Massage from time to time is not a bad idea for your psychological and physical health. If you combine it with reflexology science, you can benefit from it even more.
It’s been used for years as a valuable part of medicine. By stimulating particular areas and spots on your foot, you can improve your overall health.
When it comes to healing our body from different types of pain and injuries, there are numerous options. Of course, it’s always better to choose natural ones.
There are many health tips for relieving pain, reducing stress, and finding the cure for headaches, but this natural method seems to be suitable for every type of problem.
Some of the advantages of foot massage are: better sleep, improved blood circulation, a relaxed mind, and body, preventing of depression, curing aches, and pains, easing PMS symptoms, and much more.
What is Reflexology?
Reflexology, or zone therapy, is done by stimulating specific pressure points on feet and hands. Specific zones correspond to some organ or system within our body.
By pressing them, you will improve your health. Reflexologists created foot maps to help us find a specific spot.
This way, we can contribute to a reduction of stress and relieve pain. The Science Direct did a study on healthy individuals.
The result is that they can also use this technique to their advantage. Increased energy, boosted circulation and reduced depression are just a few of them.
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How Do you Find a Pressure Point to Relieve Foot Pain?
If someone told you that you could improve your overall health by enjoying a foot massage, you would not believe it. It can benefit your entire body just by stimulating specific points in your foot.
- The spot that is directly connected to the head and brain is the tip of the big toe. By stimulating this spot, you will achieve brain health and your headaches may improve as well.
- One of the most common problems that people have is vision. Science has the answer to that problem as well. The spot of your foot that is below the second and third toe can help to relieve your eye pain. Whether you struggle with soreness, vision problems, or red eyes, this technique can do miracles for you.
- A research from the University of San Diego and of South California proved that if you’re suffering from lung problems, foot reflexology can help you solve that. In the middle area of the balls of a foot is the spot that you’re looking for. It is directly connected to the lungs, and it can improve lung health.
- The next spot is a heel. It corresponds to the lower back. Hence, it provides pain relief, and it can ease your suffering from sciatica.
Why is it Good to Massage Your Feet?
Massage is not only useful on your legs, back or arms. By giving your feet a daily dosage of massage therapy, you will experience benefits from it. It can have numerous advantages on your overall health, and it can help to relax both mind and areas of the body. Just by applying pressure on the right spots, you can relieve the tension. Also, it’s not only beneficial for pain reduction.
This type of alternative medicine is used for foot pain, back pain, or us.
Reflexology science also provides the feeling of relaxation and happiness, and you will boost your metabolism at the same time.
The study from the Department of Nursing, Inje University, Korea showed that middle-aged women can also benefit from reflexology science. During this very important period of their life, women need special care and approach.
This natural remedy can be used to induce labor, for sleep improvement, or for lumbar pain. By practicing massages on specific spots, it can be used for pregnancy relief.
In addition to that, if you play sports or like to jog, the Achilles tendon is something that needs to be taken care of on a daily basis.
Even if it’s the strongest tendon in our whole body, it’s vulnerable due to the high tension.
When we’re flexing the calf muscles, the Achilles tendon pulls on the heel. Thus, it is beneficial to give yourself a foot massage from time to time in order to prevent future injuries in this area.
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How do you Massage Pressure Points?
Since the human feet are very delicate due to nerve endings, they are a great place to massage specific points by using the right technique.
Before you start applying pressure, you need to find a certain point that relates to your desired organ.
When performing a massage, the seated position is probably the most suitable. The top of your fingers will activate the pressure, and it will ease ailments of your head or neck.
One more interesting fact is the so-called, Lidui, or Stomach 45. It’s the spot right in the corner of the second toenail. You can stimulate this spot if you have a problem with appetite, swelling, insomnia, loss of consciousness, etc. Use the tip of your fingers and gently massage it according to traditional Chinese medicine.
The next point is Tai Chong or Liver 3 point. It’s used for back or menstrual pain, insomnia, anxiety, high blood pressure, etc. It’s 2 finger widths higher than the place where your big toe and your next toe join. Stimulate this place for about 5 seconds with nice and deep pressure.
How do You Give Yourself a Foot Massage?
Now that we uncover some facts about reflexology and why it’s so important to use it on a daily basis, let’s see how to perform it. It’s very simple and it doesn’t require equipment. All you have to do is to find a comfortable spot in your chair and to relax. You can start by stimulating the top of the foot, along with the heel and toes.
Once you found your perfect spot to massage, lift up one foot and put it on your opposite knee. This is important so that you can massage the bottom of a certain foot. Be aware of your back position, and keep it straight.
Use your reflexology chart to find the part that you want to massage.
See the chart below:
http://www.natural-holistic-health.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/foot-reflex-chart2.jpg
Once you found it, locate that spot on your foot. Then, apply firm pressure on the specific area using the tip of your thumb. Move up and down your foot three times. Keep doing this for about 2 minutes. When you’re done, repeat the process with the opposite foot.
Also, when performing a massage, don’t use the muscles in your thumbs. Instead, use the strength of your body mass.
You can do the same with another spot. It can be performed any time of the day, as many times as needed. Although it’s good for you, don’t overdo it. Your body can be easily adapted to the stimulation. Try massaging for 10 days, and then take a 3-day break.
What Are the 5 Pressure Points?
Just like the other 10 important points, the 5 pressure points listed below are designed to be used with internal pressure and do not require the use of a finger or middle finger (as you will see in the videos and photos below). However, to really become a master at trigger point therapy, you need to master the 4th and 5th points of external pressure. The first 3 points of external pressure are the ones you should master to the best of your ability first. Once you master these and know them inside and out, you will be able to expand on them and work with more external pressure.
While there are not many outward sensations with the first 3 points of external pressure, you should be able to get a general sense of where they are by pushing on your back with a finger or middle finger while holding pressure on the bottom points for 3-5 seconds. The fourth point and fifth points of external pressure are the real things, so this is where you really need to get creative. The 4th point is your shoulder blade or collarbone (depending on where you are practicing).
Conclusion
In order to promote overall health, many cultures have been using foot massage treatment for years now. Nowadays, you can see more and more people practicing it.
Due to the research of the Journal of Advanced Nursing, we know that it’s an all-natural alternative medicine used to treat pain, lower stress, and cure injuries. Just by applying foot pressure, you will have the feeling that you visited a SPA salon.
By massaging specific points on your feet, you are targeting a specific part of your body. That’s why it’s a good IDEA to have a reflexology chart ready.
It can help you to locate the desired spot easier. You’ll achieve a balance in your body, and you’ll feel more energized. A consistent foot massage will bring you healing inside and out. You’ll feel rejuvenated and younger like never before.
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