Many people don’t realize that they can cure a lot of their health problems simply by having their feet massaged. There are a number of pressure points in the feet that correspond to various parts of the body, and rubbing them in a certain way will help to ease other symptoms throughout the body.
This is known as the science of foot reflexology, and it is being used by people all over the world to treat a variety of health issues. Here are a few of the benefits you’ll receive when you try reflexology to boost your own health.
1. You’ll enjoy some much-needed relaxation
Foot reflexology helps patients to relax, and it is good for fighting stress. Just think about how relaxing a nice foot massage feels after a long, hard day at work, especially if you have been working on your feet all day.
A foot massage is going to release blockages in your system, and help reignite your energy so you no longer feel stressed or fatigued. It only takes 5-10 minutes to get an awesome foot massage, and using warm oil will help to boost the effects of the massage. You can easily make your own massage oils using essential oils that can help you to relax even better.
2. You’ll get better sleep
Again, a foot rub at night is a great thing. It is going to help you relax, and it will promote a better and healthier sleep than you would normally have when you don’t have a foot massage. It will also help you get to sleep faster. You will increase blood circulation and relax your nerves, which, again, will lead to a better sleep.
The part of the foot that should be massaged to promote better sleep is near the large plantar pad of the big toe. Each of the big toes should be massaged for a minimum of one minute, followed by massaging the bottoms of the feet for an additional 10 minutes.
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3. You’ll get rid of aches and pains
There are a number of aches and pains that can easily be treated with foot reflexology. It can even help to treat gout, which is an extremely painful form of arthritis, as well as headaches, migraines, neck pain, and back pain.
Massaging the toes and the toe joints will help to ease neck pain, and you only need to do it for five minutes. Massaging your ankle can get rid of pain and swelling in the ankle, while also combatting headaches and migraines. Rubbing the outer ankle bone and the Achilles tendon will help to relive lower back pain and thigh pain, and massaging the arch will help to relieve upper back pain.
Again, there are many massage oils that you can make yourself, and loads of essential oils that can help to ease a lot of your aches and pains.
4. You’ll improve your circulation and have more energy
If you work at a job where you sit all day, it is going to affect your blood circulation. It is also going to drain your energy, even though you are not exerting a lot of physical energy. Even wearing the wrong shoes can affect the blood circulation in your feet, but you can improve it with just 10 minutes of foot massage every day. This will carry oxygen to the cells in your body, which will improve your overall health and give you more energy. Of course, you should also be wearing shoes that are comfortable and not too constricting. A foot massage will not only give you better circulation and more energy, it will also help to keep you from getting varicose veins.
Featured photo credit: Khánh Hmoong via flickr.com
