What is reflexology.

Health is essential to well-being. Yes, because everyone wants to stay healthy, people don't want to be sick. We need to be healthy, to feel good. And there are a lot of methods. Which can allow us to avoid illnesses or heal ourselves.

Take reflexology for example. It is a traditional and universal treatment technique. It has become very popular thanks to Chinese culture. But many still consider it a pseudo science. And really? There are many theories for explain the effectiveness of reflexology.

For those who don't know, reflexology is a technique of massaging specific points of the body (reflex points) to relieve pain and regain health.

For example, if you have a heart problem. You can stimulate point C7. (Point 7 of the heart meridian). Or if you have a stomach ache. You can stimulate E 36 (point 36 of the Stomach meridian).

It is a very curious, impressive and effective phenomenon. And many researchers have wondered why it works.

We know that the traditional approach of Chinese medicine suggests that illness is the consequence of poor circulation of vital energy. And correctly stimulating the reflex points would help restore this circulation. This is Chi theory.

On the other hand, we have the modern approach to biomedical science which offers us many other explanations.

In neurophysiology for example, reflexology would be a good method to relieve pain, restore homeostasis and in certain cases, prevent disease or cure.

Thanks to reflexes. But not just any reflexes. These are reflexes of the autonomic nervous system.

- How it works

Consider the first example above. If a patient has tachycardia (palpitations). It may be advisable to massage point C7 which should generally restore balance to the meridian, reduce blood pressure and heart rate.

These results show that there is a special connection between parts of the body and the heart (the reflex points of the heart meridian).

It is a link that is not only anatomical, but also physiological. This is why stimulation of these points has an impact on the functioning of the heart.

In traditional Chinese medicine, the energy of the meridian connects the organ to the reflex point. But, in neurophysiology, the existence of such a relationship can be demonstrated through phenomena such as convergences, the rule of dermatomes, radiated pain and the functioning of the autonomic nervous system (ANS).

The ANS regulates blood pressure and heart rate. Thanks to the barorecentors (aorta, carotid sinus, vena cava) which capture any variation in blood pressure. These emit a signal at the level of the vasomotor center (spinal bulb), or at the moderator or accelerator Cadio center.

One of these centers (the required one) will stimulate (sympathetic) or inhibit (parasympathetic) blood pressure and heart rate.

And this regulation can be modulated by the central nervous system (sensations, emotions, thoughts, stress, sleep, pain)

It is very possible that this is how the stimulation of reflex points acts on the heart and the body (Massage, Moxas, Acupuncture Needle).

Note; Blood pressure depends on vasomotor function (volume and distribution of blood in the body).

reflex points

With the exception of capillaries and Venules, all the vessels of the body are innervated by sympathetic fibers (vasoconstrictors). The arteries that supply the muscles have sympathetic and parasympathetic (vasodilatory) fibers.

Arteries control blood flow in tissues and blood pressure. Veins control blood volume.

If we compare the arrangement of the meridian points of the Heart, with the dermatome and the peripheral nerves linked to the heart.

Similarities can be noted, and the appearance of a meeting area between nerves and arteries. These points are often referred to as neurovascular, perivascular, neurolymphatic, reflex or

acupuncture point.

Reflexology and pain

It is important to note that reflexology and in particular Chinese reflexology is very useful in reducing the perception of pain.

In neurophysiology, the theory of “Gate control” can help to understand why.

There are large and small diameter nerve fibers in the peripheral nervous system. And they have an opposite effect on the cells that produce pain (T cells) in the spinal cord. Large diameter fibers, after producing intense pain, inhibit pain. While small diameter fibers produce very fine painful sensations, but over a long period of time. Because they stimulate T cells (which produce pain)

And small diameter fibers can also cause touch sensations,

Those with a large diameter can also do so, with the added sensation of pressure.

It is assumed that these properties of large diameter fibers could partly explain the analgesic properties of acupuncture techniques and massages.

Because they can reduce painful perceptions.

- to conclude

An acupuncturist stimulates the points using needles, moxas and manual techniques. Everything suggests that these techniques have effects on the body thanks to ANS ( autonomous nervous système) .

Plantar and palmar reflexology is much simpler and more accessible to practice, because the hands and feet are enormously vascularized and innervated, which makes them more sensitive, and therefore easier to stimulate.

What we can remember is that reflexology is a very useful and simple technique. Much research remains to be done to test and understand its effectiveness. But in my opinion, we can already say that it is a very effective treatment technique.

it is a method that can be used for oneself (self-massage) in a private setting or with a specialist, in a clinic or hospital environment.

But I would like to point out that for those who might be interested in practicing reflexology in a private setting, to seek the advice of a doctor, or a specialist before any practice.

glossary

The pain radiates:

when an organ is irritated. Pain may be felt not on the organ, but rather on a superficial part of the human body distant from that organ. The pain is projected or radiated towards this part.

The dermatome rule:

Radiated pain usually affects a part of the human body, which developed from the same embryonic segment or dermatome. Than the irritated organ. For example, during embryo development, the diaphragm moves from the cervical region of the embryo toward the abdomen and thorax. In doing so, it brings with it the phrenic nerve. (Cranial nerves of respiration)

The latter enters the spinal cord at the level of the cervical segments C2, C3 and C4. And these cervical segments also innervate the tip of the shoulder. So, pain in the diaphragm and chest often projects into the shoulder.

Convergence:

the related parts of the irritated organs and the radiating parts enter the same place in the nervous system. But as there are a greater number of sensory fibers that run from the superficial organs and structures to the nervous system. There is a sort of convergence. All the sensory fibers of a vertebral segment converge towards the same location via the spinothalamic pathway. (ascending sensory pathway in the spinal cord).

It is assumed that each time an organ is irritated, for the brain, it was as if all the innervation zones of the same vertebral segment that innervates this irritated organ were also irritated.

The autonomic nervous system:

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a part of the nervous system that automatically regulates the body's internal functions. Constantly, without us being aware of it. It controls everything vital and involuntary.

heart rate

breathing

digestion

blood pressure

Gland secretion (saliva, sweat, hormones, etc.)

In short, it maintains the internal balance of the body, called homeostasis,

It consists of 2 elements. The sympathetic system (it prepares the body for action, stress, danger) the parasympathetic system. (It promotes rest and recovery)

Meridian

An acupuncture meridian is, in traditional Chinese medicine, a network of invisible “channels” through which vital energy called Qi (Chi) circulates in the body.

The meridian connects the organs together, connects the interior of the body to the surface (skin), allows the functions of the body to be regulated.

spinothalamic pathway

The spinothalamic tract is an essential nerve channel in the nervous system that transmits pain, temperature, and some touch from the body to the brain.

Perivascular

A perivascular point (or neurovascular point in certain approaches such as kinesiology or certain schools of manual therapies) designates a body area located near a small blood vessel, often at the level of the skull or face.

Neuro-lymphatic point

A neuro-lymphatic point is a concept used mainly in applied kinesiology (notably in revisited Chapman type approaches + modern kinesiology).

A neuro-lymphatic point is a reflex zone of the skin and subcutaneous tissues believed to be linked: to the lymphatic system (waste drainage) and indirectly to the autonomic nervous system.

In practice, these are points where it is believed that lymphatic circulation can be influenced by manual stimulation.

Neurovascular point

A neurovascular point is an area of ​​the skull (mainly on the skull bones) where small superficial blood vessels pass. In kinesiology, we can consider these points which can influence: superficial cerebral blood circulation the tone of the autonomic nervous system the state of stress or relaxation