How acupuncture may work, how about reflexology?

Acupuncture has been used for over 4,000 years, but little is known about the biology that enable carefully placed needles to relieve pain in many patients. In march (2010) Nature Neuroscience presented an innovative study which points to the role of adenosine – an essential molecule found in all cells and involved in providing the energy needed for many biochemical processes. It appears that adenosine appears to be a key in the effectiveness of acupuncture – in mice. Could this also explain how reflexology works as a massage techique to relief pain?STUDY ABSTRACT: “Acupuncture is an invasive procedure commonly used to relieve pain. Acupuncture is practiced worldwide, despite difficulties in reconciling its principles with evidence-based medicine. We found that adenosine, a neuromodulator with anti-nociceptive properties, was released during acupuncture in mice and that its anti-nociceptive actions required adenosine A1 receptor expression. Direct injection of an adenosine A1 receptor agonist replicated the analgesic effect of acupuncture. Inhibition of enzymes involved in adenosine degradation potentiated the acupuncture-elicited increase in adenosine, as well as its anti-nociceptive effect. These observations indicate that adenosine mediates the effects of acupuncture and that interfering with adenosine metabolism may prolong the clinical benefit of acupuncture.” The researchers mimicked acupuncture in mice by placing and gradually rotating a needle at a point just below the knee, for 30 minutes. Blocking enzymes that break down adenosine made the acupuncture much more effective, tripling the level of adenosine near the needle and extending pain relief from about one hour to about three hours. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING: • The benefits of a reflexology treatment! • The basics of the calming touch of hands! Is the effectiveness of acupuncture and reflexology related?

Is reflexology an effective intervention?

Last year UK complementary medicine expert Dr Edzard Ernst presented a thorough study on the effectiveness of reflexology. What did the report of the book ‘Trick of Treatment‘ report? “Reflexology: ‘bodywork on your hands & feet!‘“ Reflexology was described in the study as a technique that involves applying pressure to various parts of the foot or hands, which is said to have a beneficial effect on other parts of the body. Ernst searched six databases and found 217 trials on reflexology, of which only 18 randomised controlled trials were considered good enough to be analysed. Of these 18 trials, only five yielded positive results, says Ernst. Ernst describes: “Most of the higher-quality trials did not generate positive findings. The best evidence available to date does not demonstrate convincingly that reflexology is an effective treatment for any medical condition.” Ernst says proponents of reflexology argue the method is risk free but he argues it could be “life-threatening” if patients relied on it to treat a serious condition. “There is little doubt that a foot massage is pleasantly relaxing, however specific medical claims should always be supported by sound evidence.” SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING: • Four benefits of a reflexology massage! • Reflexology: ‘you can do it yourself’! • Is reflexology an effective intervention? A systematic review of randomised controlled trials. [ABSTRACT] Reflexology relates to various massage techniques.

Reflexology gift idea: give your Valentine love a hand-massage!

A Valentine’s Day gift idea: surprize your love a hand-massage! Trouble is, massage, as simple as it sounds, can be fraught with expectation. How to get it just right for your Valentine love? Massage therapist Rekha Von Ehren provided 9 easy reflexology massage tips, and you can learn them by heart today!A quick preview on some of Von Rekhen’s Valentine-massage tips: VALENTINE MASSAGE TIP 1: Be inconsistent. Touch your partner with your fingertips, knuckles, elbows, the full palm and the heel of your palm. Likewise, while touching, use a variety of strokes – from deep rubbing and kneading to tickling and light scratching. And feel free to lean in close, using your body weight to add force. VALENTINE MASSAGE TIP 2: Reflexology says that the hands and feet are microcosms of the body. When tenderly caressed, hands and feet can signal the interior of the body. So, in theory, you can touch a person’s heart by massaging the ball of the left foot, or tap into your beloved’s brain by massaging the big toes. VALENTINE MASSAGE TIP 3: Hands, full of nerve endings, are incredibly sensitive. So massage each finger along the joint to the tip with your fingertips or, perhaps, lips and mouth. MORE ABOUT REFLEXOLOGY CHARTS: Valentine’s Day idea: give your love a reflexology hand-massage! The benefits of hand & foot reflexology The basics of palm therapy & reflexology Hand Reflexology: ‘Do-it-yourself’ Reflexology experts: news reports about reflexologists

The ‘Feel Better Reflexology Center’ in Philadelphia!

Reflexology Center in Philadelphia  The Feel Better Reflexology Center is located in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia and the Feel Better Reflexology Center is city licensed. This center provides outstanding reflexology services! At the center offers you can find an excellent escape from the stresses of the world as you are provided (with reflexology, massage,) with relaxation & tension relief! The feel good center says about their services: “Foot reflexology: Every day gaining more popularity here in Philly! Works wonders! Helps every situation! Improves circulation to all systems. Thus, after a session, you will feel better.” MORE REFLEXOLOGY RESOURCES: Reflexology in the US Reflexology in Singapore Reflexology in South-Africa Hand reflexology: the calming touch!

The benefits of Reflexology during pregnancy

Women benefit from complementary therapies during childbirth Reflexology benefits during pregnancy

Complementary therapies during pregnancy: The women in Gloucestershire are going longer without epidurals and labours are shorter thanks to a scheme involving complementary therapies and massage during childbirth. Around 26 per cent of the 6,000 mums who pass through maternity wards at Cheltenham General and Gloucestershire Royal hospitals are now opting to try complementary therapy. Midwife Asha Dhany, a trained reflexologist and massage therapist who has led the initiative, said: “Feedback has been positive and it’s working very well. “Some women say it’s just like going to a spa rather than being in a clinical environment. SOURCE: Women benefit from complementary therapies during childbirth

Trained staff are on hand to use oils and massage to aid relaxation, provide a natural form of pain relief, speed up labour and to ease nausea and headaches. The options are first presented to women during pre-natal discussions, then they can choose oils. These include bergamot, which has antiseptic properties, clary sage, which can help speed up labour, frankincense to calm nervous tension and jasmine to reduce pain and headaches. The oils are used in baths, via massage, droplets or by douche. The scheme started 12 months ago and its success has surprised 130 midwives in the county who have been trained to offer natural therapy. “We use some oils, such as jasmine and clary sage, to speed up labour and others, like peppermint, to reduce temperature and combat nausea. Bergamot is very relaxing and offers good pain relief. “It was quite simple to implement the massage and essential oil and it makes the environment nice for women.” Alexandra O’Connell, from Prestbury, benefited from the therapies as she gave birth to Daisy-Ann, now two weeks old. She said: “I used essential oils to help ease the pain of the contractions and to help the whole process along. “It was nice to be able to do something for myself and the whole experience was very pleasant.” Vicki Little, who also used the therapy during childbirth, said: “It’s great that women have so many options these days. Any therapy that can help has to be welcomed.” Asha is now planning to complete a research Masters degree to see if she can confirm the anecdotal evidence. She said: “There is currently no medical evidence to show how much women are benefiting from the treatments, although midwives are reporting that they have seen a growing number of labours reducing in length and more women going longer without epidurals. “We do hope to do some research on this to see if we can back up our anecdotal evidence with statistics.” CHOOSE A REFLEXOLOGY METHOD: HOW TO READ REFLEXOLOGY CHARTS | FOOT REFLEXOLOGY HAND REFLEXOLOGY | EAR REFLEXOLOGY

Blind man learns reflexology!

Blind man learns reflexology

Being blind and a reflexologist!: SMILING constantly, professional blind masseur Lee Sheng Chow paints a picture of serenity – something most would not expect from an aspiring engineering student who lost his sight at 21. FULL STORY: From despair to success in reflexology

The pioneer of PB Service Centre, which is Malaysia’s first massage centre by the blind, Lee’s foray into the profession was, in a way, accidental. “After struggling with depression, I decided to make up for lost time and started picking up various skills, even venturing into IT and handicraft. I also learnt massage,” says Lee. “I suffered from Behçet’s syndrome that caused internal bleeding of my retinas,” he says. “My eyesight deteriorated, starting from 1976 and by 1985, I couldn’t see at all.” His jack-of-all-trades act continued until he became a qualified insurance agent. However, Lee’s stint as an insurance agent was short-lived, thanks to a bad encounter. “I was talking to a person but he walked away without my knowledge while I was explaining a policy and I was left talking to thin air,” he recalls. “That experience hurt me. I agree with Helen Keller’s saying, ‘If the world understood us … we wouldn’t be handicapped’.” Not the type who wallows in self-pity, Lee decided to take being a masseur seriously. “I realised that massage requires a lot of skills, and is both an art and a science,” he enthuses. After training at the Gurney Training Centre (GTC), Lee started his own business. Today, his centre boasts a staff of 38 masseurs. “I believe that everything is pre-ordained and there is a reason for my blindness,” muses the devout Christian. “In a way, you can say I created a market. I have worked with more than 1,000 blind masseurs.” The rapid expansion of his centre is partly due to Lee’s successful foray in the stock market. “I invested during the recession from 1985 to 1987,” he says. “I cashed out when the market was robust in 1992 and made up to 10 times the profit.” Despite being a successful entrepreneur, Lee has not forgotten his roots and still helps out as an examiner at the GTC, on top of conducting massage classes. As president of the Certified Blind Masseurs Association, Lee even organises training stints for blind masseurs in Beijing and Guangzhou, China. He could have furthered his studies when both HELP University College and the London School of Economics and Political Science offered him scholarships to study Law and Psychology respectively. “I declined as I was just too deeply involved in the massage business,” he says. Undoubtedly, Lee’s finest hour was representing the nation at the Paralympic Games. He was in Seoul in 1988, in Barcelona (1992), Atlanta (1996) and Sydney (2000), placing fourth three times in the shot putt and fifth for the discus throw. His national record of more than 12m in the shot putt has been unbeaten since 1983. “I tried to make the national team for Athens and Beijing but tore my muscles on both occasions and had to back out,” he admits regretfully. Regardless, Lee is definitely an example to all and is the best proof that Olympic dreams do come true. MORE ABOUT REFLEXOLOGY: HOW TO READ REFLEXOLOGY CHARTS | FOOT REFLEXOLOGY HAND REFLEXOLOGY | EAR REFLEXOLOGY

Raising money for cancer with reflexology

Raising money for cancer with a reflexology treatment Reflexology treatment

Raising money for cancer: The annual relay raises money for the American Cancer Society, celebrates cancer survivors and remembers those who lost the battle. Regina Brown of Monee, chairman of the 2008 relay, said this year she invited providers of supplementary health treatments, such as massage therapists and reflexology, to be part of the health pavilion tent. “We’re showing different types of treatments that patients can use in conjunction with traditional medicine,” Brown said. SOURCE: Relay raises money for cancer research

Connie Webster-Young and a group of 10 friends circled the Rich Central High School track in Olympia Fields with a large banner showing the smiling face of their late friend, Cheryl McCowan, who succumbed to ovarian cancer two years ago. The group, which called itself “Cheryl’s Crew,” was one of many relay teams participating in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life South Suburbs on Saturday at Rich Central. She was my best friend,” said Glenwood resident Webster-Young of Cheryl, the late wife of University Park Mayor Al McCowan. Relay participants walked the outdoor track over a 15-hour period, from 3 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday. Walkers did blindfolded laps, three-legged laps, disco laps, skipping laps and barefoot laps, among others. The annual relay raises money for the American Cancer Society, celebrates cancer survivors and remembers those who lost the battle. Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld gave the opening address, while Hazel Crest Mayor Robert Donaldson, a prostate cancer survivor, gave the survivor’s speech. Cancer survivors and caregivers were treated to a dinner in the survivor tent. The Jesse White Tumblers were the headline performers. Regina Brown of Monee, chairman of the 2008 relay, said this year she invited providers of supplementary health treatments, such as massage therapists and reflexology, to be part of the health pavilion tent. “We’re showing different types of treatments that patients can use in conjunction with traditional medicine,” Brown said. Renee Seibert of Homewood was offering reflexology treatments to participants. Seibert is the owner of Renee Marie’s Healing, which specializes in reflexology, ear reflexology, yoga instruction and facials. She was giving Lambert Caldwell of Country Club Hills a relaxing ear reflexology treatment. Caldwell, who teaches massage therapy at the Soma Institute in Chicago, came out with six of his students to treat walkers, cancer patients and survivors to soothing massages. “It’s good experience for my students and it’s an opportunity for them to come out into the community and help people,” Caldwell said. Joy Jones, owner of Serenity Mobile Massage, said massage “brings back oxygen to the muscles, reduces stress, and improves circulation.” Jones said she served her internship in the cancer ward of Northwestern Memorial Hospital. “It was a great experience to be on that end of the spectrum. I know the patients benefited from the treatments. So when I was called by Regina Brown to participate in the relay, I was all aboard. I’m very excited about what the American Cancer Society represents and I want to give back to the community. That’s why I’m out here.” MORE REFLEXES ON REFLEXOLOGY: HOW TO READ REFLEXOLOGY CHARTS | FOOT REFLEXOLOGY HAND REFLEXOLOGY | EAR REFLEXOLOGY

Alternative medicine, massage & reflexology

Reflexology practice

Reflexology Practice: In a quiet office on North York Street, Ken Aldridge practices reflexology. The word may not be familiar to some, but practitioners say reflexology has been around for thousands of years. SOURCE: Some swear by reflexology

Mary Cagle, 63, a retired secretary, said she found Aldridge in the phone book only because she was looking for massage. “The circulation is not good in my legs,” she said. “Since I started coming to him two months ago, I stopped taking my pain pills. Yesterday, I got on the treadmill and walked two miles.” Cagle says that even daily aches and pains have responded to reflexology. “This morning I had a spot on the ball of my feet but now he’s mashed on it, and it doesn’t hurt anymore,” she said. Cagle said her family has noticed an overall difference in her energy. “I used to not keep up with my husband, but now he can’t keep up with me,” she said. Once a week is all she needs, Cagle said. “I look forward to the sessions with him because I leave here relaxed and with no pain.” Aldridge, 72, provided the textbook definition of what he does. “Reflexology is a science that deals with the principle areas of the feet and hands that correspond to parts of the body,” he said. “It stimulates the blood flow, improves nerve function, and is very relaxing.” The appropriate areas of the feet or hands are manually massaged to achieve the desired result. Years of doing this kind of work show in Aldridge’s strong handshake. The business is called “His Touch Massage Therapy.” Aldridge does the reflexology and his wife, Beth, does massage. A spiritual man, Aldridge said there’s a reason his business card features a drawing of praying hands. “It is religious symbolism that represents His touch through us,” he said. “My wife, Beth, came up with that name. It was a way to kind of put us in the background.” MORE ABOUT THE PRACTICE OF REFLEXOLOGY: FOOT REFLEXOLOGY CHARTS | HAND REFLEXOLOGY EAR REFLEXOLOGY | REFLEXOLOGY COURSES

Reflexology request by South-Africa governement

Request for a reflexologist

Reflexology request for the premier of South-Africa: Last week I received a memo on an official letterhead of the Office of the Premier. The subject of this very official memo was “Request for a reflexologist”. SOURCE: Time to reflect, the SA premier’s reflexology request

Last week I received a memo on an official letterhead of the Office of the Premier. It was dated July 2 and sent by Human Resource and Office Support to the senior manager of the supply chain. All according to the procurement rules, it seems. The subject of this very official memo was “Request for a reflexologist”. Signed by HR practitioner Nomonde Koyo, the memo reads: “This office requests a quote for reflex (sic) for 100 people that will take place on 29/07/08. The first quote must be for shoulder and back only, and the second one, the whole body.” I was a bit confused by Koyo’s memo. Although it started off by requesting a reflexologist, it also talks of a “quote for reflex”, which made me wonder whether it meant that this was aimed as a reflection session for the outgoing Premier – by that time, she knew she was on her way. So, to make sure whether this was in fact a request for a real back-rubbing exercise (not uncommon in Eastern Cape politics, of course), I called Koyo. It’s true, said the very nice lady. We are doing it for the Office of the Premier as part of its wellness programme, she said. And the fact that the barefoot lady has left will not (necessarily) change the back-rubbing outings. “It has been integrated in the wellness programme,” said Koyo. “We always need a reflexologist,” she insisted. Problem is, she added, that the Premier’s Office employs 350 people, which makes it necessary that only 100 staff members at a time can go and lie on the couch for an hour or so. Must say, I was tempted to say that that would not bother some of the other departments that I have dealt with, but thought better. Let’s give the new regime a chance, I reasoned. Koyo also assured me that Balindlela never took part in the reflexology treatment, not even to reflect. She was too busy, said Koyo. In retrospect, it may have been a mistake, I thought to myself. Having a proper back massage is probably good in politics, where one’s back is quite a vulnerable part of the body. I’m not sure the new Premier will sanction this expenditure. I did some homework for the Premier’s Office. I called Takara Wellness Centre in Beacon Bay and asked for quotes for reflexology for the back and full body. You stupid, I was told, reflexology is only for the feet – at R150 per hour. That, of course, ruled out Balindlela’s former staff who wanted to go the full-body route. It would have been perfect, however, for the ousted barefoot Premier – if only she had had the time. What Koyo had in mind was the Swedish massage – R140 a half an hour for the back and shoulders, or R230 for the full Monty. That, according to my calculations, will cost the taxpayers about R23000 a month, if only 100 staff members go. Add to that man- hours lost, claims for out-of-town allowances, and overtime. My advice to Premier Sogoni is to instruct his staff in future, as part of the wellness programme, to rather run to office. In times of high petrol prices, it’s cheaper, and probably just as healthy, as back-rubbing. Got another letter this week. This time addressed to Buffalo City mayor Zintle Peter from the East London Hospital Complex board. It seems, said the writer, that since their appointment as the city’s representatives on the complex board, not one of the Buffalo City councillors has attended any meetings. Surprise, surprise. REFLEXIONS ON REFLEXOLOGY: EAR REFLEXOLOGY | REFLEXOLOGY COURSES FOOT REFLEXOLOGY CHARTS | HAND REFLEXOLOGY

Reflexology – ask Krissy

Reflexology

Reflexology as an alternative massage?: “I have heard a lot about reflexology and am interested in it because I think I would benefit from massage. But I am not a fan of being touched. Do you think reflexology would be a good alternative to a full body massage?” Mike, Cape Coral. SOURCE: Reflexology news

Krissy’s answer:  Reflexology is very popular! In your foot, there are many reflexology points that, when massaged, you are able to reach all parts of the body. It is also a great way to correct different problems you may be having physically, because you are able to also pinpoint different organs, etc. Since you do not like your full body to be touched, you will be happy to know that you will receive the benefits of a full body massage every time you receive a reflexology treatment.So, I recommend you jump into this treatment feet first and enjoy! LEARN MORE ABOUT REFLEXOLOGY: REFLEXOLOGY CHARTS | FOOT REFLEXOLOGY HAND REFLEXOLOGY | EAR REFLEXOLOGY