2 TREATMENT PLANS When a client presents with a condition (or conditions), research may be required, in order to ensure the most effective treatment. This is so that the practitioner can fully understand the cause of the condition, and therefore devise the most effective Reflexology Treatment Plan to help the client s body to balance. Firstly, the Reflexologist needs to play detective and establish information such as: Is this condition an Inflammation (remember conditions ending in itis normally mean inflammation, such as Arthritis) or an Infection? (perhaps a virus or bacterial infection, such as a cold or sore throat). If it is an inflammation the key reflex will be adrenals for anti-inflammatories. If it is an infection the key reflex will be the spleen, to fight the pathogen. What is the main area affecting the client? (These would be the Key Reflexes). For Asthma the Key Reflex is the lungs. For Sciatica the Key Reflex is the sciatic reflex. For High Blood Pressure the Key Reflex is the kidney reflex. What other areas would it be helpful to work? (These would be the Helper Reflexes). The Helper Reflexes for Asthma would be: the diaphragm, breast, solar plexus, heart, sinuses, ileocecal valve and adrenals. The Helper Areas for Sciatica would be: hip, knee, leg, spine, groin and abdomen. The Helper Areas for High Blood Pressure would be: Solar plexus, diaphragm, breast, heart, thyroid, pituitary and adrenals. How long has this client lived with this condition? If the condition is recent, then treatment may be effective after only a few sessions. If the condition is chronic, it may take some time before the client feels improvement. How often does the client need to see you? For reflexology to be effective, a weekly treatment (at least) will need to be made initially. Reflexologists don t normally treat chronic conditions more than once or twice a week, as the body needs to adapt to the treatment. However, if the condition is acute, treatments two or three times a day can be given. Once the treatment has been effective, wean the client off by treating once every two weeks, then three weeks, etc. If you treat less than once per week, the effect of the last treatment can be lost, therefore healing does not occur so reliably. Once the nature of the condition has been established; whether it is acute or chronic; and how long they have had it the next step is to examine how it is affecting the body. In order to decide which key reflex and helper reflexes to work, it is important to know the function, and effect, on the body of working each organ and gland please see the list below.
3 THE REFLEX LIST The reflexes are listed by system. This list is not definitive, but will be a good starting point when devising a treatment plan, or when needing a quick reminder on the function of an organ or gland. When choosing reflexes for a treatment plan, don t forget that if the presenting condition affects a reflex in Zone 2 (ie, the kidneys) any reflex in that same zone can be considered a helper reflex. This will then help balance the entire zone. THE REFLEX WHY / FOR Musculo-Skeletal System: Shoulder Neck Temple/Head Hip / Knee Stress, shoulder pain, immobility of joint, referral area for hip Whiplash or postural deformity, neck pain, headaches, migraine Soothe for headaches and stress If client has arthritis in these joints, working them will help with pain relief; referral areas for shoulder/elbow; pain, injury Nervous System: Brain Solar Plexus Spine Stimulate for lack of concentration, sedate for busy brain Stress, emotional problems used to calm, accompanied with slow deep breathing Work over any area that links to a reflex imbalance, ie lumbar spine for bladder imbalance. Also soothe spine for backache, neck and headache problems (see accompanying Spinal Reference Chart). Endocrine System: Pineal Pituitary If client is having trouble sleeping, for jet lag and SAD syndrome Stimulating labour; any hormone imbalance, such as hot flushes; pain relief; tumours and growth of any abnormal cells - known as the Master Hormone Gland. Important for homeostasis (balance)
4 Hypothalamus Thyroid Parathyroids Adrenals Pancreas Stimulating labour; any hormone imbalance; emotions such as rage, pain, pleasure; hunger and thirst sensations; body temperature; sleep patterns; smooth muscle activity For metabolism and growth. Stimulate if hypo, soothe if hyper Controls calcium levels (with the thyroid) so important for bones etc; also helps to produce Vitamin D, so helps the immune system Soothe for stress. Stimulate for production of anti-inflammatories, so work for any itis. Important for muscle tone, so work for IBS as helps all muscle types. Helps with hormones in men and post- menopausal women. Also for sugar balance and energy Stimulate for type II diabetes The Special Senses: Ear Eye Nose Dizziness (balance), ear infection, tinnitus, deafness Eye strain (computer operators), headache For nasal polyps, sinusitis, loss of sense of smell Respiratory: Trachea Diaphragm Client has lost their voice, sore throat Any respiratory condition and stress, because the body becomes tense when emotionally stressed and breathing is impaired Lymphatic System: Tonsils Spleen Stimulate to help client s immune system Stimulate if client fighting off an infection Digestive System: Oesophagus Heartburn, hiatus hernia, acid reflux Cardiac Sphincter Acid reflux, indigestion
5 Liver Gall Bladder Stomach and Intestines Ileocecal Valve Ascending Colon Sluggishness (no get-up-and-go ); skin conditions; heavy menstrual bleeding; to detoxify body; for sugar balance, metabolism and all digestive problems For release of bile to help emulsify fats and lubricate digestive system Soothe for indigestion, gastric ulcer, IBS. Stimulate to increase absorption of nutrients. Mucus production in any area of the body Soothe for IBS, wind, constipation and diarrhoea. Descending Colon Constipation, IBS, haemorrhoids (rectum and anus) Circulatory System: Heart Angina, hypertension, stabilised heart attack Urinary System: Kidney Stimulate for elimination of toxins, soothe for hypertension. Reproductive System: Breast Ovary Prostate Soothe for fluid retention and tenderness; PMS Regulation of oestrogen/progesterone balance. Soothe, if client is menopausal Stimulate, if male client cannot void urine normally, ie has to urinate frequently during the night (nocturnal micturition) To further help prioritise the reflexes that need work, there is a Golden Rule. Firstly, this involves reflexes that must be worked for every client, in every session. These are called: Regular Maintenance Areas Certain organs are vital for life, so these must be worked at every treatment: Brain and Central Nervous System Liver Kidneys Lungs
6 Heart If even just one of these organs fail, the whole body will be in immediate danger of failing! The Golden Rule Helper Areas Certain systems have common reflexes that help all conditions of that particular system. The Golden Rule is to understand, and work on, the appropriate Helper Areas for each system. Most, but not all, systems have a Golden Rule (the helper areas) to learn! Once the helper areas for each system are known, it is easy to prioritise reflexes for each condition as long as there is knowledge of which system is affected by the condition! The golden rule/helper areas for the Respiratory system are - in addition to working the Direct Reflex (chest/lungs etc): The Adrenals for inflammation and muscle tone. The Diaphragm because it aids breathing and helps to relax someone who is stressed or in pain. The Ileocecal Valve to help with mucous problems (chest and sinus congestion) The Spinal Nerves appropriate for the respiratory system. The golden rule/helper areas for the Endocrine system are: All glands to balance body chemistry (the hormones). Diaphragm for emotions (stress, fear, tension, worry all affect breathing) Spinal nerves for the nerve innervations. The golden rule/helper areas for the Reproductive System are: Pituitary for FSH/LH. Thyroid (because it is known as the third ovary). Adrenal for the androgens (sex hormones). Diaphragm /Solar Plexus for the emotions. Spinal nerves for nerve innervations. The golden rule/helper areas for the Digestive system are: Adrenals for muscle tone and inflammation. Liver/gallbladder for bile (lubrication) as well as the other related functions. Diaphragm / Solar Plexus for emotions. Spinal nerves for nerve innervations. The golden rule/helper areas for the Urinary System are: All the system, plus the adrenals, for ADH, muscle tone and inflammation. Spinal reflexes for the nerve innervations.
7 For ALL Systems: Remember that working another reflex in the same zone as the Key reflex will support that reflex, and can be considered a helper reflex. Also, it is important to work the appropriate Nerve Innervations for the client s condition. Each pair of spinal nerves sends messages to and from the brain to inform the body about what is happening internally and externally - it assesses this information, and then acts upon it to create change. If a part of the body is out of balance, it may well be due to a blockage in the nerve supply or, if the spine is out of alignment, the nerve is compromised and dysfunction in the associated part of the body may result. Use the chart of Spinal Nerve innervations, on the next page, to help decide which nerves would be the most beneficial to work for the client s particular condition.
Image reproduced by kind permission of Tony Porter ART Reflexology 8
So, armed with Key Reflexes, Helper Reflexes, the Regular Maintenance Areas, and incorporating the Golden Rule (ie, Helper Areas), as well as the nerves involved - the tools are available to create a highly effective treatment plan for individual clients. 9 Seven Point Protocol for devising a Treatment Plan 1. Identify the condition (or conditions) that the client needs help with. 2. Decide which system of the body each one belongs to. 3. Look up the Golden Rule (Helper Areas) for that system and list those reflexes to work 4. Decide upon the Key Reflex to work 5. Decide upon the Helper Reflexes to work 6. List the Spinal nerves which need to be incorporated 7. Check the list of Regular Maintenance Areas to see if any have been missed off the list made so far - if they have, make sure that they are added in. Example: 1. Client Mr D presents with long term, chronic bronchitis this is an inflammation, and he has had it for a long time. 2. Bronchitis is a condition that affects the Respiratory System. 3. Following the Golden Rule, the reflexes for the Respiratory System that need to be worked are: the adrenals, diaphragm, ileocecal valve, and the spinal nerves for the areas involved. 4. The Key Reflex must be the Chest/Lung/Bronchial reflex on the plantar and dorsal aspect of the feet, as it is the affected area. 5. The Helper areas to work are basically the Golden Rule reflexes (you can see how helpful it is to learn this rule!): the adrenals for the inflammation as it is an itis ; the ileocecal valve for the mucous in his lungs; the diaphragm to aid his breathing, and for the pain from coughing. However, there also needs to be concern about his body s ability to cope with this illness, so it would be advisable to work the spleen for his immune system too. 6. The spinal nerves that need work would be: T3 for the lungs, bronchial tubes, pleura, chest; T8 for the diaphragm; T9 for the adrenals; T12 and L1 for the ileocecal valve. 7. On the Regular Maintenance List, it is important to give attention to: the Brain and rest of the spine; the liver; the kidneys. The Lungs are already covered as the Key reflex and the Heart has probably also been covered when working the chest/lung area on the feet. Mr D s Treatment would look something like this (following the initial Investigatory Session to make sure that there isn t anything else going on): Opening relaxation sequence: Work chest/lung/bronchial area several passes plantar and dorsal. Work T3. Work diaphragm well, and then T8. Work adrenals and T9, carry on to T12 and L1. Work intestines, ileocecal valve and colon. Work the liver and kidneys, work the spleen and then work adrenals again
Return to Lungs/chest/heart/bronchial tubes plantar and dorsal. Work the whole spine and the brain Work the big toe too, as all the zones are in the head Return to lungs/bronchial tubes Sedate both adrenal reflexes Hold solar plexus points on both feet, but do not ask client to deep breathe (he won t be able to with bronchitis) Finish with relaxing massage. 10 Remember to get feedback from the client and give safe aftercare advice. Each session might be slightly different, depending on the client s response, feedback and any change in health. For example, if he wasn t sleeping well, it may be advisable to include the pineal/hypothalamus glands. If he had pain in his ribs and shoulders from coughing, then include the intercostal muscles and upper back and shoulders. If his sinuses were blocked, work his toes well. It is important to be adaptable and think on your feet, so to speak! Ideally, it would be best to see Mr D weekly, for six weeks, reviewing after each session and aiming for improvements in his breathing, pain reduction, to lessen his coughing and mucous production, improve his sleep, energy levels and his overall quality of life. It would, of course, also depend on his aims and his commitment to the sessions. The ultimate aim would be to get him on to a maintenance programme of monthly appointments. Aftercare advice could involve the recommendation of safe dietary changes, such as reducing mucous forming foods, and increasing anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting foods; breathing through his nose as much as possible, using some simple breathing techniques to help with this. Research about his condition shows that, in a study, a group of chronic bronchitis sufferers, who were asked to blow up a balloon each day (compared to the control group) had a huge improvement in their condition. Mr D might want to have a look at the study, or contact the hospital where it was conducted.
11 GROUP WORK: CREATING TREATMENT PLANS Think about one of the people who is going to be your case study: Write what his/her condition is A bit about their lifestyle.... Key reflex to work Why. Its effects... Helper reflexes to work... Why.... Their effects......... Now, go through the seven point Treatment Protocol (above) and on the next page, create a complete Treatment Plan for one of your Case Study Clients.
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13 REFLEXOLOGY TECHNIQUES SESSION 6 Arm / Leg Finger hook down the lateral edge of the foot, from the shoulder reflex to the corner of the heel. As this is a line, repeat three times. As the lateral edge is worked, both the arm and leg are worked together, as the reflexes overlap. Place the tip of the thumb on and under the lateral tuberosity, and rotate over. This is the first of two knee reflexes (also the elbow). With all fingers, walk across the dorsal aspect of the foot, over the second knee reflex (also the psoas reflex). Walking with all the fingers together is known as the Marching Army technique. Now repeat the Marching Army in the opposite direction. Finish the knee and psoas by thumb walking the area. The psoas and knee have now been thoroughly worked. Pelvis and Reproductive Thumb walk the lateral area of the heel, and lean the foot into the thumb at the same time to create leverage. This is working the hip area of the client. Criss-cross all the area under the heel to ensure good coverage.
Locate the ovary/testis reflex by placing the left thumb on the corner of the clients right heel, place the middle finger on the lateral malleolus, then place the index finger exactly between the two. The index finger is now successfully on the ovary/testis reflex. To be sure of exactly the right location, check to see if a slight hollow can be felt under the index finger. Rotate the reflex gently, then replace index finger with energy finger (middle finger) and place the other energy finger in exactly the opposite location on the medial edge of the heel. Both finger-tips should now be pointing at each other, and a technique called Linking is now being applied to the client. 14 The right middle finger is now over the uterus reflex (if working a female client) or the prostate (if working a gentleman). Now it is time to join the ovary up to the uterus, and this is done by thumb walking along the fallopian reflex, which is found in the v- notch between the foot and leg. Thumb walk, pushing the thumb against the tibia and fibula. When working this area on a gentleman, the vas deferens is being worked. Next in the routine, it is time to work the groin lymphatic reflex, which is also found in the v-notch of the foot. This is going to be worked by using both middle fingers together, and working from the outside edges of the foot at the same time. When the fingers meet at the middle, lift one finger up, so the other can slightly overlap the other. When finger-walking this area, the fingers should be pulling back towards the reflexologist, onto the talus, to ensure the right area is being worked.
Now thumb walk the medial aspect of the heel, which is the internal pelvic area, incorporating the uterus and prostate. Lever the foot onto the thumb as it is pushed into the reflex, as was done for the hip reflex. 15 finger. To work the chronic reflex, rest both thumbs on the plantar aspect of the heel. With the middle fingers, finger walk up the lateral and medial edge of the foot (at the same time) from the base of the malleolus, until a comfortable stretch is reached between thumb and To close this session, sweep across the medial and lateral edge of the foot with the side of the index finger, starting at the base of the foot, working slowly upwards. Do this with both hands together. The right foot has now been finished, repeat these techniques on the left foot. The treatment routine is now finished. A closing relaxation massage can now be applied on both feet.