Help through Reflexology and other
Treatments
By Barbara Rotthaler
In my daily work, many people
complain about pain in their feet and ankles and how much they hate walking on
cobblestones.
Our feet - as
the foundation of our body have a big
task – all our life they have to carry us around with our weight and they have
to be flexible and stable as well.
Our feet –
when they become stiff and painful – have an influence on the whole body, the
calf, the knee, the hips, the spine. We can not walk in a correct posture when
the feet are hurting and that by itself creates more problems.
Our feet –
are not designed for our modern world. From early childhood we put them in restrictive
shoes, and later some even in more abnormal shapes of high heel shoes. We only
walk on hard floors, concrete and asphalt and we try to avoid walking in
general. We like to find a parking spot right in front of the restaurant (and
are proud when we find one!) We tend to
use the car even for little tiny distances.
Our feet are
neglected and very often mistreated, but they are more important to our overall
health than you might consider. They must give us stability and flexibility
synergistically.
Our feet – literally
and symbolically – move us forward in life. Life is constant change, the energy
flows through our body in channels, meridians, arteries, lymphatic vessels and
veins. With the feet we are connected to the earth. By visualizing that we are absorbing
the energy from the earth into our body, we can center and harmonize ourselves.
That’s what is practiced in Qi Gong, Yoga, Meditation, Energy Medicine etc.
Treatments
Injures, falls, accidents,
sprained ankles, fractures etc. mostly happen, when we are not centered: When we are distracted, scattered and not
paying attention to where we are NOW.
Foot Reflexology
To understand the treatments for
the feet, it is good to know a little bit about the complexity of the anatomic
structure. In the past the toes could hold things like the fingers, but in the
evolutionary process some adaptations took place. Each foot has 26 bones which
are all connected to each other with joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles
with their fascias.
Treatments depend on the
cause of the pain; an acute injury requires of course a different approach than
a long lasting chronic problem. But in general it is possible to say that most
of the feet and ankle problems respond extremely well to all treatments that
are able to increase circulation, help to remove accumulation of crystalline
substances around joints and ligaments, loosening up adhesions, reduce swelling
through an increase of the lymphatic flow and strengthen the structural tissue.
Foot Reflexology combines all
of the previously mentioned requirements.
Reflexology usually lasts 45
to 60 min. and includes specific massage of the whole foot, including ankles.
Depending on the personal condition of the client, it can be done very gentle
or strong. The gentle form has an overall calming effect on the whole body. It
is harmonizing and balancing and creates an overall “good feeling”. The regular foot reflexology is done more
strongly, resulting in a deep tissue massage. Toes, arches, heels, ankles, the
whole foot is treated inch by inch with special careful attention to painful problematic areas.
Foot Baths
Foot baths are very
beneficial for all kinds of foot problems (except highly acute inflammatory
processes) when done in nicely warm (hot) water. Recommended are footbaths for 50 to 60
minutes using Epsom or Sea Salt. The alkaline water works through osmosis and
helps to balance the over acidic tissue.
Plantar fasciitis and heel
spurs respond very well to rolling the foot over a bottle filled with warm
water following the foot bath. It helps to loosen up and break down adhesions.
My favorite “tool” is a
simple tennis ball (ask tennis players, they always have some “old” ones lying
around). Put the ball on the floor and pretend you want to squeeze it with your
foot – back and forth. This is a wonderful massage for the foot.
Exercises
“Toe-Walking”. This very
specific exercise increases the flexibility 
of your toes and strengthens the
whole structure of the foot up to the calf. Without socks, stand on a tile
floor, crawling the toes inside and moving forward, like a little caterpillar.
For many, this is a very difficult task, but after a few days it works better
and better (stiffness of toes is the reason of many other structural problems).
Grabbing a towel from a
floor, walking on heels to toes or vice versa on toes to heels, walking
backwards or walking in the morning fresh grass are other wonderfully stimulating
and strengthening exercises.
Homeopathy
For those of you who are
familiar with Homeopathy the following remedies are mostly indicated for feet
problems: Arnica, Ruta, Rhus tox, Ledum, Symphytum and Calc.-fluoratum.
Orthotic devices
All the above mentioned
treatments can not replace the need for orthotic devices in cases of inherited,
congenital or other chronic structural problems. They take stress off the foot
and help to establish normal function.
Overall I wish all of you
happy feet to walk healthy and joyfully into the next year – and just
consider: walking consciously on cobblestones
can be safe and very healthy!
For more information: Barbara Rotthaler, German licensed
Holistic Practitioner and Naturopath can be reached at (376) 7661987 or by
email barbararotthaler@gmail.com www.chapalahealth.com.