Reflexology, Stress & the Immune System

Reflexology, Stress and the Immune System

This could be an article on any health paradigm – wellness or disease. That’ s because the immune ( a. k. a. the lymphatic ) system is the first line of defense for all that ails us and keeps us well.

Understanding the Immune System, Chronic Conditions and How to Captain Them

The immune system is exposed for protecting the body from foreign influences, removing metabolic wastes and facilitating the ebb and flow of interstitial fluids. It identifies bacteria and viruses as well as pathogen cells which may adversely affect the body and helps to eliminate them. If the body is a garden, then the immune system is the fence and the gate which protects this garden from intruders.

Like most living things our immune system consists of different elements: proteins, cells, fluids, tissues and organs as well. All of these combine together to function as a system with the singular point: keeping the body safe from potential harm. Parts of the body involved implicate the spleen, the bone gist, the lymph nodes and T - cells ( which mature in the thymus ) all which perform very important functions.

Our immune systems evolve as we age in establishment for the body to transform and combat new pathogens. A healthy immune system is the foundation for health in an alone. And, we all know that stress plays a part in our immune function and hence reducing stress may expedite the process with which the immune system can function to our benefit.

Any disorder in the immune system is a concern. Disease can be particularly harmful in delightful the body when the immune system is at a less than optimal level. A numeral of chronic conditions affect people with a impuissant immune system too. Some immunodeficiency diseases may conclusion when the body reacts to pharmaceuticals, an infection or even as a harvest of a genetic disease.

On the other hand, when the immune system performs hysterical actively, it tends to attack contradistinct healthy tissues as if they were pathogens or foreign organisms. In this position we have diseases of the immune system which may outcome and which is known as autoimmune disease including rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus type 1 and lupus erythematosus. All of these affect the human body in their own way and the conditions may range from mild to downright unbearable.

Any character that affects the human immune system will without fail go-ahead a person weak and sometimes painful to a debilitating degree. They influence the ability to sleep, go to work, to the quality of life in general.

All immune system diseases need medical attention, and so, there will always be a team in place.

Diet and exercise can help gratify some of the symptoms of the chronic conditions. Of course I add reflexology to the help nutriment through when stress is fortuneless, existence in the body not only functions better but, has a better chance for rejuvenation ( or a return to homeostasis ).

In the situation of painful predication like arthritis, exercise or range of motion techniques may not seem like the thing to do but in rationality, doctors have suggested that exercise with such conditions has immense benefits. Other benefits cover increasing bone and muscle strength and increasing energy levels. Exercises like motile, yoga, tai chi, ( cycling and jogging which are more advanced ) should be done with doctor force.

And, people should memorialize to be consistent with their consonant health protocols such as moderate exercises and rap from overdoing situation. Reminisce as with any advanced disease stages a person must get their doctors permission before embarking on any consonant health routines including exercise and / or reflexology. It’ s also best to exercise when the pain level is at its lowest. It’ s a good thing to build up gradually and not to overwhelm you by trying to do too much, too directly.

If you’ re thinking about your reflexology, ( and I am too ) this is exactly what we do, start slow and gently and gradually increase the amounts of time and / or pressure.

Just as with the diet a person adopts it’ s a crucial element of well - being that the diet should be geared towards fulfilling certain goals.

I have long contended that reflexology should also be geared to fulfilling certain goals.

So what does that stingy for reflexologists?

One of the most powerful things we do in our reflexology is to connect to the extract tides. Not in the way that massage does. No, in a more subtle “ conversational” way through the touch that is native in our reflexology.

Now, let’ s go supplementary. I’ m talking about the touch that is pliable, biddable, touch that is about the spotlight, the concentration, the listening and being non - invasive. What I’ ve just described here - our reflexology alternating employ and finger moving tribulation. The hasty incremental “ bites” as we inch along, stopping to apprehension even the most minute changes in tissue temper.

That’ s the touch I’ m language about.

But there’ s paramount more, momentous greater than the sum of all our concentration and safe, sweet-tempered touch.

There’ s a symphony of movement unbefitting our thumbs, there are rivers and streams, canals and tributaries all moving in their rhythms, their orchestrated ebbs and flows.

The secretion that is moving there, unbefitting our shape and finger tips is busy piece the body by transporting and removing metabolic surplus, waste, fluids, lymphocytes, pathogens… the guide of events goes on.

And we’ re vocabulary in a perfect world here. What if things get gullible? What if, as John Sarno states, ( Heal Your Back Pain ) there is congestion created in the body by trauma, injury but also emotions and thoughts?

What’ s a body to do?

You know I’ m going to say Reflexology…

And, as a reflexologist, you also know this is what we’ ll heart on - the lymphatic system reflexes: the groin lymph reflexes - located around the ankle bones, pioneer aspect; the axillary lymph reflexes - located between the webs of the toes, dorsal angle; the spleen ( largest lymphoid in the body ) reflex - located midway between the lengths of the 4th & 5th metatarsal shafts, plantar attribute; and the thyroid reflex - located at the people of the 1st metatarsals, medial aspect.

I detail these reflexes at head once in every confab.

Okay, you know that. What you might not know is that congestion in any area can be further investigated.

How?

By listening to the bones – in reflexology, I call it “ Foot Whispering”.

If the bones are hard and tight, ( every bone has its own range of motion ) then there is a pull in the connective tissue yet. That pull is impeding the structure elsewhere to move in it’ s natural flow or it’ s homeostatic rhythm.

These pulls or adhesions can ailing influence the juice tides of the body. And, a possible byproduct is “ congestion”.

Now all this is happening on the most subtle of layers and I would never try to manually follow up any change to any of these body structures. This is the job of a medical crackerjack.

But we, as reflexologists, also live in the land of attention and intention. Many would say that’ s the most powerful place to be.

So for your next client assembly, and the next one and the next one, bring your attention to the level of the bones. It’ s the deepest, densest layer of the body that gadget also floats on.

Put your ear to the ground and listen. Be attentive, totally listen.

Hear the whispers and you’ ll be overwrought at the power of the shifts that will arise.

© Wendy I. Coad

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Reflexology and the Adrenals

If you ' ve ever doubted what these two little " Endocrine System Glands " can do, just analog watch the story someday.

Anytime you hear of some herolike repeat – " Firemen Rush into Burning Building ", or " Massive Lifts Car off Trapped Child "... the adrenal glands are hooked ( such as in acts of strength and stamina as well as the downright super - human ).

Let ' s take a look at these amazing organs of the body, and then we’ ll talk about their reflexology reflex points.

The adrenal glands ( also known as suprarenal glands ) are the star - shaped endocrine glands that sit on top of the kidneys. They are largely authoritative for regulating the stress response through the alliance of corticosteroids and catecholamines, including cortisol and adrenaline, respectively.

Anatomy and function

Anatomically, our adrenal glands are located in the abdominal cavity situated atop the kidneys, specifically on their anterosuperior attribute. They are also surrounded by the adipose capsule and the renal fascia. Found at the level of the 12th thoracic vertebra, they appropriate their blood supply from the adrenal arteries.

The adrenal gland is separated into two distinct structures, both of which reap regulatory input from the nervous system:

Adrenal medulla

The adrenal medulla consists of horde of neurons that are part of the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system. Instead of releasing their neurotransmitters at a synapse, these neurons release them into the blood. Thence, although part of the nervous system, the adrenal medulla functions as an endocrine gland.

The adrenal medulla releases:

• adrenaline ( also called epinephrine ) and

• noradrenaline ( also called norepinephrine )

Release of adrenaline and noradrenaline is triggered by nervous stimulation in response to physical or mental stress.

Some of the effects are:

• increase in the scale and strength of the heartbeat resulting in increased blood pressure;

• blood shunted from the skin and viscera to the skeletal muscles, coronary arteries, liver, and brain;

• rise in blood sugar;

• increased metabolic degree;

• bronchi swell;

• pupils ripen;

• hair stands on termination ( " goosebumps " );

• clotting time of the blood is moneyless;

• increased ACTH fluid from the premier lobe of the pituitary.

All of these effects prepare the body to take immediate and vigorous agility!

Adrenal cortex

Using cholesterol as the primordial material, the cells of the adrenal cortex secrete a assortment of steroid hormones.

These fall into three classes:

1. Glucocorticoids ( e. g., cortisol )

The glucocorticoids get their name from their chain reaction of raising the level of blood sugar ( glucose ). One way they do this is by stimulating gluconeogenesis in the liver: the conversion of fat and protein into intermediate metabolites that are presently converted into glucose.

The most abundant glucocorticoid is cortisol ( also called hydrocortisone ).

Cortisol and the other glucocorticoids also have a potent anti - inflammatory ramification on the body. They depress the immune response, especially cell - mediated immune responses.

For this reason glucocorticoids are widely used in therapy:

• to reduce the inflammatory destruction of rheumatoid arthritis and other

autoimmune diseases

• to prevent the rejection of transplanted organs

• to management asthma

2. Mineralocorticoids ( e. g., aldosterone )

The mineralocorticoids get their name from their outcome on mineral metabolism. The most important of them is the steroid aldosterone.

Aldosterone acts on the kidney promoting the reabsorption of sodium ions ( Na + ) into the blood. Water follows the salt and this helps maintain regular blood pressure.

Aldosterone also

• acts on sweat glands to reduce the loss of sodium in perspiration;

• acts on taste cells to increase the sensitivity of the taste buds to sources of sodium.

3. Androgens ( e. g., testosterone )

The adrenal cortex secretes precursors to androgens such as testosterone.

In sexually - mature males, this source is so much lower than that of the testes that it is probably of little physiological significance.

However, excessive production of adrenal androgens can cause premature childhood in young boys.

In females, the adrenal cortex is a major source of androgens. Their hypersecretion may produce a virile decoration of body hair and cessation of menstruation.

Fight - or - lope response

The fight - or - fall response, also called the fright, fight or tear response, hyperarousal or the acute stress response. We cope to threats with a general discharge of the sympathetic nervous system, priming the ugly for fighting or fleeing. Thisactivation is associated with specific physiological actions in the system, both today and indirectly through the release of epinephrine ( adrenaline ) and to a subordinate extent norepinephrine from the medulla of the adrenal glands.

An " Adrenaline Rush " means an life of the Adrenal gland in a Fight - or - rush response, when it is releasing Adrenaline ( Epinephrine ). A chronic eager adrenaline is a common symptom of an anxiety disorder.

So much packed into such a small container!

And, what does it niggardly to reflexologists?

If you have a client who ' s taut, anxious, droopy, overtired or who just lives in New York Corner – you ' ll probably regard a " change in tissue punch line " around the adrenal gland reflex on the foot ( it ' ll likely be sensitive on the assistance ramification apartment as well – don’ t flex too hard there - moderately work into the point gradually ).

Well we know that stress is s big factor in our everyday lives, but when there’ s numerous stress due to emotional issues, health issues, daily life issues… Now, who couldn’ t use a little timber.

Our first task is to find the reaction points:

On the feet the " Adrenal Gland Event " is located on the sidelong knob of the 1st metatarsal, suffocating to the malignant. That puts it ( vertically ) between metatarsals one and 2 and ( horizontally ) approximately half way between the waist and the diaphragm repercussion occupation landmarks.

Oftentimes you can ' t miss it. There ' s recurrently a BIG change in the tissue personality! Now, don’ t think you’ re dying if you find it to be sore on your foot.

Relive it ' s a " call for energy " and not a verifiable sickness.

However, it ' s in your client ' s best absorption to spend a little TLC time on that response point. Long green into it or dominance it steady. Is there one way that ' s better than enhanced to work that little point... probably, but it ' s not because " The Professor " oral so it ' s what the tissue needs – so " listen " to the tissue.

I love to work on this reflex point and don’ t be surprised if you notice it can even be found on other reflex zones.

What higher can you do?

A big adrenal stimulator is caffeine. It ' ll increase the release of our stress related hormones and it keeps the body in a planate, and prodigal, state of stress - which can stress the adrenals along with other organs and glands. If this goes on for too long, you’ ll probably observance other symptoms like fatigue, vexation, allergies, sleeplessness and... and inability to cope with stress. Not fun.

Always check with a learned before treating yourself ( and don ' t even think about treating others unless you ' re a doctor ). Some self - help texts say that small amounts of licorice help by drama as a re - uptake inhibitor for adrenaline. But, too much licorice can increase other hormones, so only use in small quantities.

Other than reflexology, one of the safest and most effective ways to combat stress that comes to mind is meditation.

There ' s much more I ' d like to share on this topic, so look for the next detail, coming right away.

Here ' s a quote by Rachel Carson, who sums up an important perspective for well being:

" Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find assets of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. "

Causes Of Ankle And Leg Edema €“ 8 Medical Reasons

In this article we ' re going to argue some medical problems that cause ankle and leg edema. The first thing we need to seize is what an ankle and leg edema is. Ankle and leg edema is an unusual build - up of liquor ( retention ) in the body tissues that leads to swelling in the lower extremities. There ' re many factors that can lead to liquor retention in the legs such as an inflammation of the joint or malfunctioning of liver, lungs, kidneys, heart, legs vein or other vital organs.

While there are no certain ways to locate exactly what causes the juice built - up without the help of healthcare provider, there ' re several possibilities that may trigger it. The following are 8 medical reasons that might just be the causes of your ankle and leg edema:

1. Cancer of the urinary bladder

Cancer of the urinary bladder is tumor of the urinary bladder that growth due to exposure to chemical materials, tobacco inhalation, infections and small pelvis irradiation. This type of cancer causes bladder tenesmus ( a perceiving of fragmentary defecation ), blood in urine, pain in pelvis, urination difficulty as well as leg edema.

2. Chronic liver disease

Chronic liver disease is a savor direction the liver is grazed and injured thereupon fails to function normally. As the liver malfunctioning and unable to secrete enough protein albumins, the body will try to recover it by retaining sap. This retention leads to abdominal edema as well as ankle and leg edema.

3. Distant vein thrombosis ( DVT )

Abysmal vein thrombosis is a blood class in the unfathomable veins of the legs or pelvic area. The symptoms associated with the disorder might vary from kind to discerning but the most common are sweating skin, pain, color changes in the legs, fullness of the veins below the skin and swelling in one leg either right leg swelling or lonely leg swelling.

4. Emphysema

Emphysema is character locus air sacks in the lung get inflamed causing the lungs fail to shrink thoroughly upon exhalation and breathe in sufficiently upon inhalation.

This will cause problem as the lungs will not be able to succeed waste oxygen with fresh oxygen adequately. Breathing difficulty, stint of breath, sleeping disturbance, extreme fatigue, ankle and leg edema, wheezing and lavish mucus production are some of the symptoms associated with emphysema. The symptoms recurrently progress over many caducity.

5. Heart disease

Heart disease is a disorder of the heart, a character setting the heart can not deliver enough blood to the body. As the make continues, many symptoms will eventuate, the empathetic may feel drooping or weak and the body command hold liquor causing ankle and leg hike.

6. Kidney disorders

This disorder will cause access in the face, eyes, ankles, legs and feet.

7. Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a form of arthritis disease location the crash pad is horny and injured due to malfunctioning of the body ' s autoimmune system. It can occur in the house bones and other body parts. The hands, wrists and feet are recurrently attacked first and press on to the shoulders, elbows and hips.

As the pigpen get stimulated, several symptoms such as elaboration in the joint and a little fever as well as extreme enervate, uproar and pain might materialize although may not perceptible. Rheumatoid Arthritis normally attacks both the joint of the abandoned and right sides of the body.

If the synovial lining of the joint and arteries get inflamed too, swelling of the calves and feet might materialize.

8. Venous Insufficiency

Venous insufficiency may cause bilateral swelling ( swelling of the both legs ) as well as unilateral swelling ( swelling of one leg ).

Ankle and leg edema is not a disease contrary it ' s more to a way of your body try to alert you about the existence of certain medical cause. The big inventory is just some of the causes of ankle and leg edema, there ' re still many other conditions that may cause swelling in the lower extremities. If you ' re suffering a chronic swelling that doesn ' t go away even after a long rest, you should sift medical advice as these days as possible.

Best Flat Belly Exercises

Flat Belly Exercises

Nowadays everyone is looking to slim down and get that eye pleasing flat stomach or six - pack. So many people are putting on weight through absence of exercise and overeating and then doubt how they can lose it as fast as possible. There are some great flat belly exercises that I would like to push for to you in this article to help you drop that unwanted weight and conclusively achieve a flat stomach. Here are the most effective flat belly exercises you should all be doing to help flatten your belly:

Running. Probably the most effective flat belly exercise is running. Running can be performed anywhere and is great for burning supplementary calories and component you flatten your stomach. You don ' t need to be a slice of any gym to get in some much needed exercise. Go running facade or in a grounds to get the full benefits that running has when it comes to a flat belly. People recurrently find it hard to go out running by themselves but its not all bad, I exalt training by myself. You can really focal point and get into the mindset needed to have a great workout. To prevent boredom, run while listening to some upbeat and motivational music. Always does the trick!

Weight Training. Weight training is great for building / maintaining muscle, burning calories and ramping up your metabolism to help you burn more calories. If your a beginner and never lifted weights before, weight training is a great way to dramatically improve your physique by building a small amount of muscle mass while burning fat at the same time. Untrained athletes and beginners are able to build muscle and lose fat at the same time far better that the trained athlete so take advantage! Get yourself on an effective weight training routine to help you get a flat belly while adding muscle and strength.

HIIT Training. HIIT training is different from natural running / jogging. With HIIT Cardio you use short and intense intervals to perform exercises should it be running, cycling or swimming and is far more intense than other regular types of cardio. A habitual concursion of HIIT cardio could look like this: 1 minute tour, 2 minute jog, 30 second sprint, 2 minute jog, 40 second sprint, 2 minute stroll, 30 second sprint. As you can spot they are all split into small intervals which can then be cyclical as many times as needed. Since HIIT is intense and stressful on the body sessions can only last between 10 - 15 minutes, sometimes even less depending on the fitness of the athlete.

HIIT cardio may not be suitable for mortals who are new to exercise and presently to build up their fitness levels but can certainly be looked into next on in their training.

Experts rest assured that HIIT cardio can all told help burn more calories than any other type of exercise and is great for elevating the body ' s metabolism for longer periods of time.

Cycling. Cycling is a distant more choice form of exercise for a lot of people and can indeed go towards factor you get a flat belly. Cycling can be performed indoors on a typical stationary bike or outdoors on a proper bike. Both can help burn calories and get you prominent so take your heap. HIIT Training can also be used in your cycling if you ever feel the need to switch things up a life.

Swimming. Numerous great flat belly exercise is swimming. Swimming will burn calories and work a character of different muscle groups at once. Have you practical the amicable of shape licensed swimmers are in? This is what prevalent swimming can do to your physique and is proof of how effective it is as a suppress body workout.

Abdominal exercises. Abdominal exercises can be used to build muscle, strengthen and tighten up your core and ab site. Once you remove the layer of fat from your ab muscles colloquial ab work will add to the aftermath of a regular six pack giving you greater and more determinate cuts and definition in your abs. Two of the best ab exercises to perform are crunches and leg raises.

Crunches. To perform the crunch, lie down on the flag and bend your knees. Hands can be placed across your chest or lightly behind your head. Keep your lower back pressed firmly against the pave and raise your shoulder blades up off the concrete by contracting your abdominal muscles.

Raise shoulder blades 2 - 3 inches off the flag in a controlled movement. Briefly pause for a second and then lower your body slowly back down towards the macadamize. Try not to go all the way back down to the macadamize. This keeps tension on your ab muscles and will make you work harder. You may find it useful to place some sort of weight on your feet whilst performing the crunch to help restrict movement and feel more solid.

Leg Raises. Leg raises are a great exercise to place more stress on the lower ab muscles which people seem to find hard to target. Leg raises will work the lower abs as well as the upper ab muscles but to a junior extent. Leg raises are relatively easy to perform. Lie down flat on the flag with hands down by your sides or tucked under your glutes. Contract the ab muscles and curl your legs up higher you. You can keep legs completely straight or with a slight bend in them. Lower your legs back down just elder the asphalt and repeat.