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This reflexology minute is dedicated to the mid-back and thoracic spine. To address pain in your mid-back or issues related to this area you can thumbwalk down the medial aspect of your hand from the base of the thumb to the wrist. These are the reflexology points for the thoracic vertebrae (T1-T12). This area is also good to work if you experience pain, discomfort, or lack of balance in the organs located within your thorax. Because there are nerves that branch out from your spine that innervate various organs and other areas of the body, a pain can originate in the spine or back but can also affect the organ or gland that nerve relates out to. If can also be the opposite. I have found that if my stomach is elevated due to an acidic gut that part of my mid-back will actually go out and I'll experience pain in the muscle just to the left (or right) of that vertebra. It's similar to reflexology in that way - inside out and outside in. Today use the reflexology points located in your hands to address your mid-back. You will do both hands as all areas of the body that are central (i.e. the spine) are reflected in both hands. This technique doesn't have to be a replacement for massage or chiropractic work, if you find those methods are effective for your back pain. Reflexology is an excellent complementary practice that is great when used in conjunction with other physical therapies or medical care. This hand reflexology technique is a self-care technique that can assist and deepen your healing process. So rubs those paws and see what happens!  Photo Credit: Janette Paule
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This reflexology minute is for the neck and cervical spine. Many of us suffer from neck pain, ranging from acute to chronic and from mild to severe. Poor posture while sitting or standing at a computer, looking down at our cell phones, and mis-use in habitual daily activities can cause neck tension. Neck pain can also occur due to stress and tension in one's life. It is very common that people house their stress in their neck and shoulders. In reflexology you can access your neck through the reflexology points in your hands and feet. This is a very safe and effective way to address the neck. Today you will learn where the hand reflexology points are for the cervical spine (C1-C7) and the muscles for the neck.   photo credit: Janette Paule
Reflexology is a non-invasive manual technique that helps support the body’s natural healing process. By applying pressure to specific points on the hands and feet reflexology aids in the reduction of tension and stress, promotes relaxation, aids in the detoxification process and helps improve circulation. According to the National Reflexology Board, “These techniques stimulate the complex neural pathways linking body systems, supporting the body’s efforts to function optimally.” Reflexology has been proven to help with migraines, digestive disorders, PMS, hypertension, post-operative pain, sinus congestion, and pain and anxiety associated with cancer and cancer treatments. This class will focus on foot reflexology for clients, family, and friends, and hand reflexology for self-care. This class is open to the general public, students of massage therapy, and any person interested in learning reflexology for themselves or others. The purpose of this class is to educate and empower people to take care of themselves, each other, and their clients using the reflexology technique. Join me next Saturday, April 20th 1:30-5PM at San Francisco School of Massage & Bodywork (475 Valencia St. 3rd floor). To sign up visit: https://www.sfsm.edu/workshops/ Students will learn:
No prior experience or prerequisite needed. Open to everyone! Tuition: $90.00  I'm very excited to share an evening with incredible artists, Rick Blundell, Damon Davies, and Donna Main, next Friday April 5, 2019 for my book signing of Something New Every Day: Letting Your Imagination Take Flight. We begin at 4:30PM. So, if you missed my last book signing in San Rafael, join me in Santa Rosa!  The Reflexology Minute: The KneesYou will learn:
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. 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. |
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
July 2019
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