By Lucy Halfhead — 2016
After locating Neal's Yard Remedies on Upper Street, Islington, on a blustery winter's evening, it was a relief to step into the soothing surrounds of the Calm and Clear complementary therapies clinic, nestled at the back of the store.
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Several studies indicate that reflexology may reduce pain and psychological symptoms, such as stress and anxiety, and enhance relaxation and sleep.
While some might consider reflexology a fancy word for massage, it's actually much more than that. To learn more about this practice, we talked with Laura Norman, founder of the Laura Norman Wellness center and author of Feet First: A Guide to Foot Reflexology.
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The path at Bastyr University in Seattle is one of the few in North America and is constructed based on the principles of reflexology, an ancient Asian therapy that links health and well-being to specific points on the feet, hands and ears.
Research studies in the U.S. and around the world indicate possible benefits of reflexology, particularly in reducing pain, enhancing relaxation, and reducing psychological symptoms, such as anxiety and depression.
The uneven surfaces of stone paths are commonly used for wellness as "reflexology paths," although you can get the same beneficial effects from any uneven stone pathway.
Reflexology (or foot reflexology) is a therapy based on the principle that there are small and specific areas of innervation in the hands and feet that correspond to specific muscle groups or organs of the body.
Reflexologists believe that reflex points on the feet, hands and ears correspond to different body organs and systems, and that pressing them has a beneficial effect on a person's health. Reflexology is sometimes used by people with multiple sclerosis.
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Reflexology is commonly associated with the feet, while the possibilities of the hands are often overlooked. This is completely unjustified since hand reflexology is just as effective as foot reflexology.
So much of life happens unexpectedly. For me, one unexpected turn started with a phone call from a friend of a friend who also had multiple sclerosis (MS).
To deal with the stress, Turner tried a technique that initially she was skeptical of: reflexology, an ancient practice of stimulating points on the feet to benefit other parts of the body.