Difference between revisions of "Use Reflexology to Relieve Chest Pain"

Reflexology is the application of pressure to areas on the feet, hands, or ears in order to relive stress or ease pain in other areas of the body. Though no studies have proven the underlying theory of reflexology – that pathways of energy called meridians link all body parts to the feet, hand, and ears<ref name="rf1">http://www.slideshare.net/GeorgeLove1/ear-reflexology-selfmassage</ref> – there are clinical studies that show it may reduce pain,<ref name="rf2">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3208928/</ref><ref name="rf3">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3208937/</ref> alleviate anxiety and stress, ease labored breathing, and improve overall physical functioning.<ref name="rf4">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3576031/</ref> Chest pain, in particular, may be relieved by reducing stress or targeting particular problem areas that cause it, such as digestive problems, lung issues, or panic attacks and depression.

[[Category: Health]]

#Start by massaging your entire foot. It can be difficult to determine the precise origin of chest pain, which can stem from stress, lung problems, digestion issues, or heart problems.<ref name="rf5">http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/chestpain.html</ref> It is therefore best to start by massaging your entire foot, and then focusing in on areas you think might be to blame. This sort of general massage has been shown to have a positive therapeutic effect.<ref name="rf6">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25172313</ref>

#Loosen up your foot. Hold the foot and gently rotate it at the ankle. Then rub all over your foot with both hands. Do this before applying any massage oil or moisturizing lotion.<ref name="rf7">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW3o8Bz-ISw</ref>

#Apply moisturizing lotion. Rub the lotion in your hands to warm it up, then apply it to the top of the foot, starting at the ankle and wiping down to the toes. Do the same for the bottom of the foot.<ref name="rf8">http://www.holistic-back-relief.com/reflexology-foot-massage.html</ref>

#Massage the toes first. Starting with the big toe, pinch it between your index finger and thumb and use your thumb or thumb knuckle to gently press and massage the bottom of the toe for approximately 30 seconds.<ref name="rf8" /> Twist the toe left and right, then push it down towards the sole of the foot. Repeat this procedure, spending approximately 15 seconds massaging each of the smaller toes. End by using your hand to gently press all the toes and the top of the foot down towards the sole of the foot.<ref name="rf8" />

#Move on to the ball of the foot. Grip the foot you are working on by the Achilles tendon above the heel to provide stability while you massage. Start nearest the big toe. Using your thumb or thumb knuckle, apply gentle pressure by pressing and holding for two seconds, or massaging with tiny circular motions. Move across the foot in three separate lines – top, middle, and bottom of the ball of the foot. Repeat these lines three times.<ref name="rf9">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUhU1T1x45o</ref>

#Work on the midsection of your foot. Grip your foot with both hands. Use your thumb knuckles if your thumbs get tired.<ref name="rf10">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dH43-oD0Mo</ref>

#Rub the bottom of your foot in a clockwise motion. Using both your thumbs, one atop the other, massage the bottom of your foot just above your heel with a clockwise motion.<ref name="rf11">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F-aw3xuCPE</ref>

#Massage the inside edge of your foot. Applying gentle pressure and using small circular motions, work your way down your instep from your big toe to your heel. Spend approximately two seconds on each point, and repeat the process three times.<ref name="rf11" />

#Finish with the heel and tops of the feet. Rub the heel in a circular motion with your thumb or knuckle for approximately 30 seconds.<ref name="rf7" /> Then use your thumbs to apply gentle pressure to the tops of the feet as you drag your thumbs along the spaces between your toes, which run from your toe webbing to the highest point of your foot.<ref name="rf8" />

#Massage the balls of your feet below your little toes for lung problems. The reflexes for your lungs start at the base of your toes and extend down to the bottom of the ball of your foot, where the color of your skin changes. Also massage the corresponding area on the top of your foot.<ref name="rf12">http://www.reflexologycharts.org</ref>

#Work on the balls of your feet just below your big toes for heart problems. According to reflexology theory, this should help for issues like arrhythmia.<ref name="rf12" />

#Concentrate on the neck reflexes at the base of your toes to relieve acid reflux, heartburn or other chest pain associated with your throat and esophagus.<ref name="rf13"> http://www.reflexologycharts.org</ref>

#Apply pressure to the reflex points for you stomach, small intestine, and gall bladder to treat digestive problems.<ref name="rf13" />

#Start by massaging your entire hand. According to reflexology theory, this will help to relax you and flush toxins from your system. Also, general massage has been proven to reduce pain and improve quality of life.<ref name="rf6" />

#Warm up and relax your hand. Hand reflexology points are located more deeply than the similar points on your foot, so warming up your hand is very important to avoid pain.<ref name="rf14">http://www.how-to-do-reflexology.com/handreflexology.html</ref>

#Massage the palm of your hands.  For each area of your palm, you will move downwards, then back up, and then to the side and start down again. At each point, apply gentle, rotational pressure for 3-5 seconds.<ref name="rf14" />

#Move on to the backs of your hands. Remember to apply much less pressure, as the back of your hand is very sensitive.<ref name="rf14" />

#*Lung problems – Focus on the soft padding just below your fingers on the palm of your hand, and on the equivalent area on the back of your hand.<ref name="rf12" />

#*Heart problems – Work on the fleshy area at the base of your thumbs.<ref name="rf12" />

#*Digestive problems – Work on the areas from the base of your fingers to the last knuckle to stimulate your neck reflexes. Massage the center of your palms to stimulate your stomach and gall bladder. Work across the base of your palm to aid digestion in your small intestine.<ref name="rf12" />

#*Stress related problems – Work on your entire finger to stimulate the reflex points associated with the head and neck in order to relieve stress.<ref name="rf12" />

#Start by massaging your entire ear. According to reflexology theory, this will help to relax you and flush toxins from your system. Also, general massage has been proven to reduce pain and improve quality of life.<ref name="rf6" />

#Warm up your ears. Rub your hands together quickly, then hold them over your ears for 15 seconds. Rub them again, and hold them over your ears for 15 seconds with the tops of your earlobes folded down.<ref name="rf1" />

#Massage your ear lobes. The ear lobe contains reflex points for your head. Pinch and pull the lobe between your index finger and thumb for about 3 minutes. You can do both ears at the same time.<ref name="rf1" />

#Stimulate the insides of your ears. Place your index fingers in your ears and rotate them back and forth about 50 times to stimulate and relax your heart and lungs.<ref name="rf1" />

#Move on to the cymba conchae. This the narrow part of your ear above the ridge that sits over the ear canal, and below another ridge of cartilage. Run your index finger back and forth along the cymba conchae of both ears about 50 times to stimulate the digestive system.<ref name="rf1" />

#Continue upward to the triangular fossa. This is the small depression on the far side of the ridge of cartilage that forms the upper boundary of the cymba conchae. Press your index finger gently into the triangular fossa and rotate back and forth about 50 times.<ref name="rf1" />

#Run your thumbs along the upper, outer part of your ear. This area – the helix and scaphoid fossa – consists of the curving cartilage at the top of your ear and the space just under it. It contains the reflex points for your arms and shoulders. Pinch it between your thumb and forefinger, then run your thumb down the area repeatedly until it is warm.<ref name="rf1" />

#Stimulate the surface from the concha to the cymba conchae. There is a ridge of cartilage above your ear lobes. Start by using your index fingers to apply gentle presser to the depression on the far side of that ridge. Now run your fingers along the cartilage ridge on the back of the ear and up to the cymba conchae, and back again. Do this 30 times.<ref name="rf1" />

#Pinch the tragus between thumb and forefinger and gently move it up and down. The tragus is the flap of cartilage that protrudes over your ear canal. Move it up and down 30 times.<ref name="rf1" />

#Massage the back of your ear. The back of the ear is divided into and upper, more flexible part, and a lower part that surrounds the ear canal and attaches to the ear lobe. Start by pinching the upper area between your index finger and thumb and pulling on it 30 times. Then gently rub the lower part with your thumb 30 times, using a downward motion.<ref name="rf1" />

#Concentrate on the reflex points connected to the areas you think are causing your chest pain. Now that you have stimulated your entire ear, spend a little extra time on problem areas. At each point, work until you feel a warm sensation in your ear or until your feel discomfort.<ref name="rf1" />

#*Lung and heart problems – Focus on the inside or your ear. Place your index fingers in your ear and rotate gently. You can also gently pull up, down, and to the sides to stimulate the inner ear.<ref name="rf15">http://www.handreflexologycharts.com/Reflexology/ear-reflexology-charts.htm</ref>

#*Digestive problems – Run your index finger back and forth over the cymba conchae to stimulate the reflex points associated with the stomach, intestines, liver, colon, spleen, and gall bladder.<ref name="rf15" />

#*Stress related problems – Rub your ear lobe, and then run your index finger along the ridge of cartilage that forms the lower border of the cymba conchae and leads up to the triangular fossa. This will trigger the reflexes for your head, neck, and spine.<ref name="rf15" />