REFLEXOLOGY
By MAGGIE BROOKS DO, RGN, SMTO
Eleanor
Eleanor had agreed to act as a case study more out of interest
than anything else. She really felt she was fine with no
real problems; she could unwind as necessary and slept well.
Her husband had given her a gift voucher and suggested that
she try Reflexology as he felt she would benefit, having
experienced it himself. Indeed, his chronic sinusitis had
eased after one session and was no longer a problem after
another two sessions.
Eleanor (47) is a Staff-nurse in the Intensive Care Unit
which though stressful at times, she enjoyed. She also works
three evenings a week at a private hospital for extra money.
This she found less stressful but her workload was considerable.
Her husband only works part-time due to some health problems
which had meant retraining. He hoped to return to full time
work by the end of the year. It had been a difficult few
years and this had taken its toll, but Eleanor felt she
was coping fine and that the bad days were truly over.
Son, James (20) was studying medicine and lived in a flat
while daughter Jan (18) was living at home and was a hairdresser.
Eleanor' s family live in the South of Scotland and both
parents are well.
PRIMARY COMPLAINT
In the first instance, Eleanor felt she did not have any
complaints - certainly not that anything could be done about.
The first consultation includes detailed questioning, which
is necessary if we are to really embark on true holistic
care of a client.
Eleanor felt her only problem was constant back pain that
she didn't feel there was anything that could be done about.
She had real problems with her right hip but had seen no
point in getting any kind of treatment as nothing would
work.
It later came out that she also suffered from severe Irritable
Bowel Syndrome.
She admitted her diet was not good - she had put on 2 stone
over the last couple of years. The problem was carry-out
fish suppers and ice cream on her late shifts. She smoked
about 20-25 cigarettes a day.
There was no time for any social life. She preferred to
go to bed early.
On her consultation, we recorded no past medical history
apart from some reconstructive surgery to her nose 15 years
ago. Eleanor is 47 and still menstruating normally.
GOALS OF TREATMENT
I felt I had to 'go extremely canny' with Eleanor - too
many suggestions all at once would frighten her away. I
hoped that we could improve her back - and at the same time
her I.B.S.
As she had not had any other treatment, I was also very
interested to see what Reflexology could do for back pain
when used on its own without massage or osteopathy. She
had resisted any suggestions in regard to those treatments.
She looked tired but was cheery and ready to be looked
after.
First treatment
I always inspect the client's feet on the first appointment.
Eleanor's feet were a little callused on the right but otherwise
apart from being pale were OK
As usual we began by working on her toes (after the warm
up of course.) She found this fascinating. The head areas
on the right were more tender than on the left.
Eleanor was quite surprised in how the different reflexes
elicited different sensations. The lumbar areas were exquisitely
tender on both feet. L5 more on the left, L4 more on the
right. The knee area and the hip (even more so) on the right
side were also tender. I could see that she had a pelvic
tilt when she walked in and a lesion at L5.
Indeed, the whole spine was tender on both feet. C7/T1
was exquisite on the left; T8 - T10 very tender on the right.
Her feet were very stiff and unyielding.
Pituitary and pineal were more tender on the left. Thyroid
was more sensitive on the right. The adrenal glands were
exquisitely tender. Uterus was more tender on the right
and ovary on the left. The lung areas felt slightly congested
- more so on the right and the liver reflex was tender.
The whole bowel area was tender - the ileum on the left
was very tender and the colon on the right with the ileo-caecal
valve exquisite.
The dorsal areas - right elbow, left shoulder were also
very tender. She then told me she did often feel her shoulders
as tired, tight and sore.
We discussed all this - I showed her the Reflexology chart
which she found very interesting.
She talked about how busy she was with no time for herself.
Her job in intensive care was very hectic. She felt in control
and felt that she rarely got involved with or affected by
patients. She felt she could relax easily - and particularly
had no problem sleeping. She was however looking forward
to a week's holiday.
Eleanor enjoyed her first treatment and was eager for the
second. She drank a glass of water after treatment and I
suggested she start a new habit. She thought this was strange
but agreed she'd try it. We agreed to meet again in one
week's time to allow her body to adjust to what we had done.
I warned her that she might show signs and symptoms of toxicity
- such as headache and/or fatigue and just to treat it with
rest and drinking water.
Second treatment - one week later
Eleanor returned looking forward to her next treatment.
She had felt well, been sleeping better and was impressed!
What had amazed Eleanor most, was that she felt that she
was less stiff - though she would have expected to be more
so, as she was on holiday and had been stripping paper off
the bathroom walls!
We discussed diet - though Eleanor felt she did not have
time to make a packed lunch or dinner. Already, she felt
she had more than enough to do. Certainly, she felt that
Rice Krispies were the one thing that eased her Irritable
Bowel Syndrome. I never recommend bran as this can make
matters far worse.
Eleanor did not want to discuss personal issues and I respected
that. We used the session to relax.
The right hip area, was still exquisite, but the thoracic
area was improved as was the cervical. The elbow and shoulder
areas were improved. I too was surprised and delighted.
We discussed drinking less caffeine and more water. We
then discussed taking a short walk every day. We agreed
to meet in one week's time.
Third treatment - one week later
Eleanor was feeling that she was moving easier and was feeling
better in herself - though she admitted that she hadn't
realised how stressed she had got. Her husband had commented
that she was looking younger. (Indeed he had told me how
pleased he was that she was finally taking some time for
herself.)
We continued the session, working the spinal areas, musculo-skeletal
areas as before. I increased the mobilisations of her feet
as she could now tolerate more. The bowel area had improved
quite dramatically from the first visit. She reported that
her colic had eased so much, she was able to forget about
it at times. Eleanor's feet were now more flexible and looked
better in regard to texture and colour.
We discussed home treatment but she felt she wouldn't have
time and preferred to come to see me. Some clients like
to work on hand reflexes to complement what is happening
at the treatment.
We agreed to meet in two weeks time.
Fourth treatment - two weeks later
Eleanor was continuing to feel that she had more energy
and her mobility was improving. She felt that the pain in
her hip was lessening and her lower back was moving much
more easily. She agreed that as her pain decreased, she
would be more likely to consider going for a walk.
The nervous and endocrine points were tender as follows:
cervical on the right particularly C6 and 7; T1 on the right,
T4 on the left, T8 on the right, T12 on the right; L3, L5
and sacrum on the right; pituitary on the right, thymus
on the left, adrenal on the right, ovary on the right.
The lung areas seemed more congested this time and when
I mentioned it she said she had found that after the previous
treatments, she had been smoking less but that it had been
on the increase again over the previous three days. Her
smoking had reduced overall.
The stomach was more tender than the previous visit before
- I felt this was related to the lung congestion.
The bowel areas were again, very tender particularly on
the left over the hepatic flexure and transverse colon.
We included some breathing techniques, which she enjoyed.
The session was mainly relaxation - as Eleanor obviously
enjoyed just being herself and not 'on call' for this hour.
She volunteered that she planned on cutting down on smoking
and told me that her overall diet had improved slightly.
We agreed to meet again in three weeks time.
Fifth treatment - three weeks later
Eleanor felt there was a definite improvement in her hip
and lower back - so much so that she was enjoying going
for a short walk each day. I felt that this was a dramatic
change particularly as Eleanor did feel constantly under
time constraints. She had cut down on smoking, which she
was proud and delighted about.
She was feeling a bit tired and was looking forward to
being re-energised again.
The right hip and spinal areas were the most tender - more
the lumbar and lower thoracics. C7/T1 was still also about
a four out of five on the right. This junction is a vulnerable
area for everyone.
Eleanor's feet relaxed more easily than at her previous
treatments suggesting an overall improvement in her ability
to relax.
She felt her bowel was fine now and that she really had
no other problems.
We agreed to meet in six weeks
Sixth treatment - six weeks later
Eleanor walked in well - the pelvic tilt I spotted on the
first visit was still apparent - but not as much. She remained
delighted with her improved musculo-skeletal system. She
had also surprised herself with her continued progress and
now looked forward to another session.
We worked as before and I noted the overall improvement
in all the points. Hip and lumbar spine were still tender
about a 3-4 out of 5, now.
She opened up for a little while about the hard times and
then said she felt she had handled all she needed to handle.
I absolutely respect the client's right to privacy. I was
aware too, that starting to talk might well open up a lot
of issues that would require specialised counselling but
at the same time might also prevent her from working. As
the major breadwinner, this was something that she could
choose to do in her own time.
I mentioned how I'd found that past events and issues can
affect health quite dramatically and she agreed.
We concluded the Reflexology treatment with some breathing
and lymphatic pump techniques. Eleanor stated how glad she
was that she had come for treatment as she had benefited
so much. She also had decided to continue with Reflexology
on a regular basis for as long as she needed it.
Seventh treatment - eight weeks later
Eight weeks had passed since her last treatment, and Eleanor
had found that her hip was at last easing a bit to the point
where it was not painful all the time. She was smoking less,
still drinking more water and had lost 4lbs in weight. She
was also feeling more like her ‘old self’ and
she and her husband had gone out several times, once with
friends.
The treatment went well - Eleanor was tired and happy to
relax. Work had been very busy.
The adrenal areas were more sensitive than they had been
on the last visit. The spinal areas were still tender but
now she felt scored a 2 out of 5 and occasionally a three.
The hip still scored more than the rest.
She promised to attend in a couple of months for another
treatment. She hoped she would be able to tell me that she
had lost more weight!
CONCLUSION
Eleanor had really only come for Reflexology to please her
husband. She had expected it to be a nice experience and
was astounded at the effects. Her back pain along with her
hip pain had gone. Her Irritable Bowel Syndrome was no longer
a problem. She did not feel as stressed and lacking in energy.
Indeed, the increased awareness she had developed in response
to her Reflexology treatments had let her realise how low
she had got. Eleanor continues with a very busy schedule
and manages to come for Reflexology about once or twice
a year.
As an osteopath, I was amazed at the effects that Reflexology
could have on back pain – remembering that I had advised
osteopathy but Eleanor had refused.
About the Author
Maggie Brooks DO, RGN, SMTO
Maggie Brooks is an Osteopath registered with the General
Osteopathic Council and Member of the British Osteopathy
Association. She is also a Remedial Massage Therapist, Reflexologist
and Clinical Aromatherapist and full Member of the Scottish
Massage Therapists' Organisation. Maggie lectures at Health
Shows and runs Stress Management seminars and lectures internationally.
Maggie is in practice at the
Brooks-Carter Clinic,
24 Ellon Road,
Aberdeen
AB23 8BX
Tel: 01224 822956
The Brooks-Carter Clinic offers Osteopathy, Manipulative
Therapy, Advanced Remedial Massage, Sports Massage, Reflexology,
Clinical Aromatherapy and On-Site Massage.
Maggie is also a Registered General nurse registered with
UKCC.
As Principal of Scottish Massage Schools with certificates
in teaching and assessing, she teaches on Scottish Massage
Schools courses in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness and Glasgow.
visit our website on www.scotmass.co.uk
A full career progression is offered through courses in
Swedish Massage, Remedial and Sports Massage, Advanced Remedial
Massage, Manipulative Therapy, Reflexology, Clinical Aromatherapy
and On-Site Massage.
Maggie is also Secretary of the Scottish Massage Therapists'
Organisation and on the forum for General Council for Massage
Therapy, which is in the process of establishing standards
and code of practice nationally. She is also a Member of
the recently formed working group for Sports Massage under
the auspices of the National Sports Medicine Institute.
Maggie can put you in touch with your nearest therapist
or osteopath.
Appointments can be made at 01224 822956.
Email: maggie@scotmass.co.uk
