What is Reflexotherapy?

Based on the science of Reflexology, Reflexotherapy is a drug-free, pain-free alternative and complimentary method of treatment used to promote healing, relieve stress, tension, aches and pains. With reflexotherapy, the body’s reflex zones, point-reflex zones, or general areas of the body (i.e. neck, shoulders, back, arms, knees, thighs, hips, calves, etc.) are stimulated through the surface of the skin (the skin is not punctured as with acupuncture) which then activate the specific reactions and reflexes to parts of the body working to produce physiological changes that lead to the release of your problem.

It is important to note that our body maintains many informative connections (or information links) between the internal systems and the skin (external). By stimulating these zones, the healing process is sped up as the nervous system is activated and Qi energy (Qi is Chinese for energy) balancing begins to occur. Reflexotherapy is a system that provides total body healthcare.

How Does Reflexotherapy Work?

According to many publications from around the world, including Body Reflexology by M. Carter and T. Weber, Reflexotherapy works on similar principles of acupuncture (fine needles are inserted by a licensed practitioner just under the skin at specific points) and acupressure (a non-invasive therapeutic massage therapy where pressure is applied to specific points) to achieve systemic changes in the body like promoting balanced Qi and blood flow.

Reflexotherapy, along with acupuncture and acupressure, is considered one of the oldest ancient healing methods and can produce wonderful healing benefits, but is often overlooked because of its simplicity.

Consider that our body sends us messages through the reflexes, like a stab or twinge of pain. This is a signal that there is trouble somewhere within our body. The basis of Reflexology is that there are reflexes found over the entire body, which correspond or refer to other organs or areas of the body and meridian lines or channels which have links with the nervous system, connective tissue, and fascia (band of fibrous tissue lying deep in the skin). Carter and Weber define reflex points as “energy junctions that relay and reinforce energy along meridian lines of the body, passing energy toward the organs and the nervous system”. Electrical current passes through the reflex points and meridian lines found throughout the body. There are small points found along each meridian where the energy of the meridian is close to the surface of the skin (these are similar to acupuncture/acupressure points).

With Reflexotherapy, as the skin receptors are being irritated, the micro-reflex zones of the organism are reacting. Note that such a small section of skin measuring about a one-inch square contains three million cells, 50 nerve endings, and three feet of blood vessels

The human body is a highly organized and complex system with many information fields linking the external and internal organs. So, by stimulating painful areas at the direct site of pain (neck, shoulders, back, legs, hips, etc.) and/or their representative reflex points in the ears, hands, feet, etc., the body’s natural ability to begin healing is activated.

Benefits of Reflexotherapy

The stimulation of the body’s specific reflex zones or general areas of the body promotes relaxation particularly after a day of physical and/or emotional overload; improves micro-circulation, helps to release waste products that have accumulated in local areas, helps to eliminate trigger points (releasing local contraction of muscles and blood vessels), and brings the body into balance by eliminating energy blockages.

Other benefits described by Carter and Weber and in numerous other scientific studies explain that Reflexotherapy through its pressure point stimulation, like acupuncture but without needle penetration, can produce endorphins or as commonly named “the feel good hormones” which are chemicals found in the brain whose function appear to be the mediation of pain perception.

Similar to the benefits obtained from acupuncture and acupressure, Reflexotherapy is also effective for conditions other than pain such as nausea, insomnia, anxiety, fatigue, and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) just to name a few. Reflexotherapy also helps to normalize activity of the cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous system, and gastrointestinal.

As a total body healthcare treatment, Reflexotherapy promotes a sense of well-being and relaxation.