Reflexology Blog – Colitis is a spiritual affliction that can be quite painful.
Colitis is a spiritual affliction which reflects a person’s insecurity. A person suffering with colitis is having trouble letting go of something which is already gone.
For many people, colitis is a chronic condition which may flare up and die down over time with the medical professionals treating the symptoms. The disease itself has no cure and is probably unpreventable. It’s generally agreed upon by medical professionals that colitis is not caused by stress but it does get worse when a person is stressed out.
It is believed that, for some people, colitis is hereditary. Whatever the cause, this painful condition is one that can respond to the sessions offered by a Reflexology for the Spirit Practitioner.
A person with colitis should definitely be consulting a medical professional in addition to a reflexologist.
When a person with colitis comes to your healing space, include Reiki therapy if possible. Offer essential oils if you feel called to do so. Your goal here is homeostasis.
WORK THE FOLLOWING SYSTEMS WHEN YOU ADDRESS COLITIS:
Work the immune system, the adrenal gland reflexes, the intestinal reflexes, and the lymphatics.
Thank you for reading this blog/book. Please contact me with comments or questions.
As always, this post comes to you from my healing space in scenic downtown Woodstock, NY.
Thurman Greco
Woodstock, NY
30 Essential Oils to Choose From When Addressing Immune System Issues
There are many, many essential oils out there. How do you decide? One way is to just go for the name that appeals to you. Another is to put out a drop and see if the aroma appeals to you. But, whichever oil you choose from this list, you can’t go wrong. These oils all have a proven track record when it comes to addressing immune system issues:
balsam fir, blue cypress, Canadian red cedar, clove, dill, eucalyptus radiata, frankincense, galbanum, grapefruit, hyssop, lemon, mountain savory, myrtle, nutmeg, orange, oregano, patchouli, peppermint, raven, ravensara, sandalwood, tarragon, thyme, tsuga, valerian, wintergreen,
Begin by choosing an oil and dilute it 50/50 with a vegetable oil which will be the carrier oil. Apply a small amount of the oil to the skin and see if there is a reaction. If not, use this oil. Oils vary in effectiveness from person to person because they work with a person’s body chemistry and every body is different..
There are many, many different ways to use essential oils. You have to find out what is going to work for you in each specific situation. To begin, try putting a few drops of an essential oil on a cloth or on a rug and let it work throughout the room.
I’ll be writing more about essential oils as we go through the book. This is basically a book about reflexology for the spirit but reflexology is compatible with so many different modalities that reflexologists end up with very large “tool kits” before they are through learning.
Actually, reflexologists never stop learning. That’s the beauty of the modality.
Our next blog post will address foods that nourish the immune system. Then, in follow on posts, we’ll address several conditions which can offer challenges to the immune system.
Thanks for following this blog/book. Please contact me if you have any comments/questions.
Peace and food for all.
Thurman
The Immune System Bottom Line: 4 Important Things to Remember
THE BOTTOM LINE
The immune system makes an important contribution to our wellness. There are emotional and spiritual components to the immune system which cannot be ignored.
Some diseases offer challenges and struggles which insist that the ill person examine his/her lifestyle, core beliefs, and connection with the divine.
This whole path to wellness: living with the disease or succumbing to it is facilitated with the homeostasis which Reflexology for the Spirit sessions bring about.
Work the immune system and the nervous system very early in the session. The nervous system combined with the immune system becomes a booster system and they should always be used when you’re trying to resolve a health issue for someone. These two systems combined facilitate homeostasis. The two systems together can offer significant changes.
Thank you for reading this post and for reading this blog/book. Please contact me if you have any questions.
The next post will focus on essential oils which benefit the immune system and will list the foods that nourish the immune system. Following that, we will focus on some specific diseases such as the common cold, flu, bladder problems, etc.
As always, this post comes to you from my healing space in downtown Woodstock.
Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
13 User Friendly Things You Can Do to Avoid Stressing Your Immune System Beyond Its Limits
Maintain a positive mental attitude.
Eating a balanced diet helps your immune system fight disease.
Wash hands often with soap and water. Carry and use hand sanitizer when soap and water are unavailable.
Keep hands away from eyes, mouth, and nose.
Avoid people who have colds, flu, etc.
Cover your nose and mouth when you cough, and then wash your hands.
Viruses flourish in dry air. Keep the atmosphere in your home a little on the humid side.
Keep yourself hydrated.
Avoid stress of all kinds. This means not smoking, not indulging in alcohol and other recreational drugs, and not engaging in activities that result in bruises, broken bones, etc.
Get enough sleep. Your body’s immune system can’t work at optimum levels if it’s sleep deprived. (Added bonus: you’ll look a lot better, too.)
Keep your body and environment as nontoxic as possible. You want the air you breathe to be clean. That translates to an air purifier with a clean filter in your home that is turned “on”.
“Detox” all your cleaning products, both personal and household. Your local health food store sells a safe line of cleaning products. Discard appropriately (or give away) the old toxic cleaners including shampoos, soaps, toothpaste, mouth wash. You should begin to feel better in a few weeks.
When inflammation is a factor, try to maintain a peaceful and harmonious attitude to avoid anger, annoyance, fear.
Thanks again for reading this blog/book which comes to you from my healing space in scenic downtown Woodstock, NY.
Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
What About the Tonsils? What About the Spleen?
The tonsils are an important line of defense in the body against infections. They filter out many toxins before they make it to the bloodstream as they stop what gets past the hair and mucous membranes in our nose, mouth, throat.
The spleen is an interesting part of the immune system. It’s the largest organ in the lymphatic system. It filters the lymph, removing toxins and bacteria. The spleen also produces antibodies. It removes worn out blood cells, bacteria and parasites. It’s actually hard to understand all the things the spleen does. But, for all the things the spleen does, it’s possible to live without it. It’s sometimes necessary to remove a damaged spleen after a person has been in an accident.
The immune system has an emotional quality to it. The thymus works better when we feel better mentally and emotionally. And we also know that the spleen is considered to be an organ of anger…
What is the Practical Application? – Part 1
In our last post, we discussed hand health.
As a Reflexology for the Spirit practitioner, your focus is on the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of a person’s health. Your job is to facilitate homeostasis.
This process begins when a person calls for an appointment. How did the person on the phone hear about you? Has this person ever received reflexology before…or any other bodywork? Does the person practice yoga, tai chi, etc.? Are there regular visits to a chiropractor? If the answer to any of these questions is “yes”, try to schedule your appointment within 24-48 hours of one of these activities.
Keep the paperwork to a minimum…especially for the first 4-5 visits. Focus on the feet…or hands. You’re going to learn what you need without a lot of forms. After several visits, your client partner will willingly and happily tell you everything you need to know. Then you can begin to build in-depth information charts and files.
When a person arrives for the first visit, offer several cd’s to choose from, and anoint your client with an essential oil which you feel is appropriate. Don’t go overboard here on the oil selection. If the oils are good quality, whichever one you two agree on will be good. There are some very professional reflexologists practicing with fewer than 5 oils in the arsenal. And, there is at least one who uses 2 oils exclusively.
As you begin to offer warm ups and work the feet, please notice the spiritual health clues they will offer you. Are the feet a particular color? Do you see bruises? What about corns, calluses, bunions, patches of thickened skin, hammertoes, etc? Are the arches high or low? Where are your findings located?
Generally speaking, when you encounter corns, calluses, bunions, thickened skin, swollen areas (edema), the person is in a protection mode. If you observe areas that are sunken, the person has “shut down” in some area.
Thanks again for reading this blogged book. If you have any comments, questions, please contact me.
As always, this post comes to you from my Woodstock healing space.
Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
The next post will continue with practical applications of Reflexology for the Spirit.
The First Step in a Reflexology Session – Part 2
In the last post, we discussed welcoming your client partner into your healing space, gaining trust, and offering essential oils. We’re now going to begin the healing process.
Remove the socks. Cover the feet with a towel. Rotate the ankles 4 or 5 times clockwise and then counterclockwise. This ankle rotation will tell you much about the person’s physical, mental, and spiritual health. As you develop your practice, you may find other things that have more meaning for you than the ankle rotation. For now, try the ankle rotations and see how they help give insight into your client partner’s needs.
Observe the skin.
Look for: hard skin, dry flaky skin, cuts, odor, pigmentation, color (red, yellow, pink, white, orange). Are there skin cracks, crevices, swelling, calluses, corns, sores, flaking? Where are your findings located? There are references to all of these things throughout the blog/book.
Hard skin and thickened skin patches represent places in a person’s life where extra protection is needed. Toenails will thicken up when protection is needed.
Hard cracked skin areas represent places where there are issues. An example of this is cracked heels. When you see this, you’re looking at a person with issues concerning core values. Other times it can be disease. If you see hardened skin over the thyroid area of the foot, for example, you’re probably looking at a thyroid imbalance.
The color of the feet reflects your client’s emotional and spiritual situation at the moment. White feet represent a totally stressed out person.
Red reflects anger. Sometimes, if a foot or part of a foot is red and hot, there’s a recent injury. The red heat is the blood rushing to the injury to carry off the toxins generated by the injury. This is a good thing.
Orange feet represent a person who is totally disgusted and may be experiencing a variety of emotions.
Blue and purple places on the feet represent the bruises (or may actually be the bruises) that s/he is dealing with in life.
If the total foot is not a particular color but the color is coming through in spots or places, note what these places reflex to. For example, if a person has white places on the feet in the area of the heart, you’re dealing with a client who is completely stressed out over a “love” issue.
Beyond the skin, examine the foot. Note bunions, hammertoes, flat feet, swollen feet and ankles, deformed or unhealthy nails.
Not only is it important to notice all the things on the feet and ankles, but it’s important to note where these things are.
We’ll finish the “first step” in the next post. I hope you found this helpful. Please leave your comments below and check out the other posts.
As always, this post comes to you from my Woodstock healing space.
Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
The First Step in a Reflexology Session – Part 1
Say “hello” with a welcoming smile and offer a safe, nurturing atmosphere which encourages the opportunity for deep relaxation and healing.
Use essential oils to enhance the aroma of the room. You may use a diffuser. Or, if you don’t have one, put a few drops of an oil on a rug or on the towel you are going to use on your client’s feet. You may decide to use just one oil always or to vary your oils with the client who is coming for a session. I know one reflexologist who uses two oils exclusively: Lavender for her female clients and Valor for her male clients.
As a person walks into your healing space, notice posture, ease of movement, gait, whether or not shoulders or hips match from one side to the other, etc.
Offer a place to leave the coat, parcels, umbrella, etc., and a place to sit down to remove shoes, (do not remove the socks yet).
Escort your client to your healing chair or table and help him/her get comfortable.
Verbal communication skills are important here, especially with a first visit. Nonverbal behavior is important also. If the person is from another culture, every effort should be made to know what is appropriate for him/her and respect the cultural, ethical, spiritual, and language differences.
If the person is new, introduce yourself by your full name and let the client decide how to address you. Always address the client formally until you have been given permission to do otherwise.
Find out what s/he thinks about his/her health problems.
Attitudes toward different health situations change from culture to culture and these differences will affect how you approach the Reflexology for the Spirit session.
Always respect a person’s values, beliefs, practices, and attitudes even if you don’t agree with them.
If family members come along, respect that in some cultures health is a family matter, not an individual situation.
If the person doesn’t show trust, do what you can to earn it, but don’t be surprised if it never develops.
Offer the client partner a drop or two of essential oil at this time. Sometimes it’s appropriate to anoint your client partner with 8-10 drops. There are many oils available. Offer 2-3 by showing them the label on the bottle and let the person choose the word most attractive to him/her.
That’s always the oil that’s accepted. Place a couple of drops of the chosen oil in the palm of one of your client partner’s hands. Instruct the person to rub the palms together and then breathe in the aroma. Wait a moment while s/he adjusts to the impact that the oil is having. Suggest s/he may want to rub his/her palms over the face, head, hair, halo, etc.
Sit at your client partner’s feet facing the plantar (bottom) portion of the feet and begin the healing process.
This subject will continue with the next post. I hope you found this information helpful. Please leave your comments or questions below and check out our other posts.
There were actually three collaborators on this book. Michele Garner was a major contributor to this post.
Peace and food for all
Thurman Greco
Woodstock, NY
Who Should Receive Reflexology for the Spirit?
The short answer here is almost everyone. Reflexology for the Spirit is safe for people of all ages.
Because Reflexology for the Spirit brings balance on physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels through homeostasis, it’s a wonderful tool to be used in our everyday lives.
Babies respond very well to short, gentle sessions. this is a great way to bond with your little loved ones.
Children respond well also. Sessions with children are shorter than they are for adults. (Children’s feet are much smaller.) Children are more receptive to Reflexology for the Spirit when they learn that it helps their sniffles, etc.
Women are wonderful recipients of Reflexology for the Spirit. The balancing effects of the sessions help women with their cycles and offer support in the perimenopausal years. For women, Reflexology for the Spirit is a practical wellness tool when used to help their family and friends. Many everyday health issues faced in a family can be improved with regular sessions. Reflexology also offers women the relaxation they need to get through a stressful week in their lives.
Men are especially appreciative of Reflexology for the Spirit. Many men are in professions that stress their shoulders, hands, feet, legs, etc.
Many chronic illnesses and conditions can be balanced out and minimized or eliminated through regular Reflexology for the Spirit sessions which encourage homeostasis.
Seniors love Reflexology for the Spirit because it offers improved circulation, pain relief, better sleep, etc. Reflexology for the spirit also offers something that many seniors need: the healing power of touch.
I hope you found this post helpful. Please leave your comments below and check out our other posts.
As always, this post comes to you from my healing space in scenic downtown Woodstock.
The next post explains how Reflexology works.
Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
Who Shouldn’t Receive a Session, and Why (Contraindications) Part 1 of 2
Cancer Patients
Reflexology for the Spirit is wonderful for cancer patients. It’s now offered in many hospitals throughout the country. However, patients receiving chemotherapy shouldn’t receive reflexology for 48 hours after the end of a chemotherapy session. This is for your protection. The theory is that the patient is toxic for 48 hours after receiving chemotherapy. If you decide to offer a session to a patient in less than 48 hours, please wear gloves.
Pregnant Women
Women in the first trimester of pregnancy experiencing an unstable pregnancy should not receive reflexology. Nothing is more wonderful than a reflexology session offered to a woman who is in her 7th month of pregnancy and has not seen her feet for a couple of months and still has 2 months to go. The rule is to avoid offering reflexology in the first trimester and stay on the bottom of the feet when you offer sessions thereafter. If you have any concerns, switch to Reiki therapy. Reiki therapy is wonderful for pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy.
With a regular Reiki therapy client, you can offer sessions weekly and can offer to go with your client partner into the labor and delivery stages of the birth process. Then, of course, you have two clients.
Clients with Infectious Diseases
Infectious disease and/or fever sufferers should not receive Reflexology for the Spirit for your protection. To offer a session to someone in a contagious condition, consider some options: gloves, mask, etc.
Severe Congestive Heart Failure
This is a good time to use your Reiki therapy skills.
Gangrene
Gangrene occurs when a person’s cells begin to die in a particular place when there is no circulation in a certain place in the body. Gangrene is fairly rare but can be seen in cases of advanced diabetes. This situation requires a physician’s attention.
Thanks for reading today’s post. We will conclude the Contraindication Section in the next post. If you have any questions or comments, please contact me.
This post is coming to you from my healing space in scenic downtown Woodstock.
Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
