Should I try reflexology?

If you’re experiencing stress, aching or tension and are looking for a holistic way to improve your overall sense of well-being, reflexology may be able to help.

What is reflexology?

Aiming to encourage healing, relieve stress and tension, reflexology is used by many to improve general health and well-being. Based on the principle that certain areas of our feet – called reflexes – are linked to other parts of our body through our nervous system, reflexology centres around applying pressure and massaging these areas of our feet, as well as our hands and ears to stimulate our energy flow. This sends signals around our body to target specific areas of tension and pain.

What can reflexology help with?

Reflexology offers a holistic way to restore balance in our bodies by promoting relaxation and encouraging our bodies and minds to enter a deep, relaxed state. Reflexologists offer tailored, alternative means of healing, designed to address your specific needs.

Reflexology may be able to help:

• Reduce or alleviate stress and its negative effects.
• Soothe tired, aching, or tense feet.
• Reduce arthritic aches and pains.
• Improve circulation.
• Ease tension headaches.
• Enhance overall feelings of well-being.
• Help with disrupted sleep and insomnia.
• Combat menstrual pains and discomfort.
• Boost the body’s natural healing abilities to help with sports injuries.

Some people also report reflexology as helping reduce feelings of anxiety, increased joint mobility, and promoting an overall feeling of well-being. It is also used commonly as part of post-operative and palliative care, particularly amongst cancer patients who report finding its relaxation elements to be beneficial.

If you are interested in trying reflexology, booking a consultation with a therapist is the first step. With each session typically lasting 45 minutes to an hour, your reflexologist will usually start with a consultation session where you will discuss your health, lifestyle, and medical history to establish any underlying problems, as well as what you wish to gain from reflexology.

The number of sessions you may need can depend on what the conditions are that you hope to address. Before your first session, make sure you stay hydrated to improve your energy levels and flush any toxins. After each session, try to avoid strenuous exercise for at least two hours as well as any stimulants (including caffeine) for the next 24 hours, as these can diminish the effectiveness of the treatment.

Suitable for all ages, reflexology aims to treat the whole person rather than individual symptoms.

Find a reflexologist

We have over 150 therapists offering reflexology, based across the UK. If you’re ready to find a therapist, you can do so easily using our search tool. Simply browse profiles until you find a therapist you resonate with, and send them an email.

Reflexology at home

If you are suffering from a headache, a quick at-home session of reflexology can help to relieve the pain. To do this, you need to focus on the bottom of the foot.

If you want to relax the neck, massage the big toe gently, rolling in circular motions. To target the nerves connected with the head, you will need to increase the pressure when reaching the tips of each toe.