In our feet, there are thousands of nerve endings and almost seventy acupuncture points that correspond to different systems, organs, and parts of the body. By stimulating these nerve endings we are able to “talk” to the whole body. This stimulation “wakes up” or brings energy to those places that need it, and “calms down” or re-regulates energy to those places that have more than is needed.
Reflexology should not be used to diagnose or treat illness, however it is a wonderful compliment and support to most medicines and their treatments (western, eastern, energy, spiritual, etc.). This is particularly true as the gentlest forms of this practice almost always help a person to move into the parasympathetic nervous system. This system inhibits the body from over working and restores the body to calm and rest.
The way that nerve endings are stimulated in the feet by a reflexologist is through firm and intentionally placed pressure. Most reflexologists use what is called a “thumb walk” to access the nerve endings therapeutically. I have found this YouTube video to be helpful in learning how to do this technique. Even if you have not mastered the thumb walk, you can still work with the nerve endings in your own feet or the feet of others in a safe way that can create the intended affects that you are looking for.
You can do this by holding the pad of your thumb or finger at a reflexology point and moving your thumb or finger in a small circle or back and forth while continuing to press down. Some tenderness is to be expected, particularly if there is distress or dysfunction in the area of the body that the tender spot in your foot corresponds to. Sometimes, the tenderness you are feeling is specific to the anatomy of the foot. Always use your best judgment when it comes to deciding how to read the pain cues of your body remembering that reflexology is not meant to be used for diagnosis or treatment.
There are many reflexology maps that can be found online that can guide you to the places you need to go on the foot to find the part of you that want help with. Here are a few suggestions for where to go on the foot to alleviate discomfort in the body.
To alleviate sinus pressure and/or encourage sinus drainage: Pinch/compress the tips of your toes right above (closer to the nail) or at the first knuckle.
To alleviate stress/strain/discomfort in the low back or sciatic nerve: Find the space in between the achilles tendon and the lateral malleolus (protruding bone on the outside of your ankle). Take the pad of thumb or finger and press into the area to the side of the lateral malleolus and just below it.
To alleviate discomfort in the knee: Find where the ankle meets the foot. Draw a line from this place to the bottom edge of your foot and stop before you reach underneath the foot. At this point on the edge of the foot is where you can press or pinch in order to alleviate issues with the knee.