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Practitioner - Clare Caldwell, Complementary Therapist.
HND Inst.  Man, HNC Comp. Therapies, Reiki Master, Qualified Mickel Therapy Practitioner.

The background

Reflexology is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine and its use dates back thousands of years.

What is it?

The principle behind it is that there are lines of energy called meridians that flow through every part of the body. The feet contain reflex zones that correspond to every part of the body and the meridians. It is thought that congestions or imbalances in the meridians will over time lead to ill health or disease.

During a treatment the feet are therapeutically massaged during which areas of congestion or imbalance are detected and worked upon. When these are cleared the body can return to homeostasis or balance. Working the feet in this way stimulates the body`s own healing systems. Imbalances can be detected and cleared before they become a problem so as well as working on established health problems it is also a preventative therapy.

Potential benefits

This therapy works on every system of the body and has the potential to help most ailments.

Some illnesses and conditions that have responded to reflexology are;-

Aches and pains, allergies, chronic conditions, digestive problems, headaches and migraines, infertility & menstrual problems, sinusitis, stress & anxiety, skin problems, jetlag, tiredness & fatigue, immune problems, healing of wounds and injuries, problems associated with the menopause, emotional distress, and many more.

You may experience many of the following;-

• A feeling of deep relaxation and increased wellbeing.
• Stress relief and release of tension
• Stimulation of the body`s own healing mechanisms
• Improvement in sleep patterns
• Pain relief in both acute and chronic conditions
• Balancing of mind, body, spirit and emotions
• Improved blood circulation
• Improved lymphatic drainage and detoxification
• Positive effects upon all the body tissues and improved muscle tone
• Balancing and regulation of hormones
• Improved digestion and relief from the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Improvement in skin conditions

Reflexology in Pregnancy and Childbirth

A study at the Gentofte Hospital in Copenhagen revealed that reflexology is beneficial to women during the labour of childbirth.  58 out of 60 women giving birth experienced "outstanding pain relief using reflexology treatment" and 11 out of 14 women were able to avoid surgery under general anaesthesia.  Dr Carsten Lenstrup was so impressed by the results that he said: "Taken as a whole, the results are so good that I am not in any doubt that reflexology can give many women a better, easier and less painful delivery than they would have had otherwise". (1)

The findings of the Gentofte study were supported by a further study carried out by Dr Gowri Motva at the Jeyrani Birth Centre on the effects of reflexology on pregnant women.  37 pregnant women completed a course of 10 relexology treatments with remarkable effect.  The average length of the first stage of labour was 5 hours whereas the text book average is 16-24 hours;  the second stage of labour lasted an average of 16 minutes compared to the text book expectancy of 1 - 2 hours and only 5.4% of the women who had relexology treatment required emergency caesarean section compared to an average of 13% in Newham district which was the district where the study was conducted. (2)

(1) Reported in "Berrlingske Tidende" 15 July 1988
(2) Reflexology Association - Research Co-ordinator Kristine Walker

http://www.internethealthlibrary.com/WomensHealth/Childbirth-Index.htm#Reflexology%20&%20Childbirth

Reflexology during pregnancy is recognised by many small scale studies to improve health and wellbeing and to have beneficial effects on the labour itself.
Reflexology is based on Chinese medicine and involved gentle manipulation of the feet in order to improve health and wellbeing at evey stage of life. It works the whole body and its systems and in pregnancy has been seen to have the positive effects on the following symptoms and conditions.

• Morning sickness
• Stress and anxiety
• Tension headaches and migraines
• Digestive problems
• Heartburn
• Bladder problems
• Backache
• Symphisis pubis dysfunction
• Oedema or swelling of the feet and legs
• Promotes a feeling of relaxation, health and wellbeing
• Improves sleep
• Balances emotions

Your treatments will be very relaxing particularly focusing on this benefit of reflexology.  Reflexology should commence after the first trimester at intervals of once a month stepping to weekly or two weekly in the final stages in consultation with your reflexologist.

Clare Caldwell is a qualified Clinical Reflexologist and has completed further training in reflexology during pregancy.

Contact Clare on Tel 07731 685006, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  and at the Centre for Complementary Therapies, Kinmylies Way, Inverness  01463 713614

Prices:

• Cost of treatment; - £43 first session, approx 70 mins. 
• Follow up sessions £38. Sessions last approx 55 mins.  
• A course of treatment is usually advised as agreed with your therapist.