Stress is a part of our everyday lives but it is how we respond to stress that determines whether we become ill.
Hans Selye, a physician and endocrinologist described the three stages of stress as Alarm, Resistance and Exhaustion.
In the Alarm stage, our body recognises the threat and goes into a state of alarm, known as the ‘flight or fight’ response. Adrenaline is produced along with some cortisone.
The second stage is Resistance where our body tries to adapt to the stress. This cannot be kept up indefinitely and eventually our resources become depleted.
The third stage is Exhaustion where the stress has continued for too long. If this stage is not resolved, long term damage may result as the adrenal glands and the immune system becomes exhausted.
As mentioned, the Body’s normal response to Stress is to release hormones from the Adrenal glands. This results in an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, the diversion of blood to the muscles and the release of glucose to the brain.
Short term, this helps us to deal with the Stress but if it continues, it leads to illnesses such as Hypertension, Heart Disease, Stroke, Digestive problems, Diabetes, Asthma, High Cholesterol, Lowered Immune Function and Chronic Fatigue.
Signs of Stress are:
Frequent colds and viruses
Always feeling tired
Reflexology helps to balance your hormones and stabilise the body’s response to Stress.
Anxiety occurs when the alarm stage continues. The initial threat has passed but the stress is ongoing. This will lead to constant anxiety or overreaction to an event and depression and lack of motivation may occur.
Reflexology is deeply relaxing and removes tension in the body and the mind.
The adrenal glands are known as ‘the glands of stress’ and as mentioned earlier, help our body cope with stress and survive. Our energy, resilience and our very life depend on their proper functioning. How well you live will depend on how well your adrenal glands are working!
Adrenal fatigue occurs when the adrenal glands no longer secrete the correct amount of hormones. This is usually due to some form of stress, which may be physical, emotional or psychological.
We all have stress in our lives. It may be work related, due to an unhappy relationship or a poor diet, a nasty infection or as a result of a major loss in our lives. After each stress the adrenal glands usually recover but if one episode of stress is followed by another and another and the stress becomes chronic, our adrenals don’t have a chance to recover.
A combined approach is needed to help the adrenal glands recover and Reflexology plays an important part in this.
It will help to relax you, relieve the stress and tension and will help balance your whole hormonal system.
Worry, fear, negative thinking and holding resentments will all place added burden on the adrenals. Theta healing will help to look at any negative beliefs so that they can be examined and released.
Disorders of the Immune System
Disorders of the Immune System such as Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Asthma, and even frequent colds and infections respond well to Facial Reflexology.
Using a combination of Vietnamese and Andean tribal body maps, Chinese energy meridians and modern anatomy of the Nervous system, the cause as well as the symptoms of disease are treated.
Specific areas of the brain are stimulated along with the whole nervous system to improve nerve function, movement and flexibility.
Low Immune Function is addressed by working on the cells, tissues and organs that defend the body from bacteria and viruses.The Lymphatic System is treated to eliminate toxins and increase your resistance to infections.
Other organs involved in the immune process, such as the Thymus Gland and the Spleen are also stimulated to assist the immune response.