Therapeutic Reflexology is an excellent healthcare modality that can assist your body to cleanse itself through a holistic detoxification process. In this post we’ll explore cleansing through therapeutic reflexology.
Detoxification (detox) is a process where the body gets rid of a build-up of toxins in the body; it is a way the body cleanses itself from excess or unwanted substances in order to function optimally again. A good detox is sometimes needed and this can take the form of many different ways; often a detox is associated with the use of laxatives to clear out the bowels, but it is so much more than that.
Can’t my body detox itself?
Your body has been so uniquely designed with its own in-built detox systems like sweating, tears, shedding of skin, diarrhoea and so forth. The body has the ability to balance itself and thus it also has the ability to detox and cleanse itself.
However, sometimes the body is in such a state of imbalance that it cannot cleanse and detox itself without some assistance. The reason for this is basically our modern lifestyle and diet. We often live unhealthy lives making the body operate at a less optimum level. Our diet sometimes adds toxins to the body even when we try to eat healthy; in our modern-day society there are so many food products that are full of additives, colourants, chemicals, growth hormones and antibiotics and it leads us to consume it all leading to toxin build-up in the body. We use medication and with each tablet or syrup you put in your mouth the healing properties are often accompanied by chemical build-up in the body.
Are these chemicals all bad? Not all, but many of them have a negative effect on the body. Your body can handle the chemicals and toxins being put into the body and still cleanse and detox itself, but when an excessive intake is consumed, the body may need some help and, in these instances, a good detox programme may work wonders. Just as a disclaimer, be careful to just make use of any detox programme; there are many detox programmes and products available, but often it should only be used under supervision of a medical doctor or other diagnostic practitioner like homeopath, naturopath, unani-tibb practitioner and so forth.
One of the best detox programmes available (without the use of any medication), is therapeutic reflexology.
How does therapeutic reflexology detox the body?
Therapeutic reflexology helps the body to balance itself or to bring the body back to homeostasis. This is done in that the body relaxes during the therapeutic reflexology session and due to increased blood flow, reduced stress levels and the excretion of endorphins, the body can restore its own balance by excreting toxins while balancing hormone levels.
The body is sometimes unable to detox itself due to toxin build-up and this blockage of toxins actually prevents the body from getting rid of these toxins. Therapeutic reflexology assists the body to eliminate these blockages in order to regain the ability to rid the body of excess and unwanted toxins and chemical build-up in the body.
Does therapeutic reflexology include manual lymph drainage in the cleansing process?
Yes, but it also depends on the therapeutic reflexologist you consult with. Overall therapeutic reflexology includes movement of the lymph, but certain therapeutic reflexologists also make use of specific lymph drainage techniques additional to the normal therapeutic reflexology techniques.
I have been trained specifically to use reflexology manual lymph drainage techniques in addition to the normal set of therapeutic reflexology techniques and in practice I have noticed how effective the combination of these techniques work in helping the body to cleanse and detox itself.
What can be expected from therapeutic reflexology detox?
Each person reacts differently to therapeutic reflexology, so what is experienced may differ from person to person. Also, when you experience certain symptoms may be different from person to person.
Some people experience no symptoms, but may feel more relaxed, less stressed and some even feel more balanced. Others may experience symptoms like the following:
- Better bowel movements; constipated people often indicate that they had good bowel movement after a therapeutic reflexology session;
- Cold like symptoms; some people may experience cold-like symptoms like a runny nose after therapeutic reflexology sessions;
- Energy levels; many patients indicate that they feel very tired after the initial therapeutic reflexology session, but after further sessions they often feel energised;
- Headache; sometimes headaches are experienced after therapeutic reflexology session which should not come as a surprise, because the treatment helps the body to get rid of the toxins and these toxins may cause a slight headache, however, drinking enough water after a session may help to flush out the toxins and hopefully prevent the headache;
- Improved sleeping patters; most people indicate good sleeping the evening after a therapeutic reflexology session; and
- Various other symptoms like nausea, diarrhoea, phlegm being excreted, improved breathing or sweating.
These symptoms are not negative, but a positive sign that the body is busy rebalancing itself and in the process the body is busy cleansing and detoxing itself.
There are ways to deal with symptoms appearing due to therapeutic reflexology detox and cleansing, so please speak to your therapeutic reflexologist when experiencing any of these symptoms. Usually drinking enough water after a therapeutic reflexology session is sufficient to help you flush out some toxins.
End Result
Therapeutic reflexology is excellent in helping your body to cleanse and detox itself. If you have not tried it before, you should perhaps consider it. Helping your body to balance itself, will help you to experience an optimally functioning body.
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Christo A. Scheepers: Therapeutic Reflexologist
Dip.T.R.(Cum Laude) [IARAMT]
AHPCSA: A11945
Pr. No.: 1080000737453
Tel. 072-800 7243