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The Reflexology Minute: Reproductive Health You will learn:
Uterus Prostate Ovaries Testes Fallopian Tubes Vas Deferens and Lower Lymphatic & Groin Area While there are many more reflexology points a reflexologist will address for specific conditions involving the reproductive system, these points are a great starting off point for general reproductive health self-care..  Click the YouTube video below to learn how and where to press.
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If you've ever hit your funny bone you've experienced the sudden pain and nerve sensation of your ulnar nerve. Now, imagine having that all the time. While not everyone will experience this sensation in their lives, if and when you do it can be absolutely crippling. Worse still, if not taken care of, it can lead to a more severe and irreversible pain and/or numbness. While this post is specifically about ulnar nerve entrapment, the video shows how nerve pain in your hands and feet can be treated in a similar way. That is, treat the symptoms and the cause. NOTE: Reflexology is considered a complementary practice and is not a replacement for medical care. Reflexology does not claim to cure, diagnose, prognose, or prescribe. If you have concerns about your health, seek advice from your doctor or health care provider. If you are experiencing nerve pain or numbness in your upper or lower limbs, or in your hands and feet, consult your doctor. Since I'm not a doctor and cannot prescribe treatment, I wanted to share what worked for me, one human to another.
I work on clients with nerve pain and neuropathy on a fairly regular basis. So, having ulnar nerve entrapment was an incredible opportunity to have greater insight and compassion for those suffering from nerve pain. I discovered resting, reflexology, and nerve gliding exercises were the most effective. Ulnar Nerve Entrapment What you will learn:
1. Where is the Ulnar Nerve Located: The ulnar nerve originates in your neck and travels down your arm, ending in your hand and forth and fifth fingers 2. Causes of Ulnar Nerve Entrapment: - Elbow bent for extended periods (as one does on the phone, computer, or while driving); - Arm bent while sleeping; - Working with any sort of vibrating equipment; - Leaning on your elbow or lower palms for work (as one would in massage therapy); - Resting forearms on handlebars while riding a bike. 3. Sensations of Ulnar Nerve Entrapment: - Numbness; - Radiating nerve pain; - Tingling; - Inability to open things easily; 4. Where Sensations would be Felt: - Under the collarbone; - The backside (where the triceps are) and the underbelly of the arm; - Inner elbow (medial epicondyle of the elbow); - Along the inner arm where the ulna is located (think the side that your pinky is on); - A portion of the hand below the 4th and 5th digits; - Lower half the ring finger; - Pinky finger. 5. Rest, Reflexology, and Nerve Gliding Exercises: There are some indications or reasons why ulnar nerve pain can happen. A ganglion cyst over that region is a good indicator (I've had one on my inner wrist for a number of years). Cysts let us know there's a blockage and may indicate someone is more susceptible. Back in the day they would just slap a bible on top of it, but that seems a bit harsh (and random). I prefer a much gentler approach. In addition to resting, I worked the areas on my hand that were in pain, which included the palm and 4th and 5th digits. I also did gentle compressions on my arm and wrist, and nerve gliding exercises (2). After I discovered the pain was originating in my cervical and thoracic spine, I worked those reflexology points. While there is still at times a dull sensation present, I consider it a reminder to reevaluate my body mechanics, what I'm doing, and to continue to take care. Sources: 1.https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/ulnar-nerve-entrapment-at-the-elbow-cubital-tunnel-syndrome/ 2.https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/cubital-tunnel-syndrome-exercises#1 3.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2836295 I'm very excited to announce my book, Something New Every Day: Letting Your Imagination Take Flight. Something New Every Day is a thirty-day exploratory journeying guide and journaling experience to activate your mind and ignite your daily life with purpose and passion. Every day for thirty days, you are invited to open up to a chapter in any order, and you will be asked to try something new. Carving out time every day to do something unfamiliar illuminates the parts of you that are open and the parts of you that are closed. Through taking the leap into the unexplored parts of yourself those stagnant places within you will free up and your connection to yourself, others, and the world around you will grow. May you feel stretched and strengthened and renewed. May you exit your comfort zone and enter the world with a fiercely open mind and heart! If you would like to purchase the book and join me in doing something new every day click HERE or on the book image below.  Book Cover Design by Jasmin Garcia-Verdin Happy Journeying!The Reflexology Minute: Motion Sickness You will learn:
The 4 Reflexology Points you'll address: Ears Diaphragm Neck Spine The 5th Reflexology area you'll address if you're extremely nauseous: Colon For clarity on where these areas are, refer to the photo below and watch the 58 second video!  photo: Janette Paule Reflexology does not claim to cure, diagnose, prognose, or prescribe and is not a substitute for medical care.
The Reflexology Minute: Tinnitus You will learn:
What is Tinnitus: Tinnitus is generally experienced as a ringing sound. To some it sounds like a high or low pitched ringing, buzzing, or beeping. To others it might sound more like a whistling, swishing, buzzing, or even musical notes, The repetitive sounds can be maddening and for some it is present at all times. Here are some of the causes of tinnitus and what reflexology points you can press in your hands to help. Causes of Tinnitus:
Hand reflexology points to help tinnitus:
One of the resources I visit regularly is NIH (National Institutes of Health). NIH posted an article by the National Institute of Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) that states, "[People] can develop tinnitus over time when ongoing exposure to noise damages tiny sensory hair cells in the inner ear that help transmit sound to the brain. This is called noise-induced hearing loss. Service members exposed to bomb blasts can develop tinnitus if the shock wave of the explosion squeezes the skull and damages brain tissue in areas that help process sound. In fact, tinnitus is one of the most common service-related disabilities among veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan... Even with all of these associated conditions and causes, some people develop tinnitus for no obvious reason. Most of the time, tinnitus isn’t a sign of a serious health problem, although if it’s loud or doesn’t go away, it can cause fatigue, depression, anxiety, and problems with memory and concentration. For some, tinnitus can be a source of real mental and emotional anguish." Read more here. I personally experienced tinnitus when I had developed really bad acid reflux. At the time I was receiving reflexology weekly but wasn't doing any self-care. I found that the sounds dissipated when I lost weight and eradicated the cause (acid reflux).. In a 2015 study The Hearing Health Foundation claimed that 48 million people in America and 360 million worldwide suffered from tinnitus. That's 1 in 5 teens, 1 in 5 adults, and 3 in 5 active and returning military. With so many people suffering from tinnitus, either on and off, or on a regular basis, these are important points to know should you or someone you know need care.  Photo: Janette Paule References
NIDCD https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/tinnitus MedlinePlus https://medlineplus.gov/tinnitus.html Mayo Clinic https://goo.gl/Cro4o2 Reflexology is not a substitute for medical care. Reflexology does not claim to cure, diagnose, prognose, or prescribe. If you have concerns about your health, seek advice from your doctor or health care provider. The Reflexology Minute: The Sinuses You will learn:
Whether you have sinus pressure, congestion, or are just feeling a little stuffed up, there are reflexology points you can press in your feet to help.  Photo: Janette Paule The Reflexology Minute: Reflexology for Lung Support You will learn:
Due to wildfires and smoke, the air quality in Northern California right now is very unhealthy. People with asthma are having a particularly difficult time. And some people with no previous lung conditions or weaknesses are feeling tightness in their chests and developing a recurring cough. Living in Santa Rosa, the smell also conjures up a lot of feelings of despair and loss, as it was only a year ago that we experienced wildfires here. The people, the animals, the land. During this time I have been doing a few things to help with my sore and tired lungs. The Medical Medium's Metal Detox Smoothie has felt particularly good. In addition to that I've been working on the reflexology points for my lungs. I have also addressed these points for all my clients. To address the lungs using hand reflexology you will thumb walk over the ball of both hands where the metacarpal heads are located. You can simply rub this area but it will be more effective to use reflexology technique. In this case, thumb walking is the best technique as it is very specific. Watch this week's Reflexology Minute for visual instruction on how to apply reflexology technique for the chest/lung area in your hands..  Photo: Janette Paule  Photo: Janette Paule
The Reflexology Minute: Reflexology for Indigestion You will learn:
I'm also learning a lot about the benefits of a plant-based diet and am at about 80/20 right now. Living in the 80% completely eradicates the pain and indigestion but, well, there is that 20%. But that's for another blog. So, if you've eaten too fast or too much or ate something that doesn't agree with you, there are reflexology points you can press in your hands to help alleviate the pain. The four points I suggest are stomach, small and large intestines, diaphragm, and the adrenal glands. If that's too much do the small and large intestines.  Photo: Janette Paule The Reflexology Minute: The Pituitary Gland You will learn:
The Pituitary Gland is a pea-sized gland at the base of the brain. It is known as the endocrine system’s ‘master gland.’ It regulates growth and development, produces necessary hormones that stimulate follicle growth, and milk production in lactating women. It also stimulates organs and glands to secrete hormones that aid in sleep, mood, water retention, blood levels, stress response, and sexual function and reproduction. Essentially it’s talking to our kidneys, thyroid, adrenals, uterus and mammary glands, ovaries and testes. No small task! To help the pituitary gland function optimally press on the reflexology point for this gland located at the center of both thumb prints. The pituitary gland reflexology point is located in your thumbs and the great toes (aka big toes) right at the center where the swirl or dot is located. Press in to that area using your finger or a mechanical pencil eraser for five seconds. I recommend doing the thumb points plus all the fingers for good measure.  photo by Janette Paule Learn Reflexology Technique! This week: How to Finger Walk You will learn:
To finger walk you will be bending at the most distal interphalangeal joint of your fingers. Finger walking is great for addressing areas between the smaller spaces between hand and foot bones. You can use one finger for specificity; two fingers (the pointer finger reinforced by the middle finger) to provide more pressure; and three fingers to cover more territory. When using this technique allow your proximal interphalangeal joints to bend a little, creating a natural arc in your hand.  Photo by Janette Paule |
AuthorChantel C. Lucier, and her company, The AtHome Experience, are dedicated to educating and enlivening the individual towards greater connection to themselves, each other, and their community. By teaching people how to care for themselves at home, The AtHome Experience aims to empower people to create and sustain optimal health and well-being. By caring for ourselves and each other we construct and co-create a better future. Archives
January 2019
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