Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/82405
TO SEE A DEMO OF THIS HAND REFLEXOLOGY TECHNIQUE FOR HEADACHES, VISIT THE DIGITAL EDITION OF MASSAGE & BODYWORK MAGAZINE AT WWW.ABMP.COM. Reflexology Education and Credentialing In most states, reflexology is unregulated. No licensure, registration, or certification is required to practice reflexology, call oneself a reflexologist, claim to practice reflexology, or list reflexology as a modality offered. This is changing, however, both legislatively and by consumers seeking out professionally trained reflexologists. To locate qualified educators and schools of reflexology, visit the American Reflexology Certification Board (www.arcb.net) and the Reflexology Association of America (www.reflexology-usa.org). Finally, fingerwalking, press-and-flex, and plantar flexion worked the shoulder joint reflex on the left foot, and reduced deposits in the affected reflexes. All the shoulder pain, including tenderness in the shoulder joint reflex, dissipated completely, and the client had a 100 percent improvement with mobility/range of motion. Using massage, I smoothed the fascia along the deltoids in the upper arms. The entire protocol took five minutes and I was left with a very happy client. HAND REFLEXOLOGY FOR HEADACHES Hand reflexology is equally as effective at alleviating headaches as the foot protocol, and is easy to learn. Therapists can even teach clients simple techniques to reduce pain and improve the quality of their lives between professional sessions. Teach clients this handy technique for headaches. Pressing the adrenal gland reflex on the hand relieves headaches quickly. Locate the adrenal gland reflex on the palm. It lies in the juncture of the first and second metacarpal bones. This area is usually soft and tender (Image 4). Reflexes extend through the body. Locate the adrenal gland reflex on the dorsum (Image 5); it is very close to a vital energy point. Due to close proximity, the thumb (or finger) presses both of them simultaneously, making the pressure doubly effective. Use your thumb to apply pressure to the adrenal gland reflex on the palm, while your finger applies pressure to the adrenal gland reflex and vital energy point on the dorsum (Image 6 & 7). Hold one to two minutes. (Hold long enough to mobilize healing forces, but not to cut off circulation to the cells.) Switch hands. Repeat as needed. THE ANSWER? Reflexology can be used either alone or in conjunction with other body therapies to address our clients' issues with ease, comfort, and care. When massage is contraindicated, reflexology might be the answer to your clients' needs. ARCB-CR, is executive director of The Stone Institute in St. Charles, Missouri, and author of Therapeutic Reflexology: A Step-by- Step Guide to Professional Competence (Pearson Education, 2011). Stone's newsletters, seminars, classes, and research explore the efficacy of contemporary reflexology, as well as its interface with massage and other forms of bodywork. Visit www.thestoneinstitute. org or email info@thestoneinstitute.org. Paula S. Stone, MA, NCTMB, NOTES 1. "Categories of Headaches," National Headache Foundation, accessed May 2011, www. headaches.org/press/NHF_Press_Kits/ Press_Kits_-_Categories_Of_Headache. 2. Paula Stone, Therapeutic Reflexology: A Step- by-Step Guide to Professional Competence (Upper Saddle, NJ: Pearson Education, 2011), 18. Boost your practice with ABMP's Website Builder—free for members on ABMP.com 41