Health benefits – Jackie Marsden, Elder Cottage Clinic, Warton. 07799144606

Do you suffer from the Winter Blues?

August 26, 2015November 7, 2019 by JMReflex, posted in Depression, Health & Wellbeing, Reflexology, SAD

I always feel a little sad during August. Towards the end of this month the long summer days are noticably getting shorter and the summer holidays are drawing to a close. Businesses and shops are no longer focussing on summer products and are now looking at autumn/winter collections.

Inevitably, the autumn and winter will be soon upon us. Are you one to suffer with the winter blues? Some people suffer with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which although the actual cause is still unknown, it is thought to be a depression brought on with the shorter days, lack of daylight and darker mornings. Symptoms include low mood and lack of interest in life (1).

Lack of sunlight is suggested to cause an upset in the balance of the endocrine glands situated in the brain, and thus the production of the hormones serotonin and melatonin. Serotonin is known to influence mood, social behaviour, sleep and memory, whereas melatonin is connected to the body’s natural circadium rhythm (natural body clock), sensing the onset of darkness/night time and thus makes us sleepy at the right time.(2)

Reflexology would aim to help improve the symptoms of SAD, with a treatment plan focussing on the endocrine, digestive and nervous systems (note that serotonin is also produced in the intestines). A course of treatments would endeavour to rebalance the body, asking the body to ignite its self-healing processes, and thus improve mood and feelings of lacklustre.

Alternatively, the Lumie Bodyclock Iris 500 might be able to help. (3) An alarm clock and aromatherapy diffuser all-in-one combines light therapy with aromatherapy to gently wake you up in the morning and help you fall asleep at night. The Lumie is designed to reset your natural bodyclock and provides relief with its wonderful alternative to the usual jolting alarm clock sound.

The light source turns on gradually in the last 30 minutes of your sleep, mimicking a natural sunrise. This alongside your favourite essential oil (geranium or lemon for example) helps you ease into the day gently. The lamp can also be used in the evening to help you fall asleep, thus encouraging the natural secretion of melatonin and natural onset of sleep, alongside the appropriate essential oil, such as lavender.

The Lumie has two separate chambers for essential oils which makes it easy to switch between essential oil blends, one for night time and one to wake up to.

The Lumie is not just for people suffering with SAD, but can also be a wonderful aid for boosting energy levels, healthy sleep patterns and improved sports training. The Lumie is available from my webshop, or alternatively order with me direct via phone/email to receive £25 worth of complimentary aromatherapy oils of your choice for to get you started.

(1) http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Seasonal-affective-disorder/Pages/Introduction.aspx

(2) Ross and Wilson Anatomy and Physiology in Health and Illness 12th Edition

(3) https://uk.nyrorganic.com/shop/jackiemarsden/area/shop-online/category/burner/product/9383/lumie-bodyclock-iris-500/

Jackie Marsden MAR is a qualified reflexologist and an independent consultant for Neal’s Yard Remedies Organic. All views are my own.

What is Reflexology?

June 16, 2014November 7, 2019 by JMReflex, posted in Health & Wellbeing, Reflexology

I recently participated in a pamper evening, and it surprised me that many did not know what reflexology was! I don’t remember a time when I have ever not known what reflexology is, which upon reflection, says an awful lot! So here is a brief guide to what reflexology is, where it came from and what it aims to achieve.

Reflexology – What is it?

Reflexology is a “hand’s on” treatment which is applied to the feet (or hands) but its philosophy is to treat the whole body i.e. it takes a holistic approach to healing. It is based on the idea that the feet are mini-maps of the body, and by applying pressure techniques to particular reflex areas on the feet will have a stimulating effect elsewhere in the body.

It is a fact that there are over 7000 nerve endings in each foot, so by therapeutically stimulating these nerve endings will achieve a deep sense of relaxation. It is estimated that 75% of disease is stress-related, so regular relaxation is highly recommended.

Overall, through tension-relieving and energy releasing, a reflexology treatment aims to promote the body’s self-healing abilities.

Where did it originate?

Reflexology has been known to man for thousands of years, practised by the early Indians, Chinese and Egyptians. However, reflexology as we know it today has its origins in America with an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist Dr William Fitzgerald, who founded “Zone Therapy” in the early 1900s. He discovered that certain areas, when applied with pressure, relieved pain and created numbness, but also when the pressure was removed, the cause of the pain was largely reduced too. Once these areas had been mapped they were known as “zones”. Dr Fitzgerald’s physiotherapist, Eunice Ingham, took great interest and became a pioneer in Zone Therapy throughout the USA. Ingham then devised a map of the body within the feet and the hands, developing and evolving “Zone Therapy” into “Reflexology”. Dawn Bayly brought Reflexology to the UK in 1966 after studying with Ingham in the USA and set up the Bayly School of Reflexology. Hanne Marquardt and Joseph Corvo also discovered Ingham’s Zone Therapy and worked on and evolved variations of Zone Therapy around the same time, the latter also taking into account the pressure points in the face.

Reflexology is an holistic therapy, working on the whole body and the person, not just the symptoms of the illness or disease. It has become one of the most popular forms of complementary therapy practised today.

What can it do for me?

Reflexology may bring relief to a wide range of conditions such as stress, anxiety, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, sciatica, depression, back pain and is safe and suitable for all ages.

Reflexology offers an individual some dedicated “me time” to relax and unwind, offering deep relaxation and combating stress.

Jackie Marsden MAR is a qualified reflexologist and independent consultant (Team Leader) for Neal’s Yard Remedies Organic. Jackie leads and mentors a growing team of consultants (many of whom are therapists integrating organic products into their existing businesses) via the NYRO social selling channel, holding regular team meetings, one-to-one coaching via phone and facetime, and a closed facebook group. All views are my own.