Foot Reflexology Side Effects
Reflexology for Health Care

Foot Care Tips:

Did you know that most people have one foot that is slightly larger than the other? Foot experts say you should fit your shoe to your larger foot.

Also, foot size changes with age so it's important for seniors to check foot size when buying new shoes.

For more on foot care or foot problems, call the American Podiatric Medical Association at 1-800-FOOTCARE.


....Is fatique normal after reflexology?

© 2006, Neva J Howell, All Rights Reserved, Updated 2008

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Profile in Natural Healing: Reflexology Questions

Question on health care and healing: I usually have foot reflexology done once a week or bi-monthly. However, this round, I had 3-day consecutive sessions of a half-hour each day. Afterward, I felt like my body was tiring very easily. Are there any side effects with foot reflexology?

Healing Facilitation response: Normally, a reflexology session will not generate notable fatigue or severe detoxing but if you have several sessions in a row, it can create a situation where more toxins are released than the body can eliminate. This can result in feeling fatiqued as the body cleanses and releases toxins.

If there is no other factor in your life from those three days that could explain the fatigue, I'd say your body might be releasing toxins more quickly than your system can handle them.

Reducing the healing crisis and / or fatique:
Drinking more water the day of your reflexology sessions should help with detoxing the body of released toxins, as will drinking water directly after the sessions.

Taking hot showers, followed by a brisk towel rub, will help the skin eliminate more effectively. The skin is our biggest eliminatory organ but it gets largely overlooked whenever we are detoxing.

Also, gently rubbing the skin around the lymph areas helps stimulate lymph drainage.

Taking natural health remedies that are designed to address fatique, like Fatique Fighter, can give your body assistance in overcoming temporary tiredness that may accompany detoxing the body after reflexology.

Foot spa baths are especially soothing and healing and can help with detoxing the body through increasing circulation and blood flow through the body.

To take a foot bath, you just need a container big enough for both your feet to fit comfortably and deep enough to hold enough hot water to cover them up to the beginning of the calf muscles.



Note for diabetics: Diabetics should check with their doctor before soaking their feet in hot water because it may be contraindicated for diabetics. more info on diabetes. Also, you should not soak your feet if you have infection in the feet. Taking a foot bath before a reflexology treatment can help stimulate better circulation and flexibility in the foot, for an easier and more effective session.

Using a foot spa afterwards can help the body release toxins better and is a wonderful way to end a reflexology session because it is so relaxing and soothing.

aromatherapy supplies
Adding aromatherapy oils to your foot bath can deepen and intensify the relaxation process and, depending on the oils used, can help with swollen feet, feet pain from pregnancy and tired feet after a busy day.

Why is lymph drainage important? Our lymph system is an absolutely vital part of our health. Congested lymph glands can cause very toxic reactions over time. The lymph system filters toxins, helps detoxify the body and helps with the regeneration of healthy tissues. Healthy lymphatics is part of having a healthy immune system.

Lymph congestion causes circulation problems, the accumulation of unhealthy toxins in the body and you to have more frequent colds and flu, puffiness under the eyes, muscle aches, chronic fatique, spongy-looking skin, painful areas of skin, headaches and more.

There are those who specialize in manual lymph drainage. The Upledger Institute is one such organization. Working with a lymph drainage specialist, you can help the lymphatic system to do it's job normally again and, if lymph congestion has not resulted in the formation of some other physical ailment, may see all the unpleasant symptoms listed above leaving quite quickly.

Exercise is a natural form of lymph drainage so make sure you are getting enough physical exercise to help your system perform the way it was designed to do.

If you still find your reflexology sessions result in detoxing to the point of discomfort or noticable fatique, you might try cutting back to one session per week until your body catches up with the process and balances itself in healing.

Featured Foot Resource: Podiatry Channel: Foot reflexology is offered as viable health resource but sometimes there are structural or disease-related problems with the feet. To learn more about foot problems arising from conditions such as arthritis and diabetes, as well as good general information on foot conditions including Plantar Fasciitis, Hammertoes, MRSA and Peripheral Neuropathy, please visit Podiatry Today


Health Care Disclaimer: There is evidence of foot reflexology being around as far back as ancient egypt. It is considered one of the safest, least invasive alternative healing modalitites. However, the information contained in any natural healing / spiritual wellness article should not be considered substitution for any personal medical advice that may be indicated. The educational alternative health care information on this site is strictly that, educational. While foot reflexology is a wonderful, natural healing modality, please consult with your chosen healthcare professional on any serious medical concerns including unexplained fatique that does not pass within a day or two.