensitive and depressed is just great to hear (well, not for that poor man although). amazing.
So did you study auricular acupressure at the same time as reflexology? and where if I can ask you?
many thanks
Fadette.
Answers:
Hi Fadette,
It's Auricular Acupuncture I practice (with needles). For most of my clients I use a combination of both therapies and have found it to be really effective.
I trained with The Society of Auricular Acupuncturists.
Meridianmoon
Answers:
HI
Just add a bit more info for you, Inge Dougansnewest book - The twelve meridianand their 5 Elements a great read. Her work spans more than 20 years anduses the CMT approach and refelxology.You could contact the Oxford School of Reflexology they have posters, books and courses that go into ths area in more depth.
I once sat at in seminarand a European Rxistsdelivering a work shop wondered how one could be a reflexologist and not know about meridians!!!!! Now there is food for thought!
In Europe and Sth Africa Rx courses cover merdians certainlyswitched the lights on for me - I seemed to have many un-aswered questions until I read and explored further. It is not part of any specification in Rx that I am aware of and usually done as CPD.
Lone Sorenson is another experienced and interesting speaker who has done a lot of work with brain damaged childrenusing reflexology - again using a meridian approach and facial reflexology.
Best wishes
GG
Answers:
thanks a lot both oy you.
I will have a look at the Oxford school...what about the central london school? not into chinese meridians?
About that Lorne reflexologist: does she teach? where?
thanks for the title of the book, I will look it up.
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