This week’s article from Lorraine Hughes of Glenina Reflexology delves into the benefits of Reflexology on the Kidneys.
Reflexology is a holistic treatment that has been around for almost 5,000 years and involves applying pressure to a number of acupressure points in the foot that reflect or correspond to parts of the body through zones of energy. It works by balancing the whole body mentally and physically and can have a positive impact on the kidneys.
I was inspired this week when I saw all the nettles and dandelions in bloom and I was reminded of their diuretic properties and it made me think of the urinary system.
The urinary system, also known as the urinary tract or renal system, is made up of the kidneys, ureter, bladder and urethra and it removes waste products, toxins, electrolytes, and excess water from the body in the form of urine. In this way it functions to balance the body’s fluids.
The kidneys help to regulate blood pressure through the release of a combination of hormones. They maintain extracellular fluid volume (ecfv) homeostasis by controlling sodium and water balance. They also control the production of red blood cells and contribute to healthy bones by activating vitamin D.
Reflexology enhances the functioning of the endocrine system and hormone regulation and this really helps the kidneys. The sequence that I’ve been using for almost 19 years at this stage, always starts with the right kidney reflex point (in the middle of the foot) when I’ve finished with the initial relaxation and warm-up techniques. It can be sensitive for some and not so sensitive for others but it’s really fascinating to see improvements over a course of treatments.
The body is composed of 75% water and 25% solid matter so to prevent illness and promote healthy kidneys it’s advised to drink up to 2 litres of water a day for women and more for men. Use a certain amount of discipline with this as its easy to forget to drink it. But remember how amazing water is in terms of helping the kidneys remove waste from the blood in the form of urine but also how it helps keep blood vessels open so that blood can travel freely to your kidneys and deliver essential nutrients to them.
To book a reflexology treatment contact Lorraine at 087 6595417 or check out www.glenina-reflexology.ie for more details and a full price-list.
