Arthritis, the swelling, the stiffness and the pain in joints and connective tissue can never completely go away, but with reflexology symptoms can be managed. Reflexology for arthritis leads to improved quality of life on many different levels: improves sleep, reduces long-term stress, encourages healthier diets and improves immune responses. I have used Natural Therapy Pages: Reflexology for Arthritis article that explains everything clearly in two sections. The first part describes, what are the benefits of reflexology for arthritis sufferers and the other part introduces reflexes that need to be worked on for arthritis. This is the closest form of explanation on the subject that I utilize in my reflexology therapies as well.
First, as most of you are aware that I provide feet, hand and baby / toddler reflexology. For certain types of arthritis like gout, hands reflexology is recommended if the pain flares-up. Also, switching between hand and feet massages. Hand therapy could also reduce stress on other types of points you are sensitive to. It is also recommended to seek out a nutritionist to change dietary and eating habits for arthritis sufferers. A holistic nutritionist is really effective to tailor a diet that suits your body. They are checking your living, eating and sleeping habits, hormones, blood tests, allergens, pain etc. and anything that can lower the pain of arthritis symptoms.
Benefits of arthritis reflexology
Releasing Pain: the pressure points that a reflexologist is trained to provide are effective given it will be a long-term treatment. A minimum of 5-6 sessions or more are usually required. Firstly, because the massage of those pressure points free-up blocking stresses of the joints. Secondly, regular sessions make sure to provide continuous relief to the pain as well as helping to reduce pain medication intake. Reflexology will also aid depression that can be a part of this ‘painful-living’. The feedback of my clients with arthritis resulted in becoming more flexible after continued treatments, for those specific areas.
Toxin removal: regular reflexology removes toxins from the body, which supports the metabolic system. People with gout and pseudogout or with other versions of arthritis recommended to be on a certain diet that could also reduce the inflammation in the joints so detoxification will speed this process up.
Improving sleeping: when someone suffers from recurring / chronic pain, their sleeping surely be disturbed. Nothing better than a good night's sleep for most of our daily mental and physical problems. Rest the mind or the bodily pains to recover and regenerate to function well.
Improve blood and oxygen flow: the massage therapy aims to improve blood circulation especially in the lymph and peripheral areas, while getting rid of waste toxins that are present in specific joints, especially for gout or pseudogout sufferers.
Reducing long-time stress / depression: arthritis can be a stressful experience in one’s life, which will bring long-term stress, discomfort and exhaustion, and it can worsen.
Boost the immune response: Reflexology is aiming to harmonise all body systems connected to nerves, lymphatic areas, organs, joints etc. For instance, rheumatoid arthritis are autoimmune conditions, when the immune system attacks other bodily tissues. Reflexology is encouraging the immune system to respond normally.
Reflexes focusing on easing arthritis
Reflexes for specific joints that you suffer with, needs to be identified, as every joint (knee, elbow, wrist, hip etc.) has a different pressure point on the body. This will be individually tailored to your needs.
Focusing on the adrenal reflex, adjusts the level of cortisol (a stress hormone) and releases pain. It is an important area to work on for stress as well, as the adrenal glands also help to release cortisol.
Working on the pituitary glands (reflex) releases hormones in other endocrine glands. It is a crucial area to aid the effective function of the adrenal, ovaries and the pineal gland.
The pineal reflex focuses on providing a restful sleep, when you are in pain from arthritis.
The ovaries and uterus reflexes are very important for women. Women can suffer from arthritis pain even more when they are menstruating and this could be due to the lower level of oestrogen in the body. During a menstruation of a client, this will be a major focus from myself and these massages are highly recommended daily, at that period.
For detoxification, you will need the liver and kidney reflexes to be treated. If you are also on a dietary change for arthritis, releasing pain on those organs will speed up the process of detoxification. You are recommended to drink a lot of water before this massage therapy.
Arthritis can result in an overactive immune response to some people with arthritis. Thus, concentrating on the lymphatics (organs) and thymus reflexes will help to reinstate a normal function of the immune response.
Massaging the area of the small intestine and the bowel reflexes will stimulate areas on the body that are more prone to bacterial infections like E. Coli. Research has shown that people with rheumatoid arthritis have higher than average number of antibodies to E. Coli in their synovial fluids. Working on the illeo-coecal valve reflex also helps to lower the disease-causing agents.
If your stress related symptoms are getting worse, the solar plexus reflex should be focused on to reduce it.
Thank you again for reading my blog about arthritis and please get in touch if you have any questions (klara.reflexology@gmail.com). And feel free to book in for a session, you will notice the difference even on the first time. Reflexology is an effective healing method for most illnesses and I treated many.
Best wishes
Klara Esperger
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Source:
Reflexology for Arthritis, Natural Therapy Pages https://www.naturaltherapypages.com.au/article/reflexology-for-arthritis
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