Reflexology and the (Underappreciated) Urinary System

The Urinary System, Illnesses and How They Can be Prevented,Supported or Managed When it comes to illnesses and how they affect the systems of the body, most people don't think of the urinary system first. Despite this, the urinary system happens to be one of the most important systems of the body - helping to get rid of some potentially toxic waste that may cause us harm. It's no surprise that the urinary system is a factor in ones wellness too. One of the most important things the urinary system does is - it filters our blood and gets rid of it's waste. The urinary system, on the surface may seem simple. It involves only a few main parts: the bladder, the kidney and the ureter. But, these organs perform some vital and complex functions. Each kidney has over 1 million tubules which are known as nephrons. These nephron tubes are the basic unit of the kidneys and they work by helping to filter the impurities andpotentially harmful stuff in your body. Wow - did you know that if you connected them from end to end, they would stretch for as much as 50 miles (80 km). Kidneys do a lot of other things as well:- they're responsible for making a hormone which tells the body when to make more red blood cells. - they also help the body produce active Vitamin D which, in turn, helps the rest of the body especially the bones absorb the calcium from ingested foods which helps in sustaining a strong skeletal system. - and, they also help in regulating the of amount of fluid in your body on a daily basis. Between 7 to 8 litres of blood - all the blood in the human body - gets filtered through the kidneys about 19 times every day! The waste that leaves the kidneys is urine and it moves through a set of tubes called 'ureters' that carry it to the bladder. The bladder, which is also part of the urinary system, holds the urine until it's ready to be passed out to the exterior. Now, a number of different conditions may affect these important parts of the urinary system. In turn, these conditions can affect quality of life, create discomfort or even worse - affect other areas of your body or worsen an existing condition. One discomforting condition is having kidney stones. Kidney stones are formations that occur when minerals aggregate together. Kidney stones tend to be as large as pebbles on the average but they can reach dangerous sizes. Some have been reported to be as large as grapefruit and the record weight of a single kidney is 1.5 kg (almost3 lbs). Kidney stones are 4 times more likely to occur with men than women and the pain that they cause is excruciating. They can also block the urinary tract and cause some very serious problems which may include any of the following: sudden and severe pain in the back, groin, side, abdomen, or genitals; nausea; vomiting; fevers; chills; profuse sweating; or blood in the urine. Bladder infections are another serious condition which may affect the urinary system. They're caused by bacteria entering the urinary tract and they can make the urine smell foul and pus and blood may also come out with the urine. Pain in the pubic region is also a common trait of the condition as well as difficulty in urinating or painwhen doing so. Seeking medical attention is the first course of action to take. Supportive approaches have to do with eating right, avoiding alcohol and tobacco and doing exercises. Dehydration has been linked to the formation of kidney stones - another great reason to drink water. (The recommended amount of water is at least eight glasses of water a day, but that can vary from person to person.) In terms of food, a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits are usually recommended - whole grains and green vegetables especially; vegetables and legumes are rich in potassium as well as citrus fruits. Whether fact or fiction, cranberry juice is largely believed to have some remedial effect on bladder infections as it tends to produce an acid which eliminates the presence of bacteria that leads to bladder infections. However it isusually recommended that the cranberry juice taken should be the version that is 100% pure, the ones with sugar (or mixed sweet juices) could aggravate and not help that much. Regular exercise can be a good deterrent to the formation of kidney stones. This is because the calcium which may cause the stones can be absorbed into the bones instead of accumulating to create kidney stones. About 30 minutes of exercise, 3 times a week, is usually recommended). Don't forget that it's also necessary to drink enough water after exercise in order to prevent dehydration - otherwise you may nullify the aim of the exercise in the first place. So how does reflexology factor into all of this? I'll often notice the "kidney reflex" as an area with a distinct change in tissue texture. Does mean that there are kidney problems? As a reflexologist in the US, it's not legal for me to diagnose, prescribe or treat. So, I just can't say for sure. But as a reflexologist I know that the inner workings of the body and all its systems can be expressed close to or on the surface. I will definitely detail the area in question as well as other organ reflexes in that particular system. And, I don't need to be right or diagnostic in order to offer the finest stress relief and support for my client and whatever their health challenges might be. I'd be taking the same actions, regardless. So now, let's look at the urinary system reflexes: the kidney reflexes - located on the plantar aspect, around the bases of the second metatarsal bones; the ureter reflexes - a thin line diagonally crossing the medial cuneiform towards the navicular bone, plantar aspect, medial side; the bladder reflex - located on the medial side and anterior aspects of the calcaneus. I detail each of these reflexes every time I feel a tissue texture change in any of the urinary system reflex areas and I'll also include the endocrine system for an all-systems balancing support (especially the adrenals due to associated stress and proximity). I also understand that there is a foot here. Given that - there will be a physiological reason for the changes in tissue texture that I might observe, in this case, located near the center of the foot. I also know that the digital flexor tendons converge in this area and there may be a structural or anatomical cause that would certainly influence this change in the tissue texture. But, that's the domain of a podiatrist or, if muscular in origin, a massage therapist, and if warranted, I'll refer my client to one of them. As a reflexologist, my interest is less about the foot and more about the whole body, and all the organ systems. How do I support the whole body with my fabulous reflexology techniques? That's a no brainer. Inherent in its techniques, reflexology can offer the very best in stress reduction, along with support for the natural homeostatic processes and it even supports circulation! An added BONUS is that these changes in tissue texture, i.e., in the area of the urinary system reflexes, are a perfect reason for bringing my skills of detailing to the area and also, an excuse for me to ask my client "how much water do you drink in a day?" This is a wonderful entry for talking to my clients about the benefits of drinking appropriate amounts of water. Here's something else to think about. Did you know that directly telling someone to drink water could constitute prescribing? Don't laugh, someone actually got into trouble over this. As silly as this may seem, we need to be careful to not prescribe.So, I usually say, "I drink water after every reflexology session" or "would you like a glass of water?" This gets the job done and the information remains anecdotal. The client can choose their action as theysee fit.

Reflexology, Stress & the Immune System

This could be an article on any health paradigm - wellness or disease. That's because the immune (a.k.a. the lymphatic) system is the first line of defense for all that ails us and keeps us well.

Understanding the Immune System, Chronic Conditions and How to Manage Them

The immune system is responsible for protecting the body from external influences, removing metabolic wastes and facilitating the ebb and flow of interstitial fluids. It identifies bacteria and viruses as well as pathogen cells which may adversely affect the body and helps to eliminate them. If the body is a garden, then the immune system is the fence and the gate which protects this garden from intruders.

Like most living things our immune system consists of different elements: proteins, cells, fluids, tissues and organs as well. All of these combine together to function as a system with the singular purpose: keeping the body safe from potential harm. Parts of the body involved include the spleen, the bone marrow, the lymph nodes and T-cells (which mature in the thymus) all which perform very important functions.

Our immune systems evolve as we age in order for the body to adapt and combat new pathogens. A healthy immune system is the foundation for health in an individual. And, we all know that stress plays a part in our immune function and therefore reducing stress may accelerate the process with which the immune system can function to our benefit.

Any disorder in the immune system is a concern. Disease can be particularly harmful in affecting the body when the immune system is at a less than optimal level. A number of chronic conditions affect people with a weakened immune system too. Some immunodeficiency diseases may result when the body reacts to pharmaceuticals, an infection or even as a result of a genetic disease.On the other hand, when the immune system performs hyper actively, it tends to attack otherwise healthy tissues as if they were pathogens or foreign organisms. In this case we have diseases of the immune system which may result and which is known as autoimmune disease including rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus type 1 and lupus erythematosus. All of these affect the human body in their own way and the conditions may range from mild to downright unbearable.

Any condition that affects the human immune system will undoubtedly leave a person weak and sometimes painful to a debilitating degree. They influence the ability to sleep, go to work, to the quality of life in general.

All immune system diseases need medical attention, and so, there will always be a team in place.

Diet and exercise can help alleviate some of the symptoms of the chronic conditions. Of course I add reflexology to the help menu because when stress is reduced, everything in the body not only functions better but, has a better chance for rejuvenation (or a return to homeostasis).In the case of painful condition like arthritis, exercise or range of motion techniques may not seem like the thing to do but in moderation, doctors have suggested that exercise with such conditions has immense benefits. Other benefits include increasing bone and muscle strength and increasing energy levels. Exercises like walking, yoga, tai chi, (cycling and jogging which are more advanced) should be done with doctor supervision.

And, people should remember to be consistent with their complementary health protocols such as moderate exercises and refrain from overdoing anything. Remember as with any advanced disease stages a person must get their doctors permission before embarking on any complementary health routines including exercise and/or reflexology. It's also best to exercise when the pain level is at its lowest. It's a good thing to build up gradually and not to overwhelm you by trying to do too much, too soon.

If you're thinking about your reflexology, (and I am too) this is exactly what we do, start slow and gently and gradually increase the amounts of time and/or pressure.

Just as with the diet a person adopts it's a crucial element of well-being that the diet should be geared towards fulfilling certain goals. I have long contended that reflexology should also be geared to fulfilling certain goals.

So what does that mean for reflexologists?

One of the most powerful things we do in our reflexology is to connect to the fluid tides. Not in the way that massage does. No, in a more subtle "conversational" way through the touch that is inherent in our reflexology.

Now, let's go deeper. I'm talking about the touch that is gentle, compassionate, touch that is about the focus, the concentration, the listening and being non-invasive. What I've just described here - our reflexology alternating thumb and finger walking pressure. The tiny incremental "bites" as we inch along, stopping to notice even the most minute changes in tissue texture.

That's the touch I'm talking about.

But there's something more, something greater than the sum of all our concentration and safe, compassionate touch.

There's a symphony of movement beneath our thumbs, there are rivers and streams, canals and tributaries all moving in their rhythms, their orchestrated ebbs and flows.

The fluid that is moving there, beneath our thumb and finger tips is busy helping the body by transporting and removing metabolic excess, waste, fluids, lymphocytes, pathogens... the list of events goes on.

And we're talking in a perfect world here. What if things get sluggish? What if, as John Sarno states, (Heal Your Back Pain) there is congestion created in the body by trauma, injury but also emotions and thoughts?

What's a body to do?

You know I'm going to say Reflexology...

And, as a reflexologist, you also know this is what we'll focus on - the lymphatic system reflexes: the groin lymph reflexes - located around the ankle bones, anterior aspect; the axillary lymph reflexes - located between the webs of the toes, dorsal aspect; the spleen (largest lymphoid in the body) reflex - located midway between the lengths of the 4th & 5th metatarsal shafts, plantar aspect; and the thyroid reflex - located at the heads of the 1st metatarsals, medial aspect.

I detail these reflexes at least once in every session.

Okay, you know that. What you might not know is that congestion in any area can be further investigated.

How?

By listening to the bones - in reflexology, I call it "Foot Whispering".

If the bones are hard and tight, (every bone has its own range of motion) then there is a pull in the connective tissue somewhere. That pull is impeding the structure elsewhere to move in it's natural flow or it's homeostatic rhythm.

These pulls or adhesions can poorly influence the fluid tides of the body. And, a possible byproduct is "congestion".

Now all this is happening on the most subtle of layers and I would never try to manually effect any change to any of these body structures. This is the job of a medical professional.

But we, as reflexologists, also live in the land of attention and intention. Many would say that's the most powerful place to be.

So for your next client session, and the next one and the next one, bring your attention to the level of the bones. It's the deepest, densest layer of the body that everything else floats on.

Put your ear to the ground and listen.

Be attentive, truly listen.Hear the whispers and you'll be amazed at the power of the shifts that will occur.

© Wendy I Coad

Online health and reflexology expert Wendy I. Coad, the "Reflexology Professor" publishes the popular "Reflexology Secrets, Tips and Techniques" monthly email newsletter to subscribers from around the world. If you're ready to enjoy health, express creativity, gain knowledge and skyrocket you reflexology or holistic health career, get your FREE tips now at http://www.reflexologyprof.com and join us at the top right corner.