The practice of reflexology functions on the basis of equilibrium. According to practitioners Kevin and Barbara Kunz in "The Complete Guide to Foot Reflexology," when your body is in a relaxed state, your organs and circulatory system operate at top efficiency. By relaxing the body and promoting equilibrium, reflexologists believe they can help you release stress, enhance your overall health and help relieve pain.
Reflexology
According to Kevin and Barbara Kunz, reflexology practitioners believe areas of your feet correspond to other areas of your body. By stimulating the area of the foot that corresponds to a particular body part, reflexologists believe they can help heal specific ailments that seemingly have little to do with the feet, such as a sore knee or elbow. A practitioner uses her hands to apply pressure to particular points on your feet, releasing stress, encouraging circulation and stimulating healing in the affected area.
Techniques
According to the couple, reflexologists use three basic techniques: finger walking, thumb walking, and the hook and back up. Thumb-walking involves placing your thumb on the foot and bending it only at the joint to exert light pressure. The goal is to move your thumb steadily forward as if it were "walking" without releasing pressure. Finger-walking uses the same technique with your index finger. The thumb hook involves placing your thumb on a pressure point, exerting pressure, and pulling it backward across that point.
Reflexology and Growth
According to Colorado State University's "Hypertexts for Biomedical Sciences" website, your growth is controlled by a hormone produced in the brain's pituitary gland. While the website notes that stress can affect production of this hormone, it also states that three additional hormones are primarily responsible for how much growth hormone your body produces. Growth hormone releasing hormone, or GHRH, and ghrelin stimulate the desired hormone; another hormone called somatostatin blocks it, the website says. While it's possible that reflexology can limit stress, encouraging growth hormone production, it is unlikely to successfully manipulate all three hormones ultimately responsible for growth.
Pituitary Reflexology
The pituitary gland drives your endocrine system and is responsible for secreting growth hormones. According to David Vennells in "Reflexology for Beginners," the pituitary gland is located within reflex area #7. You'll find this area on the underside of your foot, beneath your big toe. The correct location is centered within the width of your toe, just under half way from the base of your toe to the tip, according to Vennells.
Thyroid Reflexology
Also part of the endocrine system, your thyroid gland contributes to your physical growth by regulating your metabolism. Vennells notes that your thyroid can be accessed through reflex area #22. You'll find this area on the underside of your right foot. According to Vennells, the correct location is the outer edge of your foot beneath your big toe. The area encompasses about one-fourth of the edge of your right foot, spreading from the base of your toe down across the ball of your foot.
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