Reflexology and Weight Management
Can a Reflexologist Help Someone Gain or Lose Weight?
Dec 23, 2008
Reflexology is a modality most commonly applied to the feet. It is in the family of pressure point therapies – where pressure is used on one part of the body to cause an effect in another part of the body.
When used alongside a weight management plan Reflexology has shown benefits for certain types of weight issues. Not to be confused with a quick weight loss solution Reflexology sessions are most effective when given daily. To offset the time and cost of daily professional sessions many people seek out books and training on self-help Reflexology to supplement a weekly or bi-weekly session with a practitioner.
Reflexology and Weight Loss
Some Reflexology instructors in the United States are training Reflexologists in specific protocols for weight loss. The emphasis in a session for weight loss includes the digestive system reflexes as well as the endocrine system’s reflexes. For someone whose extra weight is related to a hormonal or chemical imbalance this gentle regulation may be very beneficial. Sometimes the inability to shed extra body weight is related to the thyroid gland found in the neck. The reflex that corresponds to the thyroid is located just under the “neck” of the big toe – near the slight bulge of the great toe and the long foot bone.
Reflexology and Weight Gain
The same techniques can be applied in the case of an underweight client. If related to a hormonal or chemical imbalance – such as stress – the sessions may be beneficial towards weight gain.
Case Stories
A client in her late thirties had recently gained weight due to an injury and decreased mobility. She complained of slow digestion, tending to constipation a few days a week. The Reflexology sessions emphasized the reflex areas for digestion – including the stomach, pancreas, small intestines, colon, spleen, liver and gall bladder. A full session was given each time and after three weekly sessions the client reported weight loss.
Another client had great difficulty in keeping weight on, especially in the winter months or during stressful events. In her mid-twenties the client reported a former eating disorder as a teenager and had struggled being underweight ever since. Her symptoms included chronic constipation, food sensitivities and low energy levels. Through a series of sessions the client found Reflexology helped to improve the frequency of bowel movements and bring her relaxation. She comes in monthly and has been declared within the normal body mass index (BMI) by her primary care physician.
Finding a Professional Reflexologist
When looking for a Reflexology Practitioner, look for someone with specific training to Reflexology. At this current time many countries and states do not have education requirements for the field of Reflexology so practically anyone can hang out a shingle and give a foot rub under the name “Reflexology.”
Also check with the Reflexologist to see if he or she has experience working with weight management. The practitioner may even have some recommendations for local nutrition counselors or naturopathic physicians that he has worked with for weight management clients in the past.
Useful Tips
- Plan to interview the Reflexologist over the phone prior to an appointment
- Use Reflexology as one component in a larger plan to find a weight balance
- Give multiple practitioners permission to communicate with each other on a case to ensure everyone is working towards the same goals
- Incorporate Reflexology into a plan towards a healthy lifestyle that can last for years down the road
- Be cautious of any claims or guarantees of rapid weight loss
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