There are different forms of Therapeutic Reflexology and in today’s post, we’ll consider hand reflexology.
As a Therapeutic Reflexologist, I work on the reflexes (or nerve endings) on various parts of a patient’s body. Each Therapeutic Reflexologist may follow a different approach, but my approach is to usually work on the patient’s feet and depending on the reason for the consultation, may also include reflexology on the hands or face or ears, or body. At Christo Scheepers Therapeutic Reflexologist, I do sometimes work on only the hands or only the face or only the ears, but usually, I prefer to work on the feet and then to add one or a combination of the hands, face, ears, and body to the feet treatment. That is just a personal preference based on all my years of experience.
Therapeutic Reflexology on the hands works on similar principles than on the feet and there are reflexology charts available for that as well, although Therapeutic Reflexologists are known for working on patients’ feet. The hands are not as sensitive as the feet and the reflex areas are much smaller and therefore my preference has always been to use hand reflexology as an add-on treatment in combination with working on the feet.
I do sometimes work only on the hands and if a patient requests it, it will be discussed and dealt with accordingly.
I remember working with a traumatised teenage boy who was in a motorcycle accident resulting in both his legs being amputated under the knees. I consulted with him and since his wounds on the amputated legs were still raw after the surgery, I provided him with hand reflexology only, with great results. It calmed him down and in the midst of the tremendous shock of the accident and the consequent loss of his legs, he was able to relax and refocus before his psychological treatment commenced. It has always been such a privilege working in a multidisciplinary team where my discipline can add value before another healthcare provider is able to provide additional treatment.
Hand reflexology is calming and is often used when people want to provide themselves with reflexology or massage as it is easier accessible than the feet, especially if you are not as flexible as you used to be; yes, that happens LOL.
Another patient comes to mind. Years ago, I was called out to the Greenacres Hospital in Port Elizabeth to offer trauma debriefing to a young girl from abroad that was in a bus accident just outside Port Elizabeth while being on tour through South Africa. She was badly injured and bruised and admitted to the hospital. When I arrived, she was adamant that she does not need to talk to a counsellor and her sister saw me in the corridor and told me that she will not talk to me at all due to prior bad experiences she had with counsellors in her home country. I smiled and said it is fine, but would still like to try as the hospital called me.
I entered the room and she was very verbal about the fact that she did not want to speak to a counsellor about her ordeal, so I smiled at her and said, “it is a good thing then that my name is Christo and not counsellor”. That was a good ice breaker and I stood next to her bed and asked her how she felt because the hospital said she was struggling to relax and sleep. She said she was not feeling that well, but she is not going to talk about it. I told her it is fine, she does not have to talk but asked her permission to hold her hand to help her calm down. She gave permission and with her hand in mine, I began doing hand reflexology on her. She closed her eyes as I provided her with hand reflexology in silence and a few minutes into the treatment session, I just saw the tears flowing down her cheeks, without saying a word. About 15 minutes later she opened her eyes, looked at me, and just began telling me about the accident. Hand reflexology relaxed her to the point of feeling comfortable with me. The debriefing was complete and as I provided more hand reflexology, she fell asleep.
To this day, that girl is one of the patients that I kept on remembering as the hand reflexology provided her with the personal closeness she needed after the traumatic accident in a non-invasive manner that was within her comfort zone. Seeing how the emotions were released while providing her with hand reflexology, is something that made quite an impression on me.
I have seen it on numerous occasions within my Therapeutic Reflexology practice; it is not linked to the hands, but it happens with feet reflexology or facial reflexology as well. It is the fact that Therapeutic Reflexology is a non-invasive therapy that helps the body to relax and balance itself from the inside out, both physically and emotionally.
Being a Therapeutic Reflexologist in private practice is such a privilege that I never take likely; I love helping people.
Hand reflexology can be just as effective as foot reflexology, but personally, I always prefer a combination approach.
Considering Therapeutic Reflexology, on one or a combination of body parts, is a decision that can only benefit your overall wellbeing.
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Christo A. Scheepers: Therapeutic Reflexologist
Dip.T.R.(Cum Laude) [IARAMT]
AHPCSA: A11945
Pr. No.: 1080000737453
Tel. 072-800 7243