Читать книгу Reflexology: The Definitive Practitioner's Manual: Recommended by the International Therapy Examination Council for Students and Practitoners - Beryl Crane - Страница 66

Reflexology is beneficial for many of the behavioural problems discussed above, especially vein problems and haemorrhoids, because stimulation encourages the venous return to the heart. It also stimulates the connective tissue and improves circulation generally, and helps disperse oedema, especially if there is swelling in a joint, and alleviates pain in spinal areas, possibly because of increased blood supply so nutritive compounds are transferred to muscles without any overload of toxic lactic acid (which is produced through voluntary muscle contraction). It helps in tissue renewal as it triggers growth hormone release from the pituitary, which stimulates new bone growth, aiding in healing of fractures.

Before commencing treatment, one has to consider many different factors. For instance, is the illness of sudden onset, or chronic? If it is chronic the system would be very depleted. The age of the person is not really important because young and old alike will benefit. Contraindications must always be considered, also the person’s threshold of pain, and their reaction to reflexology during, between and after treatment. A patient should always react positively; if there is any uneasiness during treatment one should always stop and use one of the many relaxation techniques. These can be used to calm, tranquillize, balance or revitalize. The body seems to know when it needs invigorating and when it needs to be restful. When treating patients we have to take into consideration all these many factors.