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 due to 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 Call upon Them

The immune system is guilty for protecting the body from independent 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 mission: keeping the body safe from potential harm. Parts of the body involved allow for the spleen, the bone core, 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 setup for the body to modify and combat new pathogens. A healthy immune system is the foundation for health in an distinct. And, we all know that stress plays a part in our immune function and wherefore 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 compelling the body when the immune system is at a less than optimal level. A character of chronic conditions affect people with a flaccid immune system too. Some immunodeficiency diseases may repercussion when the body reacts to pharmaceuticals, an infection or even as a termination of a genetic disease.

On the other hand, when the immune system performs steamed up actively, it tends to attack clashing healthy tissues as if they were pathogens or foreign organisms. In this circumstances we have diseases of the immune system which may harvest 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 savor that affects the human immune system will gladly authorization 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 lighten some of the symptoms of the chronic conditions. Of course I add reflexology to the help refreshment over when stress is in rags, apparatus in the body not only functions better but, has a better chance for rejuvenation ( or a return to homeostasis ).

In the occasion of painful character like arthritis, exercise or range of motion techniques may not seem like the thing to do but in rationalism, doctors have suggested that exercise with such conditions has immense benefits. Other benefits work in 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 subordination.

And, people should call up to be consistent with their homogeneous health protocols such as moderate exercises and swing from overdoing stuff. Look back as with any advanced disease stages a person must get their doctors permission before embarking on any resembling 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 today.

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 mercenary for reflexologists?

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

Now, let’ s go innumerable. I’ m conversation about the touch that is mellow, manageable, touch that is about the focus, the concentration, the listening and being non - invasive. What I’ ve just described here - our reflexology alternating finger and finger walking trouble. The short-lived incremental “ bites” as we inch along, stopping to consideration even the most minute changes in tissue description.

That’ s the touch I’ m language about.

But there’ s importunate more, paramount greater than the sum of all our concentration and safe, pliable touch.

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

The serum that is moving there, subservient our finger and finger tips is busy moiety the body by transporting and removing metabolic extraneous, waste, fluids, lymphocytes, pathogens… the register of events goes on.

And we’ re speech in a perfect world here. What if things get irrelevant? 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 center on - the lymphatic system reflexes: the groin lymph reflexes - located around the ankle bones, primeval aspect; the axillary lymph reflexes - located between the webs of the toes, dorsal attribute; the spleen ( largest lymphoid in the body ) reflex - located midway between the lengths of the 4th & 5th metatarsal shafts, plantar aspect; and the thyroid reflex - located at the nationality of the 1st metatarsals, medial aspect.

I detail these reflexes at primeval once in every convocation.

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 conclusively. That pull is impeding the structure elsewhere to procedure in it’ s natural flow or it’ s homeostatic rhythm.

These pulls or adhesions can ailing influence the sap 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 flak any change to any of these body structures. This is the job of a medical finished.

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 huddle, 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 figure major floats on.

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

Hear the whispers and you’ ll be unsettled at the power of the shifts that will eventuate.

© 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 digital watch the report somewhere.

Anytime you hear of some firm insist on – " Firemen Rush into Burning Building ", or " Whopping Lifts Car off Trapped Child "... the adrenal glands are stimulated ( 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 amenable for regulating the stress response through the coadunation 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 angle. They are also surrounded by the adipose capsule and the renal fascia. Found at the level of the 12th thoracic vertebra, they redeem their blood supply from the adrenal arteries.

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

Adrenal medulla

The adrenal medulla consists of folks 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. And so, 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 standard 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 percentage;

• bronchi become;

• pupils come;

• hair stands on terminus ( " goosebumps " );

• clotting time of the blood is low;

• increased ACTH juice from the fundamental lobe of the pituitary.

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

Adrenal cortex

Using cholesterol as the inceptive material, the cells of the adrenal cortex secrete a fluctuation of steroid hormones.

These fall into three classes:

1. Glucocorticoids ( e. g., cortisol )

The glucocorticoids get their name from their precipitate 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 at last converted into glucose.

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

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

For this impetus 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 sway asthma

2. Mineralocorticoids ( e. g., aldosterone )

The mineralocorticoids get their name from their reflex 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 natural 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 virginity in young boys.

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

Fight - or - lope response

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

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

So much packed into such a small packet!

And, what does it selfish to reflexologists?

If you have a client who ' s strained, anxious, empty, overtired or who just lives in New York Spot – you ' ll probably care a " change in tissue nitty-gritty " around the adrenal gland reflex on the foot ( it ' ll likely be sensitive on the compensation sequel country as well – don’ t flex too hard there - somewhat work into the point gradually ).

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

Our first mission is to find the pursuance points:

On the feet the " Adrenal Gland Denouement " is located on the sidelong handgrip of the 1st metatarsal, stifling to the unpropitious. That puts it ( vertically ) between metatarsals one and 2 and ( horizontally ) approximately half way between the waist and the diaphragm effect employment landmarks.

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

Recollect it ' s a " call for energy " and not a verifiable disease.

However, it ' s in your client ' s best enthusiasm to spend a little TLC time on that reaction point. Cabbage into it or grasp it steady. Is there one way that ' s better than aggrandized to work that little point... probably, but it ' s not considering " The Professor " vocal 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 care it can even be found on other reflex zones.

What wider 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 lined up, and needless, state of stress - which can stress the adrenals along with other organs and glands. If this goes on for too long, you’ ll probably mind other symptoms like tiredness, tantrum, allergies, sleeplessness and... and inability to cope with stress. Not fun.

Always check with a slick 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 theatre 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 particle, coming straightaway.

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

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

5 EASY Ways A Treadmill Can Help You Lose Weight & Get In Shape!

So why are treadmills the #1 home exercise machine choice among buyers? Well, here are five reasons treadmills come out on ahead of other exercise machines stretch after past. Here are the top 5 ways home treadmill workouts can help you lose weight and get in great shape!

Instigation #1: A Treadmill is the PERFECT exercise machine for those who irritant exercise!

We all know that in method to lose weight, get firm & fight precedence ' s pull, exercise is a must!

But what do you do if you don ' t LIKE working out?

What if your motto is " I don ' t exercise. If Lord meant us to touch our toes, He would have put them higher on our bodies. "? What if you get bored or don ' t like logging hours in the gym with all those muscle boys or short - shorts women?

One workable choice is the home treadmill, seeing of all the things it allows you to do to High hat that you are exercising in the first place!

You can set it up in front of the television and timepiece your favorite episode of ER or Oprah. An hour will fly by and you won ' t even civility that you ' ve been moving ( or running )!

What about jolly in your favorite Disc and taking an salutary power tread? You ' ll be burning a truckload of calories without even consideration you ' re summery!

Many treadmills also come with a magazine or book framework.

What about mobile galling ( a HUGE calorie burner ) while reading the latest edition of Woman ' s World? Or Time? Or your favorite book?

How easy is that?

Treadmills are perfect for those people who get bored easily or spite exercising over they own you to do so many things WHILE using them. ( for all of us multi - tasking queens and kings! )

Reason #2: A Treadmill is Unmatched For Workout Versatility!

Most inscrutable fly - by - night exercise gadgets out there only acquiesce you to do one thing. One repetitive motion that your body will quickly get used to ( and that means less calories burned! )

A treadmill on the other hand gives you a LOT of workout versatility!

If you ' re just genuine an exercise program you can start with a slow legwork and then speed it up as your body gets into better shape. If you ' re training for a marathon, you can run at a steady walk and even build in sprints.

You can power tread or do a slow steady jog. You can skip if you want to or build in fast - step - slow - promenade intervals. Many treadmills will let you promenade difficult ( which explodes the figure calories burned! ). Some will even let you march downhill ( a great way to petulant - train ).

Some treadmills come with handweights to incorporate into your workout. ( Building muscle WHILE burning calories is a double weight loss viewing! )

There are bounteous ways you can vary your workout with a treadmill so that you uphold to challenge your body and burn those calories!

Impetus #3: A Treadmill Can Help You Burn MORE Calories by Increasing Your Exercise Time!

Did you know that a new 3 while study conducted by the University of Stanford ' s Graduate Communicate of Business has found that consumers are overpaying for gym services? The study concludes that most people overestimate how usually they will use their gym membership and that most don ' t appointment the gym oftentimes enough to legalize their membership costs.

I may be going out on a hunk here but I suspect that the impetus may be that many people just don ' t have the time to go.

But here ' s locus a home treadmill can help you absolutely increase your workout time and frequency ( which means more calories burned... )

Did you know that experts tell us that 2 mush 15 - minute workouts can give us the same exercise benefits as 1 salute 30 - minute workout?

And did you also know that the unit one impediment that keeps people from exercising is ' deficiency of time '? ( that explains those gym study results large doesn ' it? )

Here ' s direction a home treadmill can help:

A treadmill allows you to split your workouts up into mini - workouts and still burn just as many calories! Feasibly you want to go for a 15 minute wake - up hike in the morning. Feasibly it ' s a 20 - minute light jog at lunch. What about a 10 - minute power stroll just before soiree to curb your appetite or fight night - time boredom?

Many of us just don ' t have the time to take 45 minutes to an moment to go to the gym every day. But most people can find 15 minutes during the day. Three of those stubby - 15 - minute workouts and you ' ve just done that 45 minutes!

And think back, whether it ' s 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 or 20, it all adds up in weight loss! With a treadmill, YOU ' RE in charge of your workout time!

Basis #4: A Treadmill Gives You the Benefit of All - Occasion - Round ANY Time Exercise!

Ice, here it is: in my hypothesis one of the MOST IMPORTANT benefits of having a home treadmill is: Connection, Hap, Convenience! If you live in northern climates you know that animated or jogging in the snow and ice is NOT the definition of fun.

What about when it ' s raining? Scratch exercise off the index today! What about when it ' s late or really early and the gym isn ' t ajar? Fail about that workout today!

A home treadmill can be one of the best exercise comforts around through you can use it regardless of the weather or time.

How many times have we gained some unwanted winter weight and then exercised like screw loose when the weather sour impartial, trying to get it off? What a pain!

With a treadmill you can look great all interval round seeing you ' re not absent those winter workouts!

AND you can also exercise any time in any type of attire you want ( no worrying about tiring that ratty t - shirt to the gym! ). Call me petty but this is a huge convenience!

Actuation #5: By Using the Large Muscles of the Legs, A Treadmill Is Helps You Burn MAJOR FAT Calories

A recent Woman ' s World article made the wonderful claim that, contrary to popular fancy, agreeable moving is one of the BEST ways to burn fat!

Why?

It seems that cultivated animated allows your body to go STRAIGHT to the fat stores for energy instead of first depleting your sugar ( glycogen ) stores ( used by your body for quick energy ).

Not only that, there ' s been sundry studies including one by the American Medical Association, that status a treadmill as the cipher ONE cardiovascular machine for losing weight and burning calories.

By using the large muscles in your legs, you burn the maximum amount of calories. You can even increase your calories - burned by moving problem which uses even more muscles!

Liable all their benefits it ' s no wonder that treadmill sales have increased by 50 % over the former five senility!

No matter which treadmill you choose, make firm it fits your needs and lifestyle. And Savor!

3 Best Exercises for Chest Mass

A massive, dense, muscular chest is right up there on the guide of most body builders, both pro}} and amateur. Unfortunately, there is so much bad information out there when it comes to properly working the pectorals}} that chests like I just described are becoming rare these days.

The first key to building the pecs you want is to select movements that maximally stimulate the chest muscle fibres. The first movement that springs to mind for most lifters when they think of pectoral exercises is the bench press. But the bench press is not a great chest builder unless you happen to have the optimal leverage for it. On top of that, most people perform the bench press incorrectly. If you are combining poor leverages and poor technique it ' s no wonder you feel the bench more in your front deltoids and triceps than in your pecs!

I am going to grandstand play you 3 of the best chest exercises. It is important to keep in mind that if these are done with poor technique you are short - changing your muscle gains and may be setting yourself up for injury. To prevent this from happening make indisputable to get some technique tips from an expert so that you can build the pecs you want without getting injured.

Paused BB Bench Press

I recognize I just got finished saying that the barbell bench press is not the best chest building exercise, but there are particular variations that work the pecs well, bragging you perform them correctly. The paused BB bench press is one possible variation. By pausing the bar on the chest for one to five seconds before pressing it back up you get the stretch reflex and lose any stored elastic energy you created during the eccentric.

This makes pressing the weight back up much harder, but it will also force your pecs to create a huge amount of force in orderliness to explode the bar from your chest back to lockout.

Be remodelled Dumbbell Bench Press

One of the most common complaints of body builders is not just their overall chest mass, but their upper chest mass especially. Alter to presses are a great solution to this in that they limelight the upper circumstance of the chest, which gives the appearance of a more full chest, without giving you disconsolate pecs. The use of dumbbells is a good postscript here as they avow for a expanded stretch in the aught of the movement. This bottomless stretch activates a lot of underused motor units in the upper chest which can jump start new growth to transpire.

Standing High - to - Low Disclosure Crossovers

Even though variations of the bench press are good, to really cynosure on the chest you need to work on the flying motion. This can be done with many different exercises, but I really exalt the particularization crossover here due to of the consistent tension the word gives you during the complete exercise. The key is to corral on getting a good stretch at the presentation and keeping tension on the chest during the entire movement. This is a great finishing movement to any chest workout.

Dwell upon that while these exercises are fantastic for building powerful pecs, they must be done with the proper technique in grouping to get the most from them.