Reflexology Blog: Is It a Cold or the Flu?
We’ve all had this happen to us: We wake up one morning with nasal congestion, sneezing, runny eyes, muscle aches, coughing, maybe even fever.
The first thought is this: “Am I coming down with the flu or a common cold?
There are differences.
FEVER AND HEADACHE are rare in colds. Headaches, on the other hand, are common in flu as well as a high fever which can last 3 to 4 days.
ACHES AND PAINS are only slight or mild in colds. Flu creates severe aches and pains.
FATIGUE: Colds make people tired sometimes. Flu, however, makes people tired for up to 2 to 3 weeks.
EXHAUSTION: Colds are never exhausting. Flu is usually extremely exhausting.
STUFFY NOSES, SNEEZING, and SORE THROATS are common in colds. They’re fairly rare in flu.
The list you just read is somewhat complicated. Especially if you just woke up and are trying to figure out which “side of the aisle” you belong on. Would you like to ask yourself one question and make everything easy?
Well, here is the question:
“Do I feel so bad I can’t get out of bed”? If the answer to that question is “yes”…
YOU PROBABLY HAVE THE FLU
“Do I feel so bad I can’t get out of bed”? If the answer to that question is “no”…
YOU PROBABLY HAVE A COMMON COLD
So, now what do I need to do?
If you have a cold, stick with antihistamines, decongestants, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories.
With the flu, you may want to see your doctor.
How could you have prevented this thing in the first place? There are several things you can do to prevent a common cold and the flu – wash your hands often, stay away from those who are sick, and take your annual flu shot.
With a cold, you want to get rest so that you avoid the complications of a sinus congestion, a middle ear infection, and asthma. Don’t forget to call your reflexologist and schedule an appointment.
With flu, you want to get rest so that you avoid the complications of bronchitis or pneumonia.
SYSTEMS TO WORK WHEN ADDRESSING THE COMMON COLD:
Work the immune system. Then go to the pituitary gland reflexes, the sinus reflexes, the ear reflexes, the lung reflexes, and adrenal gland reflexes. Finish the session by working the lymphatics.
Thanks for reading this post. Hope you’ll find it’s helpful.
Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
Woodstock, NY
67 Foods That Love to Support Your Immune System and 4 Improvements You Can Expect from Foot Reflexology Sessions Focusing on the Immune System
apples, apricots, asparagus, bananas, beans, beets, black tea, blackberries, blueberries, bok choy, Brazil nuts, broccoli, brown rice, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cherries, chicken, chicken soup, chickpeas, chives, chocolate, coconut, collard greens, cranberries, cranberry juice, curry, dry roasted soybeans, goji berries, edamame, eggs, fermented foods, fish, garlic, ginger, grapefruit, grapes, potatoes, prunes, pumpkin seeds, radishes, raspberries, salmon, sauerkraut, sardines, shallots, shrimp, soy milk, soy sauce, spinach, squash, strawberries, sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, tofu, tomatoes, turnips, walnuts, water, water, water, watercress, watermelon, yogurt.
Four improvements to be expected from sessions to the immune system include the following:
The body can build up its defense system to prevent disease.
Focused sessions can shorten the time needed for a person to recover from an illness.
Regular sessions will help the body to detox itself and balance its systems.
Working the lymphatics can assist the body rid itself of excess fluids and other toxins.
The next few posts will focus on specific conditions which respond to immune system work: the common cold, bladder problems , colitis
Thank you for reading this blog/book. Please contact me if you have any questions.
This post is coming to you from my healing space in downtown Woodstock.
Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
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
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
Don’t like Getting Colds, Flu? Take Care of Your Immune System. It Keeps You Well.
In the last post, we discussed the lymphatics.
The lymph glands need exercise. A good exercise for moving the lymph is to jump for a few minutes each day on a personal trampoline. A personal trampoline is inexpensive, folds flat, and fits under a bed or in a closet when not being used.
Another good way to keep the lymph moving is to receive Reflexology for the Spirit sessions regularly. When the immune system is stimulated the lymph moves.
Keep the lymphatic system moving so the body can remove the clogging waste products which make it harder to fight colds, flu, respiratory congestion, swollen lymph nodes, stiff joints, cysts, slow healing wounds, etc. Thank of a stagnant lymph system as a clogged sewer.
If the immune system is not properly maintained, and never cleaned, the body may end up with problems extending beyond colds, flu and other things. This escalation can include problems such as arthritis, autoimmune diseases, and possibly cancer.
Another major part of the immune system is the thymus. This is a small gland located in the chest cavity below the thyroid and behind the sternum. The thymus gland manufactures T-Cells which strengthen our immune system. One thing that makes the thymus interesting is that it’s a particular size when we are born and doesn’t grow much after that. So, the size of the thymus in relation to the size of our bodies decreases as our bodies grow into maturity.
Thanks for reading today’s post which comes to you from my healing space in scenic downtown Woodstock, NY.
Tomorrow we’ll continue with the immune system as we discuss the tonsils and the spleen.
If you have any questions, comments, please contact me.
Thanks again.
Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
Introducing the Immune System
We’re beginning a new section with this post. For the next few posts, we’ll be discussing the different body systems. The first system to be explored is the immune system.
The immune system is the group of organs and glands working together to protect you from colds, flu, infections, slow-healing wounds, as well as more serious diseases.
The major parts of the immune system include the lymphatics, thymus, tonsils, appendix and spleen. The thymus is actually an endocrine gland but works with the immune system.
Think of the lymphatics as the sewer system of the body. If you are to stay healthy and not have colds, flu, infections, etc., it’s important to keep the lymphatic system clean and functioning properly. The lymphatics are a system of vessels located throughout the body running parallel to the circulatory system. They collect toxic waste that seeps out of the blood vessels, control the fluid levels in body tissue, and absorb fats from the digestive system.
They drain the toxins into the lymph nodes which are located throughout the body. If you look at a map of the lymphatic system, you’ll see that there are more nodes located closer to the head and heart than lower down on the body. This leads many professionals to believe that one of the jobs of the lymphatic system is to protect the brain.
The lymph glands don’t have a pump. (The circulatory system has a pump: the heart.) As we move our bodies, we move the lymph.
In the next post, we’ll continue with the lymphatics as well as the other parts of the immune system.
As always, thanks for reading this blog/book. Please contact me if you have any questions or comments.
This post is coming to you from my healing space in Woodstock, NY.
Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
What is the Practical Application? – Part 2
As you begin the warm ups, what do you find? How cold are the feet? How easily do the ankles rotate? Ankles are important. They move us forward through life.
If you encounter stiff ankles, the person is not moving forward easily. If the feet and ankles are swollen, the person is suffering through a stressful situation.
Begin the actual session at the toes. Rotating the toes is important because this is where most of the stress is located.
When you observe hammertoes, work on them early in the session.
The solar plexus is very important. Offering rotations to the solar plexus is the single most important thing you can do for your client partner.
Work the nervous system early in the session. It’s a booster system and should always be used when you are trying to resolve a health issue. The nervous system becomes important to you as you facilitate homeostasis.
Your next step is to work the immune system. Working the immune system in conjunction with the nervous system can offer significant changes.
Follow this with attention to the digestive system including a focus on the intestinal tract. Because good health begins in the intestinal tract, work the intestinal tract as often as you can in your sessions whether or not the person has voiced complaints.
Then, work the systems you feel need attention. If you have time and don’t feel drawn to a particular system or foot area, go for the endocrine system. This is the system that is, really, the most responsive to spiritual work.
With any time remaining, give attention to the areas of discoloration, puffiness, mushiness, cold, etc.
Offer warm downs for about 5 minutes to return the client to the present. Most people receiving regular work from a Reflexology for the Spirit practitioner go into a deep state encouraging healing and homeostasis. This most often happens when the person does not engage in any conversation during the session.
There are many reactions which a client can exhibit during and after sessions. Don’t elaborate on them because a certain percentage of people will experience reactions simply because you talked about them.
Let them occur naturally…if they are going to happen.
Thank you for reading this post. This ends the section of practical application tips.
Tomorrow’s post will offer a guided meditation to use for yourself or read to someone else.
Peace and food for all
Thurman
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.
Maintaining Good Hand Health For Yourself Is Important
Holding your wrists straight is the difference between having a 2-year career as a practitioner and having a 20-year career.
If you find that you must do wrist gymnastics to offer a session, read the instructions again. Adjust the height of your stool or chair, hold the person’s foot in a different way, etc. Do whatever is necessary to protect the health of your hands.
Are you comfortable as you work? If not, you won’t provide a good session.
It’s not necessary to inflict pain in order to be a good Reflexology for the Spirit practitioner. As a matter of fact, many successful practitioners offer a light touch to their clients. You don’t want your touch to be so light that you’re tickling your client partners. But, it’s not necessary to be super heavy either.
So, what do you do if a client insists that your touch is too light and that you should “go deeper” because s/he doesn’t feel anything or because s/he received a session 30 years ago and the reflexologist offered very deep, painful work?
Don’t compromise your standards, your practice, or your thumbs. End the session. Let the person return to the reflexologist who offered the pain in the past.
There is another important reason for this: sometimes people don’t feel anything because they have insufficient, or no, feeling in their feet. This is a health issue. They need to see their primary care health professional.
Don’t get sucked into their illness. If you do, you’ll run the risk of damaging their feet as well as your hands in your effort to offer a session to a person who can’t feel much.
Thanks for reading this post. I hope you found the information helpful. Please leave a comment if you have a question or other observation.
In the next two posts, we’ll focus on the practical application for Reflexology for the Spirit.
As always, this information comes to you from my Woodstock Healing Space.
Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
The First Step in a Reflexology Session – Part 3
This is the last part of the section on greeting and assessing your client partner. In the previous post, we discussed how the different colors on the feet reflect spiritual issues in a person’s life.
As you study this blogged book further, you’ll learn that each of the things noted in the past two posts has a meaning for you not only for what the observation is but where it is found.
Notice where the feet point when your client partner is on the table. Do the feet point up? Does one foot point out to the side? Do they both point out to the side? Do they both point in the same direction? Do they point inward? Are they crossed at the ankles?
Generally, when a person walks into your healing space with the toes pointed out or inward, s/he has back problems.
On the table, if the toes are pointing outward, the person is pretty open. Some people point their toes inward, and some even cross their feet. If this is the case, the person probably has strong protection issues.
If a person comes to your table with feet that are unpleasant to look at and smell, clean them off with a warm, wet wash cloth. Feel free to spritz them with a cleansing spray.
If a person comes to your table with sweaty, smelly feet, you also have the option of offering hand or ear reflexology. Or, you can even wear gloves. Whatever you do, please remember that a person with smelly, sweaty feet is suffering terribly and is probably in a fight or flight situation of some kind because sweating feet are generally caused by the nervous system working overtime. The operative words here are anxiety, anger, nervousness, etc.
Don’t be afraid to address this situation with your client. The person needs to get a diagnosis from a primary healthcare provider. Smelly, sweaty feet often need medical attention that you as a reflexologist cannot provide. Fungus on the feet needs to be treated by a podiatrist or other professional.
However, don’t worry about a person coming to your table with unpleasant feet. For the most part, this just doesn’t happen. Most people arrive with gorgeous feet. Often, when a person has received a gift certificate, s/he will go to the nail salon before coming for the Reflexology for the Spirit session.
In our next post, we’ll discuss important information you need to know as a Reflexology for the Spirit practitioner or as a regular reflexologist, for that matter.
I hope you found these last three posts helpful. Please leave comments below if you have any questions, etc.
Thanks again for joining me on this journey.
Peace and food for all
Thurman Greco
Woodstock
