A video primer on reflexology.

Most people are familiar with Holistic Medicine. It is quite likely that a friend or relative of yours has experienced an alternative treatment. Perhaps you have tried to benefit from a complementary therapy and are familiar with a few holistic treatments. Most people do not know the main branches of Holistic Medicine, however. According to web references there are over of 30 types of Holistic Medicine. In this article we will introduce you to 5 main Holistic therapies.

Acupuncture.
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine that is been practiced for thousands of years. There are more than 350 possible points in the human body where needles are inserted (usually wrists, ankles, feet, back and abdomen). The procedure lasts for approximately 20 minutes while the patient rests and then the needles are removed. Practitioners manipulate and twirl the needles with special techniques, stimulating the energy flows and promoting healing and pain relief.

Aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use primarily of essential oils and secondary of other aromatic natural substances such as vegetable (base) oils and scented products such as candles and soaps, in order to heal various diseases and vitalize body, spirit and mind. Aromatherapy is an ancient therapeutic method. There is historical evidence that in all major cultures of antiquity (Egypt,Greece, Persia, Roman), physicians dealt with herbs, aromatic plants and floral water in order to invigorate, cure, stimulate and relax their patients.

Homeopathy.
Homeopathy is a relatively new Holistic Medicine based on the idea, that a natural substance that can produce sick symptoms in a healthy person, can have therapeutic effect in a sick person who suffers from the same symptoms. The term Homeopathy comes from a Greek word meaning similar-suffering and was introduced by the German physician Samuel Hahnemann. The homeopathetic approach to health was first described by Hippocrates 2,500 years ago. Homeopathy treatment is safe for patients as long as the next 2 rules are followed:

1. Remedies should be given in infinitesimal doses, so that unwanted side-effects could not be dangerous.
2. Remedies should be specific to each patient, because illness is specific to the individual.

Meditation.
There are many different, even opposing definitions of Meditation. The most common description says that “Meditation is a state of just being without any interference from the body or mind”. Free of thoughts, feelings and actions, the meditator has the ability to concentrate on the present moment of quiescence, to understand human mind’s nature and to help the awareness of every single aspect of life. Free from any distraction to the mind, the meditator, emphasizes mental activity and achieves personal development. There are many types of Meditation according to their focus and many of them are related to Eastern Religions.

Reflexology.
Reflexology is a therapeutic method of healing and pain relieving by pressuring particular reflex areas in hands and feet. Thousands of nerves end in these areas and link to glands, parts and organs of human body. Therefore, reflexologists by pressing on the reflex areas, induced human body to self-correct, to prevent illness, and generally to reinforce itself reaching holistic health.

About the Author:
George Kakaris is a freelance writer living in an island of Greece. He is very interested in natural health and alternative active life style and owner of an information site about Aromatherapy Essential Oils and Natural Healing.

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This article is about reaching your heart through the feet - and reaching the brain, sinus cavities, glands, stomach, spinal column, reproductive system, etc…

The human body is a magnificent work and it never ceases to amaze me. As a massage therapist I learn new and wonderful things about the human body almost daily it seems.

Reflexology is an ancient healing art, one that was lost for awhile and then re-discovered. We have areas on our feet that correspond with every area on our body and we can reach those area through a specialized massage of the feet. We also have these points on our hands and to some extent on our ears.

The method we use to practice reflexology is as follows:

First we do some really yummy releasing exercises. The only way to send the signals from the gentle touch of reflexology from our feet up to our body is to do it when our feet are relaxed and more alert.

There’s two major methods of performing reflexology, there’s finger walking (where your thumb or forefinger walk along different patterns on the foot, but it looks and feels more like it’s trying to wiggle like a worm, it takes some practice to accomplish, but isn’t too hard.) Then there’s hooking in and pulling back, where you kind of hook your thumb into a point and scoot it down a little towards the heel.

Another quasi-stroke I find that works well is if you find a point that’s really congested, you can rotate counter clockwise, in essence it will feel like you’re sending the congestion back up into the body, and for really loose or lack of congestion you can pull energy down to that spot by rotating clockwise - you can recognize by the way it feels - it usually feels hard and/or may have some urine crystals in (bet you didn’t know that uric acid settles in the foot and when you feel little crunchy things in someone’s feet it’s really those crystals).

If you are interested in practicing on yourself or your partner, then get a good chart of the points on the feet, and also some books for further reading, as there is so much more you can learn about reflexology beyond this starting point.

About the author:
Patrick Curl is a Massage Enthusiast and owner of http://www.aboutbodywork.com Where Massage Enthusiasts Gather. Drop on over for your chance at winning a FREE Massage from a
therapist in your area.

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Thai foot massage dates back over hundreds of years, and has been one of the most effective and revered forms of massage in the Orient, and eventually all over the world. Though Thai massage can cover the entire body, the art of Thai foot massage is an art in and of itself. Thai foot massage was developed over the years by incorporating foot massage techniques from some places such as China, Japan, and Korea.

Most people who have experienced a Thai foot massage can attest to its benefits. The foot is probably the most abused part of the body, but not only that, it seems to have a direct connection to every other part of the body. A good Thai foot massage not only makes your feet feel wonderful, it can promote healing and relaxation in many other parts of the body as well. In the ancient Orient, this was discovered rather early, and foot massage was used as a method of healing both the mind and the body. As a holistic treatment, those in the ancient Orient realized that foot massage could relieve stress, help promote restful sleep, increase circulation, and even help promote a better immune system. In the mental sense, it could increase alertness and enhance creativity.

Thai foot massage incorporates elements of what we recognize as reflexology. The foundation of reflexology is that there are certain points on the foot that can affect other areas of the body. Thai foot massage and reflexology can extend to the ankles and legs as well. For this reason, most Thai foot masseuses will ask for a detailed medical history before beginning treatment. In this way they can determine what pressure points can be focused on more than others, and even help patients discover problems early that they may not have been aware of. Thai foot massage usually takes about an hour, and starts not with immediately focusing on pressure points, but on what the masseuse calls “opening the pathways of energy”. In Thai foot massage it is believed that the massage must be done in stages, readying the subject for each successive step so that each step in turn can be most effective.

A reputable Thai foot masseuse also knows when massage can be beneficial and when it can actually be harmful. If there are any serious injuries or illnesses that the subject needs to address, the masseuse will require that they be treated by a physician before trying Thai foot massage. Though Thai foot massage can help in the healing process tremendously, it is not a substitution for medical treatment. During healing, however, and as long as a complete medical history is known, Thai foot massage can have incredible benefits, both for those what are in good health and for those who are suffering several different types of ailments.

About the Author:
Annalisa Zisman, a proficient writer, writes for a few different learn massage techniques sites. The author writes articles about massage techniques. Supplementary editorials that were written by Annalisa Zisman about massage therapist education are accessible on the internet.

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“Affirmations: Your Passport to Happiness” by Anne Marie Evers is a powerful book that changes lives by focusing on the affirming power of words and images for health, wealth and happiness.

By using simple exercises and specific affirmations, Evers shows readers how to generate money, attract the ideal partner, lose weight, find the perfect career, create vibrant health and overcome fears. She encourages readers to move past negative habits, unhealthy relationships and personal limitations to fulfill their highest potential. For myself, this book opened up a floodgate of possibilities that I had never been open to before.

In “Affirmations: Your Passport to Happiness”, Evers describes how thoughts work and encourages others to examine their thoughts. Although thoughts can be stimulated by outside influences, Evers believes that it is the individual’s own mental and emotional reactions to these stimuli that create beliefs, concepts and, eventually, their reality.

“When you think of yourself as a victim of circumstance, you are narrowing your focus. You could miss out on blessings all around you,” she writes in her book. “Never allow negative thoughts of others to keep you from fulfilling your desire. Let others who choose to be negative live their lives as they wish. You cannot change others, but you can change how you view them and thus change your feelings about them. Often that person will sense the change in you and undergo change as well,”

As an example of how powerful the mind is, Evers mentions the placebo effect. She writes about an American study where one hundred people with an illness received a sugar pill. They were told that the pill contained a powerful new medicine that would cure them. As a result of taking the sugar pill, one-third of the patients got better! The only reason behind their miraculous recovery was that those people believed they were going to get better.

“The subconscious mind sent biochemical messages to their bodies that told the healing process to go full speed ahead, and it did. They were brought back to 100% health. Trigger by their doctor’s suggestion that they were receiving a new cure, they unknowingly tapped into their subconscious minds to unleash the potent healing ability of their own bodies,” she wrote.

Alberta born Evers has worked in the personal growth field for the past thirty years, teaching others about the power of affirmations, creative visualization, reflexology, meditation and yoga. Today, she receives letters and testimonials from readers all over the world that have been touched by her book.

As a freelance columnist and writer who lectures and conducts workshops in related subjects, Evers is quickly spreading the word about the life-changing power of affirmations.

“Whenever Anne Marie appears as a guest on my show, I get numerous phone calls and letters from viewers saying how her teachings on affirmations have transformed their lives and given them the tools and confidence to go out and do something,” wrote David Ingram, host of The David Ingram Show on Channel 4, North Vancouver B.C.

After I read Evers book, I carried it around with me for weeks to show friends and family affirmations that might be of help. I created affirmations of my own and am looking forward to seeing what results.

If you are ready for a positive change in your life, pick up this little green book and visit Evers’ web site at http://www.affirmations-media.com/. Then prepare to lead a truly wonderful life.

Jamie Leggatt is a freelance writer from White Rock, B.C., Canada. After keeping her struggle with depression a secret for nearly 15 years, she is now finding meaning and purpose by sharing her story with others. She founded the Canadian Depression Support Network to help others find information and support they need at www.depressionsupport.ca. Also, her blog, “Fighting the Darkness: My Secret Battle with Depression”, www.fightingthedarkness.blogspot.com, is where she shares her personal challenges and victories over depression.

About the Author:

Jamie Leggatt is a freelance writer from White Rock, B.C., Canada. After keeping her struggle with depression a secret for nearly 15 years, she is now finding meaning and purpose by sharing her story with others. She founded the Canadian Depression Support Network to help others find information and support they need at www.depressionsupport.ca. Also, her blog, “Fighting the Darkness: My Secret Battle with Depression”, www.fightingthedarkness.blogspot.com

Buy the Book: Affirmations: Your Passport to Happiness
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