Reflexology is a specific form of foot massage, working
various points on the feet that correlate to target organs/glands. Reflexology
is designed to harmonize how the body functions and to clear the neural
pathways of any congestion so that the signals between the different parts of
the body travel freely to improve the general functioning of the body and each
part of it.
What are neural
pathways?
This term is being used more and more but what does it mean?
A neural pathway connects one part of the nervous system
with another. Supported by glial cells, neurons or nerve cells make up the
nervous system. To make it visually easier, each neuron could be compared to a
tree:
Neuron tree
Soma or cell body canopy
Dendrites branches
Axon tree trunk
Terminal buttons roots
Synapse junction between terminal
buttons of one neuron and the membrane of a cell (neuron, muscle cell, etc.)
where signals are received
Glial cells give structural and
metabolic support to neurons
There are so many neurons in our body that they touch. As
they do, the soma and dendrites of one neuron receive synaptic signals from
other neurons. This signal travels to the axon, which becomes alive with electrical
impulses, called the action potential, that relay the information to the terminal
buttons where chemicals called neurotransmitters are released thus transmitting
the synaptic signals to the next neuron or a muscle cell. The signal could be
to flex or relax the targeted muscle or to withdraw a hand from a heat source.
There are different types of neurons. The motor neuron for example has an axon
that can be up to a meter long travelling from the spinal cord to the muscle
whilst the longest axon in a neuron runs from the big toe to the brain stem.
How is this relevant
to Reflexology?
Ever since Eunice Ingham rediscovered Reflexology in the
early 1900’s it has been said that the more than 7200 nerve endings in the feet
are stimulated when working the various reflexes.
An fMRI study (Nakamaru et al., 2008) concludes that Reflexology
has some effect that is not simply sensory stimulation. Three different
reflexes were worked on the feet and the fMRI shows that the related areas in
the brain are activated.
How does pressure,
strong or light, on a reflex translate?
If a neuron responds, it must respond completely. Greater
intensity of stimulation does not produce a stronger signal but can produce a
higher frequency of firing (electrical impulse or action potential in the
axon). When an object touches the skin, neurons fire but if the object
maintains even pressure against the skin, the neurons stop firing. This is an
argument for working a tender or congested reflex, leave it alone and then come
back to it as it allows the body to keep responding to the stimulus of the
finger which in turn brings about harmonizing the body.
Conclusion
When working reflexes on the feet, neurons are stimulated in
such a way that signals are travelling at great speeds to the various organs,
glands and all other cells in the body such as muscle tissue, etc. These
signals stimulate parts of the body, clearing up congestion, which, when this
has happened promotes healing and relaxation.
Disclaimer
I do not have a scientific or
medical background. In this article I try to explain how I see how reflexology
works through the nervous system. Comments are very welcome.
References
Martin, G.N., Carlson, N.R., & Buskist, W. (2010). Psychology. Harlow, England:
Allyn and
Bacon.
Nakamaru, T., Miura N., Fukushima A. & Kawashima R.
(2008). Somatotoical
relationships
between cortical activity and reflex areas in reflexology: a
functional
magnetic resonance imaging study. Retrieved from
Wikipedia. (2013). Neural pathway. Retrieved from
Wikipedia. (2013). Neuron.
Retrieved from
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