Is it a Cold or the Flu?
I hear this question every year at the beginning of the flu season. So HOW DO YOU KNOW? How do you know whether it’s a cold or the flu?
Well, there are some real differences.
Fever is rare with a cold. Fever is common with the flu. It’s usually high and lasts 3 to 4 days.
Headaches are rare with cold but common with flu.
Cold sufferers may have slight aches and pains. Flu sufferers have definite aches and pains which may be severe.
Extreme fatigue and/or weakness is just not a factor with a cold. With the flu, exhaustion is common…especially at the onset of the illness.
Sore throat, stuffy nose, and sneezing are common with colds. However, with flu, these symptoms are not important.
Chest discomfort and coughs are mild with colds. A person suffering with a cold may have mild symptoms to include a hacking cough. With the flu, these symptoms can become severe.
With colds, treatment includes antihistamines, decongestants. With the flu, the patient needs to consult with a physician.
Regular Reflexology for the Spirit sessions, Reiki therapy, and chakra healing strengthen the immune system, an important tool in fighting both colds and flu.
Prevention is important. Wash your hands often and stay away from anyone with a cold. These measures also work with flu but include an annual flu shot.
Complications to a cold include sinus congestion, ear infection, and asthma. Complications to the flu can be serious. They include bronchitis and pneumonia.
Thanks for reading this blog/book.
If you are interested in purchasing my new book “A Healer’s Handbook” It is out on Amazon now. After you read it, let me know how it works for you.
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Thurman Greco
9 Things Reflexologists Don’t Do – and 5 Things we Do
Cure – Reflexologists do not cure. Instead, we promote healing, which can be a very
different thing, depending on the issue.
Patient – Reflexologists do not have patients. Physicians have patients. We have client partners. Some reflexologists have clients. But, whatever we have, we don’t have patients.
Recommend – We do not recommend. Instead, we work feet. We concentrate our energies on facilitating healing.
Advise – Reflexologists do not advise. We support our client partners in their healing path. Our work brings about homeostasis and synchronicity.
Examine – We do not examine. We read feet or hands or ears. .We notice where our findings are located. We work the feet, hands, ears, to bring about healing, homeostasis, and synchronicity.
Prescribe – We do not prescribe. That’s for physicians and other medical professionals. We rely on our hands and hearts to tell us what we find, to encourage healing, to facilitate homeostasis, to see synchronicity.
Dispense – We have nothing to dispense beyond the sessions we offer.
Diagnose – We do not diagnose. Physicians assist us in our healing efforts when they offer a diagnosis. This is important because it’s much easier to overcome a health issue if it has a name.
Administer – We do not administer anything. Instead, we read feet, offer sessions. Our noninvasive sessions have been offered to client partners for ages and ages.
Reflexology for the Spirit practitioners use our hands, brains, and hearts.
We do not need to over schedule our days to be successful. Twenty-five appointments a week is a full time practice for a Reflexology for the Spirit practitioner.
We are not wedded to advertising. Some of us don’t even have business cards. Referrals work well for us.
Because Reflexology for the Spirit works well with other modalities, many of us also practice yoga, massage, Reiki therapy, flower remedies. That means we are always growing, learning.
We honor our heritage. Reflexology for the Spirit practitioners take our traditions back many, many years:
Our history takes us far back in time with beginnings shrouded in mystery. What we do know is that early references to reflexology can be found in China, India, Japan, Egypt, Greece, North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, the Mediterranean, South American and North America.
Historians tell us that Egyptians practiced both hand and food reflexology as early as 2500 BC. If you ever travel to Egypt, please visit the burial ground at Saqqara. The Physician’s Tomb there has a famous wall painting showing two people receiving reflexology.
If you ever find yourself in Japan, be sure to visit the Medicine Teacher Temple in Nara. There you’ll find a stone carving depicting the soles of Buddha’s feet in a carving dating to 790 AD.
In India, there are paintings of Vishnu, the Hindu god’s feet with symbols corresponding to several reflexology points.
Ayurveda is an ancient Indian form of medicine becoming popular in our country. Reflexology is incorporated in Ayurvedic medicine.
Reflexology has been recorded in ancient Chinese writings describing pressure being applied to fingers and thumbs.
From this glorious history and recent twentieth century trailblazers, we now have thousands of people practicing various kinds of reflexology throughout the world.
Reflexologists the world over work in tandem with physicians as our field moves toward integrative medicine in the twenty-first century. Integrative medicine works to heal the total person: the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual.
Reflexology has endured the test of time and is modern as tomorrow in the 21st !century.
Thank you for reading this blog. It has been a long time since I’ve posted an article. I have been working full time/overtime on the new book! It’s happening!
Thurman Greco
Woodstock, New York
Progress of the Book
The book is, at last, being edited! Real book progress is being made. I hope to get it to the publisher soon. I plan to go over it one last time about mid July.
Thanks to everyone for your patience.
Please share this exciting news (for me, anyway) with your favorite media network.
Thurman Greco
Woodstock, NY
Arthritis in the Feet
THE ISSUE – Arthritis in the feet definitely addresses problems we experience as we move forward in life. Arthritis also focuses on a personality living with judgmental attitudes. Control is an issue.
PHYSICAL CAUSES – There are many, many different types of arthritis. Common risk factors include:
old age
overweight
ill-fitting shoes
traumatic injury
If your client partner wants to deal with this affliction and to know his/her specific causes, s/he needs to see a rheumatologist for a diagnosis. This is important. A diagnosis always gives the client partner more power over the health issue. Until a person has a name for the disease, it is more difficult to overcome the problems.
You also need a diagnosis because there are many different kinds of arthritis and you will treat the issue differently based on which type your client partner suffers with.
SPIRITUAL ASPECTS – Where the arthritis attacks the foot reveals much about the involved Chakras. For example, the first chakra would be affected with arthritis in the heel.
If it is in the right foot – your client partner is dealing with past issues. The left foot focuses on the present.
HEALING – The reflexology your regular sessions offer cannot be overestimated. Combine them with Reiki therapy and encourage your client partner to add a few extra reflexology spa sessions.
A person suffering with arthritis needs nurturing so that releasing the past becomes easier. Forgiving is essential with arthritis, especially arthritis in the feet.
Nurturing offered by your reflexology sessions allows your client partner to appreciate the positive things which life offers. Nurturing reflexology sessions will also help your client partner worry less about perceived limitations. This will definitely lighten the load.
In addition to your reflexology and Reiki sessions, you may want to include an occasional guided meditation focusing on changing direction in life with ease.
Thank you for reading this blog/book.
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Thurman Greco
Thank you Sangi for the beautiful art work.
A Reflexology Spa Treatment to Boost Spiritual Health
Occasionally your client partners need a bit of special attention. Life events create a need for a spiritual affirmation. A Reflexology Spa Treatment for the Spirit can be just what is needed. This session honors the part of the body beyond the bones and muscles.
Begin this session plan by selecting the essential oil you’ll use. My preferred essential oils for a Spiritual Spa Session include:
bergamot
clary sage
frankincense
galbanum
juniper
lavender
Roman chamomile
Once the oil has been selected, you’ll be guided to choose the music. the decor. When you book this Spiritual appointment, discuss and choose the oil.
Whatever oil and music you choose, make your selections both powerful and healing. Have the music playing when your client partner enters your healing space.
For this spiritual session make your client partner comfortable on your healing table and then wash his/her feet using warm, wet towels. Once your client partner’s feet are washed, wrap them in warm dry towels.
Anoint your client partner with the selected essential oil. Apply several drops of the chosen oil to both your client partner’s hands. Encourage your client partner to rub his/her palms together and then wipe them over the face, head, halo, aura.
Move to your client partner’s head and bring in Reiki. Offer three Reiki holds to the head.
Now, move to your client partner’s feet. Anoint your client partner’s feet with a lotion to which you’ve added a small amount of the selected essential oil.
Now, offer five minutes of delicious warm ups to your client partner’s first foot. While you do this, leave the other foot wrapped in the warm towel.
Follow this with twenty minutes of specific reflexology offered to reflex points chosen to encourage spiritual therapy. Work the reflex points in the following order:
1. solar plexus
2. pituitary gland
3. pineal gland
4. thymus
5. adrenal glands
6. ovary/ testicle
7. heart
8. spine
9. intestines
10. Chakras
11. Now, finish this part of the session by returning to the solar plexus and liver.
Offer five minutes of warm downs as you complete the work on the first foot.
Now, cover the first foot with the warm towel and move to the other foot where you will offer five minutes of warm ups, and twenty minutes of spiritual focus on the second food.
Now, offer five minutes of gentle warm downs on the second foot as you complete the reflexology part of this session.
It is now time to offer three Reiki therapy holds to both feet and then close the Reiki part of the session.
This has been a deep session. Your client partner needs a few moments to return to “now”. Gently cover both feet with warm towels, leave him/her alone for a moment as you prepare a glass of water and offer it to your client partner.
Quietly visit with your client partner as you end the session. This may take a few extra moments for your client partner prepares to return to “now”.
Thank you for practicing reflexology and thank you for offering this spa session to your client partners.
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Thurman Greco
Art work created by Jennette Nearhood.
Reflexology to Boost Your Client Partner’s Heart Health
A staple Spa Treatment in your “tool kit” is the heart health session because both life quality and quantity depend on a strong and healthy heart for oxygen and nutrients.
Heart disease looms large in health issues. Heart disease is one of the five biggest killers in our nation. And, it doesn’t spring up overnight. Instead, it lurks silently in the background for years, decades, before it strikes.
Your client partners will understand how important a Reflexology Heart Health Spa Treatment is. I recommend regularly scheduled Heart Health Spa Treatments in conjunction with exercise. Think of this session as a monthly exercise booster.
This Spa Treatment is also good as a special throughout February. It can also be used as part of the bride’s spa day activity on her wedding day.
As always, have the healing space specially prepared with this session. Have an essential oil selected. Recommended essential oils for a Heart Health Spa Treatment include:
peppermint
rosemary
tangerine
thyme
ylang ylang
If your client partner is not happy with one of these oils, choose something compatible with his/her personality. Whichever oil you choose will guide you to the music, the decor.
Have your music selection playing when s/he arrives for the appointment.
Begin this session with a soothing foot bath if you possibly can. Soak your client partner’s feet in warm essential oil enhanced water for a few minutes before you begin to offer reflexology.
After your client partner spends a few minutes in a relaxing and soothing foot bath, have him/her move to your healing table or chair where you anoint him/her with your selected essential oil and wrap both feet in warmed towels.
Move to your client’s head and bring in Reiki therapy as you offer three holds to the head.
Now move down to your client partner’s feet where you offer five minutes of warm ups on the first foot. Using a good lotion which is scented with the chosen essential oil can be important here.
After offering the warm ups, offer five minutes of general reflexology. Your client partner is now ready to receive the Heart Healthy Reflexology Spa Session.
Work the following reflexes on the first foot for twenty minutes in the following order.
1. Work the Solar Plexus and the Liver
2. Work the brain reflex.
3. Work the lung reflexes.
4. Work the heart reflex.
5. Work the adrenal glands.
6. Return to the solar plexus and liver again.
After working these reflex points for twenty minutes on the first foot, offer five more minutes of general reflexology on this foot and finish up with five minutes of warm downs.
Now, move to the second food and repeat the process. This means you’ll offer five minutes of warm ups, five minutes of general reflexology and twenty minutes working the reflex points on the second foot.
You’ll be working the
solar plexus and liver
brain reflexes
lung reflexes
heart reflexes
adrenal glands
solar plexus and liver
Finally, offer five minutes of general reflexology and then five minutes of warm down.
When this is completed, offer your client partner ten minutes of Reiki therapy on the feet. Now…seal the Reiki therapy part of the session.
Let your client rest for a moment while you get a bottle of water for him/her.
Spend a few minutes with your client partner while s/he drinks the water and returns to “now”.
Thank you for reading this blog/book.
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Thanks again for your patience while I finish the editing part of the book.
Media was created by Jennette Nearhood.
Thurman Greco
Spa Treatments for Your Reflexology Practice
Everyone needs pampering. Never miss an opportunity to lavish attention and special healing on your clients. Birthdays, anniversaries, the arrival of Spring. This blog post begins a series of articles offering ways to pamper and heal your client partners.
These spa treatments will not only offer attention, healing, and variety to your practice. They can also bring in new clients if you market gift certificates as well.
They will also offer a new service to your clients.
Spa treatments have four elements:
1. ENVIRONMENT – It’s important to change the healing space environment in some way so that clients will feel like they are in a different energy environment. This can be as simple as adding a small arrangement of fresh flowers or a ceremonial throw for your healing table or chair. Or, it can be as elaborate as painting the walls, adding special furniture and accents.
2. WATER – is a basic element in spa treatments. This is easier than you might think. A foot bath is all that’s necessary. If that doesn’t resonate with you, a couple of small towels, wrung out with scented water and heated in the microwave for a couple of moments can offer warmth and caring to a special client partner’s feet. A cup of tea at the end of the session or a glass of sparkling mineral water is always popular.
3. MUSIC – Coordinate the music with the theme with the session focus with the essential oils.
4. ESSENTIAL OILS – Select oils which support the session.
When you decide to expand your healing services to include spa treatments, you’re going to need several things:
1. You need a plan. Depending upon your situation, you can offer spa treatments one week a month and transform the whole place or a short period of time. Another option is to have a periodic spa day at your healing space. A final option is to offer a menu of spa sessions which can be incorporated into your day at your client partner’s request.
2. Design each spa session with a focused theme.
3. After each of these sessions, remember to add a few extra minutes for your client partner to return to “now”.
Thank you for reading this blog/book. The next several posts will feature spa reflexology sessions incorporating Reiki therapy, music, essential oils, water treatments. Each one will be different. Hopefully these suggestions will inspire you to create your own unique spa sessions.
Thank you for reading this blog/book.
Please share this article with your preferred social media network. Share this with your practitioner friends also.
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Artwork provided by Jennette Nearhood.
Thurman Greco
Putting it all together – The Chakra System, Reflexology for the Spirit, and Reiki Therapy
Chakras work together. If one is unbalanced, the entire system is affected. The Chakras communicate with one another as their energy moves up and down the spine from Chakra to Chakra.
When this Chakra System is open and functioning well, the human body is in a positive, stress-free, alert state. When the energy traveling from one Chakra to another is not balanced, the body is stressed. Even though the imbalance may be limited to only 1 Chakra, the system will be affected.
Humans use several ways of communicating with ourselves, other humans, and the environment around us:
the cranial brain
the nervous system
the abdominal brain
the energetic layers surrounding the physical body
Using the cranial brain, we know what is going on around us, We observe it, We form opinions, belief systems, and we communicate with others using language, both written, spoken, and body language. We use our senses:
our eyes,
ears,
skin,
nose,
intuition.
We feel pain, emotion, know when we are ill, afraid, or happy.
Our abdominal brain sends much information to the brain. There is a continual flow of information going from the digestive tract to the brain which keeps the brain informed about what is happening in the body. The abdominal brain sends more information to the brain than the brain sends to the intestinal tract. This leads me to believe that the intestinal brain is more important than we realize.
Our Chakras work together as a communication system. The Chakras communicate with:
one another,
our bodies,
those around us,
the entire universe.
So far, this book/blog is focusing on the seven major Chakras located along the spine. In reality, each person has many more Chakras, all of which work together. They also work with our cranial brain, central nervous system, and our abdominal brain to assist and guide us in our journey through life.
The interconnection created by our Chakras, our cranial brain, our nervous system, and our abdominal brain results in a beautiful spiritual consciousness which supports us in our journey through life.
Reflexologists, as you work to facilitate homeostasis in your client partners, don’t leave out the Chakras. Include this fascinating energy system as you work.
BothRreflexology for the Spirit and Reiki therapy fit into this spiritual communication system. When you offer reflexology to a client partner and you set up the session with Reiki therapy, you expand the power and scope of the healing you offer. As you reflex the feet, if you include the Chakras, you are adding even more power to what you are doing:
Reflexology for the Spirit
Reiki therapy
Chakras
You bring about homeostasis as you balance the energy systems of the body. You work to connect your client partner with all that is. Your client partner’s body, mind, and spirit are joined through the Chakras located throughout his/her body.
This is truly healing the mind, the body, and the spirit at the same time. This is Reflexology for the Spirit.
WOW!
Thank you for reading this blog/book. And…thank you for your patience as I work to finish this book.
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Thurman Greco
The Seventh Chakra and Reflexology
The seventh Chakra reflex point is on the tips of the toes. This is where we find the hair, the brain, and the central nervous system.
Seventh Chakra issues include:
living in the present
selflessness
non-attachment
IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO LEARN ABOUT SEVENTH CHAKRA ISSUES WITHOUT QUESTIONING:
How can I release cravings?
How can I open myself up to more intuitive thoughts?
How can I see the world as manifestation of the divine?
How can I manifest the divine?
What is my world like without the limitations of the body?
How can I become more aware of multi-dimensional reality?
What direction do I want my future to take?
How can I awaken my spiritual potential?
How can I achieve success in all parts of my life?
As a person seeks wholeness and enlightenment, the Chakras build on one another to allow the flow of universal energy. Blockages in 1 or more of the Chakras make this flow difficult to impossible. A seventh Chakra issue is the (in)ability to be non-attached.
When non-attachment cannot happen, the person gets stuck in a belief system which may not work. Then, that person finds him/herself putting a lot of energy into justifying the dysfunctional system. The lesson is to learn to move on to thoughts and beliefs which work. This allows universal consciousness to grow and mature.
Symptoms of an unbalanced seventh Chakra include
chronic migraine headaches
drug abuse
spiritual extremism
denying the body some of its basic needs
compulsive behavior
rigid beliefs.
A balanced seventh Chakra combines all the senses as they work to create a connection to the infinite.
Reflexology for the Spirit sessions offer homeostasis which is the balance of all body systems. This is extremely important for the spiritual growth experienced in the seventh Chakra.
Reiki therapy sessions balance the Chakras.
Meditation helps keep the seventh Chakra balanced. Regular meditation on the senses is important. It is also helpful to meditate on the different colors of the Chakras.
When you work with your client partner’s seventh Chakra, you help him/her find enlightenment. A balanced seventh Chakra becomes a ladder to awareness of divine consciousness.
Thank you for reading this blog/book. I am now accepting reflexology students. Please email reflexologyforthespirit@gmail.com for information. Thanks.
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Thurman Greco
The Sixth Chakra and Reflexology
The sixth Chakra reflex point is located on the lower parts of the toe pads. This is where the pituitary gland, eyes, and ears are located.
Sixth Chakra issues include
insight/denial
intuition
illusion/delusion
trust
visualization
psychic abilities
IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO LEARN ABOUT SIXTH CHAKRA ISSUES WITHOUT QUESTIONING.
Am I able to see the bigger picture?
Can I see when my ego is in charge?
How can my life be better?
Can I make this happen?
Can I set aside time for self-reflection?
Do I know myself?
Am I blocking my creative ideas?
Are those around me blocking my creative thoughts?
Am I holding onto emotions which I should be releasing?
Am I gaining insight into myself?
Am I working to increase intuition?
Does my heart agree with my mind?
Am I working to make life better?
Can I see the “bigger picture”?
Am I able to encourage intuitive dreams?
Am I able to encourage and manifest realities from visions?
Tuning into the conscious and subconscious mind is a sixth Chakra issue. There is a balance which needs to be achieved. At one end of the line, we have a person whose mind functions on the rational level only. When this happens, the person has difficulty visualizing things mentally and subtle communication is difficult to understand. This person also has trouble seeing opportunities offered by dreams or intuitive thoughts. The other end of the line is a person who lives in a fantasy and may be delusional. When the sixth Chakra is is healthy, the person is able to balance the rational and the intuitive.
A balanced sixth Chakra is in tune with our senses as well as both the conscious and subconscious mind. The sixth Chakra is then able to regulate the energy channels of the other Chakras.
As with the other Chakras, Reflexology for the Spirit Sessions offer homeostasis which balance all of the body systems.
Reiki therapy sessions balance the Chakras. People with 6th Chakra issues respond positively to distant healing Reiki therapy sessions.
To help balance your sixth Chakra, take time to meditate on the ocean. As you do this, you will be able to calm an overactive mind. This encourages
peace
perception
understanding
concentration.
It will also encourage insight. As people gain insight into themselves, they invite spiritual growth and development.
It’s easy to tell how centered the 6th Chakra is by observing a person’s eyes and ears. Sight and hearing issues are related to 6th Chakra imbalances. Other issues related to 6th Chakra imbalances include
insomnia and other sleep problems
frequent nightmares
feelings of despair
depression
When you work with your client partner’s 6th Chakra, you offer the opporunity to help him/her clear out past issues and problems to make way for the new life which is waiting.
Thank you for reading this blog. I am now accepting new reflexology students. Please email reflexologyforthespirit@gmail.com for information.
The posts in this blog are being published less frequently for the next few weeks as I work to finish the reflexology book. This book is a resource guide for reflexologists.
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Thurman Greco
