Recently, my assistant Gail attended a workshop that focused on healing conception issues. Each day of the training, the students learned the relationship between the reproductive reflexes located in the feet, and their client's body. The reproductive system was worked through the feet: the reflex points for the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes, along with various other points, including the adrenals, kidneys, solar plexus, and lymph in the groin.

 

Below: Working the right solar plexus

 

Meridians also run through the feet that energetically support the life force of these organs and systems. Relaxation techniques were used along with the reflexology techniques, allowing for better meridian flow to all the organs involved.

 

Reflexology theory states that the body and its various conditions can be directly affected by stimulating or working the reflex points (the feet, hands or ears) that relate to the body system, and the organs that are part of the system. The intention  of reflexology is to support homeostasis. So working the points helps restore balance.For example, the woman's reproductive system consists of two ovaries (one on the left foot, one on the right), the uterus (one organ, divided in half, left and right), and the two fallopian tubes (one on the left foot, one on the right).

By using the thumb or finger to press

("thumbwalk or finger walk") over the reproductive points, the energy blocks or physical restrictions ( such as scar tissue), as well as emotional issues held in the system can be released. In this way, homeostasis is encouraged and healing is promoted.

 

 

Working the feet is especially relaxing for the client because there are so many nerves located in the feet that connect to the organs and systems. Who doesn't like having their feet touched? With over 7,200 nerves located in the feet, it's hard to imagine that anyone would not melt with touch to the feet. Relaxation and healing are all in one package, the added benefit of addressing the issues while reflexing the feet.

 

Yet there are people who have a hard time letting touch in. The feet can be the stress holders for a person. They are often the one place where the person can acknowledge that they are in pain or holding stress. If you ask them where in their body they are holding stress or pain, they will often tell you: "my dogs (feet) are killing me"!!  And yet their restricted shoulder, tight neck or lower back pain is all but ignored.

When I work the feet in this case, the client will have a great deal of tenderness in particular areas of the feet without knowing that these tender parts relate to the shoulder, the cervical vertabra, or lumbar sacral joint in the lower back.

By soaking the feet first and then using light touch on the most tender areas, the person relaxes.They oftentimes sleep their way through a session as stress levels are lowered. The relaxation they experience promotes internal rebalancing and homeostasis is restored with the reflexology.

 

 

Above:

 

 

 

Conception Issues can be very emotionally charged for both partners.The woman often faces difficult procedures and hormone therapy to encourage fertilization.

And lets face it, sometimes sex is not fun when the pressure is on to conceive. Stress levels run very high, so the whole experience can be very draining on many levels.

I recommend reflexology to both partners. They share this journey and have many of the same issues. Relaxation is key to the flow of love, the bonding necessary to become parents as well as life partners.

 

 

Reflexology addresses the whole person. "Holistic" is the term used to indicate that the whole person, with the complexity of issues involved, is supported to come into balance and heal.

In the case of infertility, not only are the physical issues (scar tissue from surgeries or ruptured ovary, low sperm count, etc.) addressed with stimulation to the reproductive points, but the other aspects are addressed as well. The emotional body can hold the feelings of loss, lack, want or grief. The mental body holds the thoughts, beliefs and concepts (not necessarily the truths) about ourselves and others. Our spirits can be low as we struggle with the issues. These multidimensional aspects of self are just as deeply affected by the journey as the physical, and are certainly not separate from us as physical beings.

 

I often find that as a person relaxes and begins to integrate, the breath deepens, the body lets go of tension. Perhaps a few tears will flow as the emotional pressure valve is released.This is when insights, those aha! moments, can occur. These moments can happen during the session or within a few days after the treatment. Integration can now happen.

 

 

My intention is to support my clients to integrate body, mind and spirit. And as this is accomplished over one or a few sessions, peace, acceptance and the true joy of life returns.

 

   Below: Working the left ovary or testicle

 

We walk the path of our life on our feet. Without them, our journey would be very different. Loving the feet through healing touch, encourages relaxation, prevents disease and unblocks stuck energy. We can choose to bring back joy in the moment, a sense of balance and harmony to our lives. No matter what the journey brings us to.

 

As the native Americans say:

 

And with reflexology to support us, there will be balance and harmony with all aspects of our lives.

 

Eileen Donovan, LMT,  is a master level practitioner and instructor of various healing arts modalities. She is ARCB certified and teaches a 3-level certification training in reflexology at massage schools and institutions of higher learning. She  bringing her love of feet and healing the body to her students and clients.