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Reflexology is an age-old treatment on the hands and feet to treat other areas of the body through various pressure points found on the palms and soles. The diagram below shows a ‘body map’ of the palms and soles.

Before commencing a reflexology session, warm the hands or soles first to increase blood circulation and enforce warmth on to the colder areas. After this warming massage, apply pressure to the area you wish to treat, slowly at first, then once pressure has been applied, complete a series of pumping movements to increase the effectiveness of the treatment. Apply small circular movements as you gently release the pressure from the pressure point. For a quick fix at work, the hands are a more practical option but when relaxing at home the more powerful effects will be felt from a foot treatment.

If you are not sure which organs are responsible for what, consult the anatomy guide below for the low-down on organ function.

,Pressure points enduce holistic therapy and pure relaxation.

x This foot reflex map may help you treat minor health problems yourself.

All reflexology treatments treat the body holistically and indirectly help to relieve pressure in the body and release the symptoms of psychosomatic illness (physical illness caused or influenced by emotional factors and stress). Examples of these illnesses are headaches, backache, excessive perspiration, eye strain and anxiety. Ongoing illness or pain should always be treated by a doctor before self treatment is applied with foot or hand massage and pressure points. However, ‘self reflexology’ can be very relaxing: link the pressure points shown above with these common ailments:

Sinuses Found under the forehead bone, sinuses go from the top of the nose to the forehead and at the sides of the head, and when blocked feel like pressure around the eyes and nose. Sinuses are like fingerprints and are different for everyone. They can become painful with infection, colds and viruses so apply pressure to fingertips or toe tips to help release that bunged up feeling or discomfort in this area.

Lymph drainage Lymph is a substance that travels around the body, clearing it of toxins and waste. Light pressure applied at the base of the big toe space or in the thumb space will stimulate detoxification of the body and help reduce swelling in the body tissues if you suffer from puffy feet.

The brain Some headaches are thought to be caused by blood flowing incorrectly around the brain causing pain in different areas of the head. Reflexology here may well soothe a headache. Apply a slight pressure to the tip and side of the thumb or big toe to relieve symptoms.

Pituitary gland This endocrine gland is responsible for secreting important hormones which keep the body working and balanced. If hormone levels are unbalanced you may feel lethargic, sick, dehydrated and generally unwell. A light pressure applied to the point just below the thumbprint or at the base of the big toe will help balance problematic hormones.

Adrenal glands Treat these when stressed as the hormones adrenalin and cortisol produced by these glands are responsible for the ‘fight or flight’ mechanism which kicks in in times of stress. Pressure applied in the centre of the foot or hand can help to relax and calm from the inside out.

Thyroid gland This butterfly shaped gland in the neck region is responsible for regulating the body’s metabolic rate, so if you feel unusually tired or hyperactive apply pressure on the inner upper foot area or at the base of the thumb.

Solar plexus This is known as the centremost part of the body and feelings of negativity and stress can be released when applying pressure in the centre of the palms and soles.

Small intestine This is where most of the food in our body is absorbed and digested to use for energy. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and other digestive complaints such as diarrhoea or constipation may be soothed with a light thumb pressure on the lower inside of the soles and centre of the palms.

Colon This is the waste carrier and the tube that carries faeces to the anus. Bowl problems and constipation are treated with pressure points to the ‘C’ shaped area found in the lower part of the soles and palms.

Cardiac area This area is responsible for the heart and blood circulation so any problems with nervous anxiety or bad circulation can be treated by applying pressure to the upper central sole and upper left palm.

Sciatic nerve This is the largest nerve in the body and it runs from the very bottom of the back down the outside of the thigh and leg. It can be painful if trapped and cause untold problems. Soothing pressure points at the very bottom of the heal and wrist can help relieve some of the pain.

Shoulders We all have tense, tight shoulders but cannot massage them directly ourselves but the next best thing is using the pressure points on your hands to treat them indirectly. Massage all over the palms and pressure points around the pads of the palms for tension release.

Reflexology on the feet is regularly used to treat other parts of the body and training a partner or family member to massage your feet is well worth the effort! The pressure points on the feet are similar to those on the hands but because the sole is a larger area it can be easier to treat.

The hands and feet have an exceptionally rich supply of blood and nerve endings. This gives them the ability to be very sensitive and functional as well as warm and strong. When treating the hands and feet it is always better to work with massage movements running towards the top of the arms and the top of the legs as these areas are closer to the heart. By encouraging this flow of blood and lymphatic waste upwards you are stimulating those systems to work more efficiently and quickly.

n Massaging stimulates the blood supply which turns the skin pink. This is known as ‘erythema’.

Though the muscles in the hands and feet can be very strong they are very delicately structured. Muscles help retain heat from the blood and keep the extremities warm even when they are not being used. As a masseuse your hand muscles can become exceptionally strong and so exercising them is useful. Hand and foot exercises are great to do as part of a nail treatment at home to relax and warm the muscles as well as mobilising joints and nerves to help prevent repetitive strain injuries.

THE PROFESSIONAL TOUCH

It is always better to receive treatment from a qualified reflexologist and the recommendations set out here are for a temporary self-treatment fix only. Should you feel unwell or have a condition that needs medical attention, seek the advice of a medically trained person before proceeding with self treatment.