Reflexology is a holistic therapy for activating the healing power of the whole body through applying pressure to different points in the feet (and occasionally the hands).

Reflexology is a purely therapeutic massage, completely compatible with all other forms of medicine, whether homoeopathic, naturopathic or herbal. Reflexology is not a substitute for treatment prescribed by a medical practitioner.

The treatment
How can what appears to be simply massaging your feet help you? Well, the first time you meet a reflexologist you quickly realise, with the aid of of a foot zone chart, that parts of the feet relate directly to the various parts of the body, even the spinal column which is the cause of so much pain to so many people.

After an initial chat to discover particular areas of concern you are invited to take off shoes and stockings and sit straight-legged on a comfortable couch facing the therapist. (It is possible to be treated lying down if preferred.) The treatment begins with a short, gentle massage of the feet to help you relax; then the treatment proper can begin. Gentle but firm pressure is exerted on each foot – sometimes it can be quite uncomfortable -- while you are encouraged to describe any effects, particularly any discomfort, felt within the body. Although a reflexologist is not there to diagnose any illness, this discussion can help identify the root of a problem allowing the therapist to focus on specific reflex points.

At the end of the treatment, which takes between 45 minutes and 1 hour, you should feel very relaxed and quite comfortable. Another appointment may be necessary, but whether this is needed or not, the therapist will offer advice on how to avoid a recurrence of the problem, if that is practicable, as well as stressing the importance of ensuring that you drink plenty of water to rid the body of the toxins that have been freed during the treatment. You should leave feeling that you are walking on a cushion of air!

What conditions can reflexology help?

Stress
Stress cannot be avoided and some forms can be exhilarating and fun, such as playing a sport or arranging an event. However, stress can become a problem when you do not manage it well. It is then that the body’s defences break down and you become more susceptible to illness and disease. It has been estimated that over 75% of illness is stress related and here reflexology can play a large part in helping reduce stress by inducing deep, tranquil relaxation.

Circulation
By using the relevant pressure points in the feet, circulation can be greatly improved and therefore the body is more likely to become ‘whole’ again, making you feel good.

Back pain
Back pain affects a great many people and can disrupt daily life. Common complaints such as sciatica, can be greatly helped and many chronic back pain sufferers have found a tremendous improvement in their condition after a few treatments. Apart from interfering with work, back pain can also be very inconvenient for anyone who plays sports such as golf, tennis, badminton and bowls, so many people choose to visit reflexologists on a ‘seasonal’ basis.

Arthritis
Although reflexology cannot in any way cure arthritis, it can help reduce the discomfort and many people will see a therapist on a monthly or bi-monthly basis to improve suppleness and ‘keep going’. No matter what the type of arthritis, most people can obtain some relief through these regular visits.

Hayfever
When treating hayfever sufferers, a reflexologist focuses on the pressure points for the chest, bronchial areas, sinuses, pituitary gland, eyes, nose and throat, the ileocaecal valve (at the junction of the small and large intestines), intestines (mucus) and adrenal glands. Usually one or two treatments can be beneficial to those who are at the mercy of pollen and it can have a lasting effect throughout the season. The reflexologist can then offer guidance on how to keep symptoms under control and maintain general wellbeing.

Quitting smoking
The relaxation of a reflexology treatment and the use of the relevant pressure points can actually help, initially to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked and eventually support total abstinence.

The disabled
Many disabled people suffer needlessly, attributing all aches and pains to their particular problem, which is often not the case. The therapy can be very beneficial in helping reduce or remove any additional discomfort and so let them get on with their lives.

Reflexology and children
Reflexology is not just a therapy for adults. Children can greatly benefit from the treatment.

Children of all ages, even those just a few weeks old, as well as their parents have been saved many sleepless nights through reflexology. The problems can be anything from colic, which most parents have experienced, to poor or lengthy feeding sessions for babies. Also, with older children, reflexology has been used to help hyperactive children, while bed-wetting, which can be caused by an ‘energy blockage’ in the spinal area, can also be tackled successfully, much to the delight of both children and parents.

Reflexology can assist children suffering from recurring headaches, which are sometimes caused by ‘peer pressure’ or just the general pressures of life

Weight problems in children can also be looked at through reflexology and children are often more likely to take advice from a reflexologist than a parent. It is sometimes easier for the therapist to get children to understand what is happening to their bodies when they are actually receiving treatment and having it explained to them.

Cobi Philipsen is a reflexologist with a flourishing practice in Kilwinning, Ayrshire. She moved to Scotland from her native Holland in the 1960s but did not take up reflexology until the 1990s, after a brush with cancer which she tackled with her customary forthrightness and the aid of complementary medicine.