Plantar reflexology: why your feet will say thank you – happiness and health

Joint pain, stress, insomnia or water retention, foot reflexology is there to treat all our daily ailments and rebalance our body.

This alternative medicine also allows us to pamper and take care of our feet. As many at the same time, you say? Yes, and that’s what I’m going to show you through this article.

Is it necessary to practice plantar reflexology sessions?

Have you ever benefited from a foot reflexology session? No, I guess. For some who know little about this soft and natural medicine, they will surely tell you “It’s about the foot”, and that’s it.

For others, a few facts lead them to stop dead in their desire to experience this type of unique body touch:

• They do not support the contact on the parts of their feet,
• They just don’t like to show their feet to others,
• They completely ignore the virtues of foot reflexology

Regarding the latter case, in fact, many people do not know or believe in the fact that one can reduce, prevent and eliminate certain symptoms, optimize health and help the body to acquire perfect immunity.

What is foot reflexology really?

The history of foot reflexology goes back a long way, to the heart of Egyptian, Asian, Aztec and Indian civilizations.

Through reflex touch, this natural approach has the great virtue of stimulating and inhibiting organs, fluids and also the metabolism.

Like acupuncture and auriculotherapy, she considers that it is quite possible to act on the different organs of our body and to rebalance our energy flow just by stimulating certain areas of our feet.

The professional reflexologist acts on the organs by massaging the feet, on which it is approved that the whole body is represented.

The massage then produces nerve impulses which are transmitted to the brain via the spinal cord, the autonomic vegetative system and the numerous nerve branches.

In general, this manual and natural approach is done with the thumb or forefinger, but in some cultures more or less pointed sticks are used.

Also called styli, these allow you to stimulate certain acupressure points as precisely as possible.

A natural and effective solution to treat organs

Poor diet and hygiene, stress, inactivity can significantly affect our vital balance.

Ultimately, we clog our bodies and spend a lot of energy trying to overcome sleep disturbance, fatigue, irritability, chronic pain, migraines or hyperactivity.

In the case of foot reflexology, our body is divided into 10 different longitudinal zones. Organs on the right side of the body are clearly represented on the left foot and vice versa.

Each reflection zone corresponds to an organ or a part of the body.

Plantar reflexology makes it possible to determine the tensions of the body, as well as the dysfunctions to then eliminate them.

As for Chinese foot reflexology, it helps soothe symptoms and restore body energy balance. Its practice avoids following drug treatments that could have side effects on the body.

In this context, it is important to make an energy balance before any session.

How does the foot reflexology session take place?

It is good to know that the practitioner of this field is not a doctor. That said, he is not authorized to make a diagnosis, to deliver or even to modify such or such treatment.

He should only ask you why you are going to consult him and what you really want from your session.

Regarding the plantar reflexology session, it takes place in this way:

• You make yourself comfortable.

• Your feet are then cleaned with the help of warm towels.

• A relaxation massage is performed. Indeed, the reflexologist must prepare your feet before starting the treating massage.

• The practitioner then detects the different areas to be treated before stimulating them. If a point seems to you

• painful, it means that one of your organs is overfunctioning. To remedy this, massages from the inside to the outside are carried out. On the other hand, to reactivate your organ, massages are rather carried out inversely.

What about the practice of the sessions?

To have this type of massage in the best possible conditions, it must be performed in a lying position. It is first gentle and very relaxing, then it is more and more supported in order to determine the most sensitive reflex zones and thus treat them.

The plantar reflexology then ends with a very energetic global massage.

How do I find a competent practitioner?

Nowadays, in France, plantar reflexology is not yet a discipline recognized by Social Security, and this, even if already some mutuals reimburse it.

So, to find a professional practitioner near you, you can use the directory of the French Federation of Reflexologists (1).

Warning: Plantar reflexology is not a substitute for your medical treatment. It is just a supplement to have excellent health and optimal well-being.

The many benefits of foot reflexology

The physical benefits

The arch massage gives us many virtues that do not leave us indifferent.

This manual and all-natural approach boosts our body, harmonizes our vital functions, relieves tension in the back, releases stress and nervous tension, improves blood circulation, activates the lymphatic system, provides relaxation and relaxation. and relaxes the muscles.

As Philippe Rizzo, honorary president of the French Federation of Reflexology and professional reflexologist in Paris, also confirms, “Reflexology can act on a wide spectrum of disorders: it facilitates digestion, stimulates the immune system, improves joint mobility. , relieves muscle pain, neutralizes water retention, promotes sleep, treats menstrual problems… ”(2).

The benefits on the psychic

The well-being that plantar reflexology gives us is entirely psychic thanks to mental relaxation and the release of negative emotions.

Even though foot massages are not quite considered a therapeutic approach in the health sector, it is gaining more and more reputation. Indeed, on the one hand, many people testify to its virtues, as I would say miraculous.

On the other hand, the repetitive and observed results, especially in oncology circles.

Plantar reflexology also allows:

• To reduce side effects during heavy treatments such as chemotherapy

• Better accept long-term treatments

• Significantly reduce postoperative symptoms

• To offer yourself an excellent comfort of life during the illness phase

The multiple virtues that plantar reflexology sessions provide us with seduce and win the confidence of the consultants since they act continuously on almost all diseases.

Home sessions: how to go about it easily and easily?

The main objective of foot massages is to release tension to alleviate bodily dysfunctions. To benefit from it, all you need to do is make yourself comfortable and relaxed.

If the sessions are sometimes performed in a physiotherapy practice, they can also be performed at home. With more practice, you can even administer foot reflexology on your own.

One of the biggest advantages of this type of massage is that it can be done in all circumstances without the assistance of another person.

In order to quickly familiarize yourself with the different gestures to be performed, you can refer to the reflexology guides, which may be available at any time on the internet.

Perfect mastery of the basic techniques of this natural approach can be achieved in just a few weeks. This period allows you to enjoy its benefits at your leisure.

In a short time, you can feel very appreciated by them for a more balanced, healthy and harmonious life.

Cons-indications

Plantar reflexology reveals some contraindications such as the presence of inflammation, trauma to the feet, blood circulation or heart problems or the start of pregnancy.

However, “reflexologists can also take care of women who are more than 4 months pregnant, to help them live their pregnancy well and prepare for childbirth…”, continues Philippe Rizzo. (3).

Massages cannot also be performed on people undergoing chemotherapy and those with damaged feet (gout, phlebitis, etc.).

If your symptoms still persist, it is strongly recommended that you consult your doctor.

Plantar reflexology and its positive effects on the feet

To continue, it is good to remember that our feet have 7 nerve endings each. This greatly justifies why these parts of our body are very sensitive to various external aggressions.

Unfortunately, their maintenance, which is however very important, does not motivate some people. The saddest thing is that we put our feet to severe tests every day that they end up weakening.

Now is the time to take matters into our own hands and put our feet in the spotlight, right?

As with baths (4), the benefits of foot reflexology are not limited to all of our organs. Indeed, reflexological massages also make it possible to optimize the well-being and health of our feet as much as possible.

Foot reflexology stimulates the circulation of blood in the arch of the foot. Thus, the return of the veins to the legs and feet helps to fight against the swelling of the feet, the feeling of heavy legs or excess heat.

Modern devices for more well-being

Thanks to technological progress, many innovative equipment specially dedicated to plantar reflexology have been developed.

Some models of machines work with rotating heads which activate the reflex points of the arch of the foot efficiently and very quickly.

These modern devices greatly contribute to optimize blood flow and fight against cold feet thanks to the heat emitted by infrared.

At home, at work, on the phone or even during a relaxing break, you can offer yourself guaranteed relaxation and unparalleled well-being thanks to this technology.

Although the feet are often neglected, they should be taken with little care. This is to allow us to acquire exceptional health and unique well-being.

Foot reflexology is a good way to achieve your goals. This natural and manual approach also guarantees us unequaled benefits which act on our whole body.