ARCHIVE for Wednesday 16th January 2002 - Reflexology

Listen to your feet, they could be telling you something.

It’s a message first picked up by the ancient Egyptians 4,500 years ago. They were amongst the first practitioners of reflexology, treating the feet to stimulate the body’s healing system.

In the early 1900s an American, Dr William Fitzgerald, rediscovered the ancient healing art. He mapped the body into ten zones each with a corresponding ‘reflex area on the foot.

Lindsay Hudson of the Natural Holistic Healing centre in Huddersfield explains: "Aches and pains in the feet are very often an alarm that something is wrong with the body. Although we do treat specific pressure points, reflexology is holistic and treats the whole person."

Treatments, which cost around £20, usually last for an hour and are effective for joint, skin, digestive, circulatory and back problems. Lindsay, who works with the local NHS in Kirklees, recommends a series of four to six sessions before going on to self-treatment.

Lindsay can be contacted on +44 (0)1484 664857 (England, UK)
For a reflexologist in your area visit: www.britreflex.co.uk

Lindsay says that many people neglect their feet and gives these tips:
1. Check regularly for athlete’s foot, dry skin and verrucas
2. Clip your toenails. Remove dry skin with a pumice stone and treat any ailments
3. Change your socks regularly
4. Never wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row
5. Use moisturiser on your feet
6. Kick your shoes off to relax your feet when you can

Mark Winter