Reflexology and the Adrenals

If you ' ve ever doubted what these two little " Endocrine System Glands " can do, just ticker the announcement in consummation.

Anytime you hear of some stout italicize – " Firemen Rush into Burning Building ", or " Bulky Lifts Car off Trapped Child "... the adrenal glands are awakened ( such as in acts of strength and stamina as well as the downright super - human ).

Let ' s take a look at these amazing organs of the body, and then we’ ll talk about their reflexology reflex points.

The adrenal glands ( also known as suprarenal glands ) are the star - shaped endocrine glands that sit on top of the kidneys. They are mainly open for regulating the stress response through the consent of corticosteroids and catecholamines, including cortisol and adrenaline, respectively.

Anatomy and function

Anatomically, our adrenal glands are located in the abdominal cavity situated atop the kidneys, specifically on their anterosuperior angle. They are also surrounded by the adipose capsule and the renal fascia. Found at the level of the 12th thoracic vertebra, they receive their blood supply from the adrenal arteries.

The adrenal gland is separated into two distinct structures, both of which pull regulatory input from the nervous system:

Adrenal medulla

The adrenal medulla consists of common people of neurons that are part of the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system. Instead of releasing their neurotransmitters at a synapse, these neurons release them into the blood. Forasmuch as, although part of the nervous system, the adrenal medulla functions as an endocrine gland.

The adrenal medulla releases:

• adrenaline ( also called epinephrine ) and

• noradrenaline ( also called norepinephrine )

Release of adrenaline and noradrenaline is triggered by nervous stimulation in response to physical or mental stress.

Some of the effects are:

• increase in the rate and strength of the heartbeat resulting in increased blood pressure;

• blood shunted from the skin and viscera to the skeletal muscles, coronary arteries, liver, and brain;

• rise in blood sugar;

• increased metabolic ratio;

• bronchi vegetate;

• pupils spring up;

• hair stands on limitation ( " goosebumps " );

• clotting time of the blood is penniless;

• increased ACTH juice from the number one lobe of the pituitary.

All of these effects prepare the body to take immediate and vigorous game!

Adrenal cortex

Using cholesterol as the primordial material, the cells of the adrenal cortex secrete a heterogeneity of steroid hormones.

These fall into three classes:

1. Glucocorticoids ( e. g., cortisol )

The glucocorticoids get their name from their side effect of raising the level of blood sugar ( glucose ). One way they do this is by stimulating gluconeogenesis in the liver: the conversion of fat and protein into intermediate metabolites that are ultimately converted into glucose.

The most abundant glucocorticoid is cortisol ( also called hydrocortisone ).

Cortisol and the other glucocorticoids also have a potent anti - inflammatory follow through on the body. They depress the immune response, especially cell - mediated immune responses.

For this ground glucocorticoids are widely used in therapy:

• to reduce the inflammatory destruction of rheumatoid arthritis and other

autoimmune diseases

• to prevent the rejection of transplanted organs

• to discipline asthma

2. Mineralocorticoids ( e. g., aldosterone )

The mineralocorticoids get their name from their upshot on mineral metabolism. The most important of them is the steroid aldosterone.

Aldosterone acts on the kidney promoting the reabsorption of sodium ions ( Na + ) into the blood. Water follows the salt and this helps maintain general blood pressure.

Aldosterone also

• acts on sweat glands to reduce the loss of sodium in perspiration;

• acts on taste cells to increase the sensitivity of the taste buds to sources of sodium.

3. Androgens ( e. g., testosterone )

The adrenal cortex secretes precursors to androgens such as testosterone.

In sexually - mature males, this source is so much lower than that of the testes that it is probably of little physiological significance.

However, excessive production of adrenal androgens can cause premature youth in young boys.

In females, the adrenal cortex is a major source of androgens. Their hypersecretion may produce a mainly pattern of body hair and cessation of menstruation.

Fight - or - scamper response

The fight - or - escape response, also called the fright, fight or break response, hyperarousal or the acute stress response. We proceed to threats with a general discharge of the sympathetic nervous system, priming the monstrous for fighting or fleeing. Thisactivation is associated with specific physiological actions in the system, both this day and indirectly through the release of epinephrine ( adrenaline ) and to a junior extent norepinephrine from the medulla of the adrenal glands.

An " Adrenaline Rush " means an hustle of the Adrenal gland in a Fight - or - whisk response, when it is releasing Adrenaline ( Epinephrine ). A chronic keyed up adrenaline is a common symptom of an anxiety disorder.

So much packed into such a small box!

And, what does it niggardly to reflexologists?

If you have a client who ' s haggard, anxious, dog-tired, overtired or who just lives in New York Field – you ' ll probably apprehension a " change in tissue constitution " around the adrenal gland reflex on the foot ( it ' ll likely be sensitive on the backing causatum section as well – don’ t flex too hard there - quite work into the point gradually ).

Well we know that stress is s big factor in our everyday lives, but when there’ s new stress due to emotional issues, health issues, daily life issues… Now, who couldn’ t use a little stiffener.

Our first job is to find the end product points:

On the feet the " Adrenal Gland Precipitate " is located on the sideways knob of the 1st metatarsal, stuffy to the flagitious. That puts it ( vertically ) between metatarsals one and 2 and ( horizontally ) approximately half way between the waist and the diaphragm outgrowth trade landmarks.

Repeatedly you can ' t miss it. There ' s generally a BIG change in the tissue humor! Now, don’ t think you’ re dying if you find it to be sore on your foot.

Nail down it ' s a " call for energy " and not a verifiable malady.

However, it ' s in your client ' s best thing to spend a little TLC time on that follow up point. Resources into it or ownership it steady. Is there one way that ' s better than exceeding to work that little point... probably, but it ' s not in that " The Professor " uttered so it ' s what the tissue needs – so " listen " to the tissue.

I love to work on this reflex point and don’ t be surprised if you note it can even be found on other reflex zones.

What likewise can you do?

A big adrenal stimulator is caffeine. It ' ll increase the release of our stress related hormones and it keeps the body in a regular, and prodigal, state of stress - which can stress the adrenals along with other organs and glands. If this goes on for too long, you’ ll probably care other symptoms like tiredness, pet, allergies, sleeplessness and... and inability to cope with stress. Not fun.

Always check with a competent before treating yourself ( and don ' t even think about treating others unless you ' re a doctor ). Some self - help texts say that small amounts of licorice help by theatre as a re - uptake inhibitor for adrenaline. But, too much licorice can increase other hormones, so only use in small quantities.

Other than reflexology, one of the safest and most effective ways to combat stress that comes to mind is meditation.

There ' s much more I ' d like to share on this topic, so look for the next slab, coming nowadays.

Here ' s a quote by Rachel Carson, who sums up an important perspective for well being:

" Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find resources of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. "

Reflexology, Stress & the Immune System

Reflexology, Stress and the Immune System

This could be an article on any health paradigm – wellness or disease. That’ s seeing the immune ( a. k. a. the lymphatic ) system is the first line of defense for all that ails us and keeps us well.

Understanding the Immune System, Chronic Conditions and How to Command Them

The immune system is tied for protecting the body from visible influences, removing metabolic wastes and facilitating the ebb and flow of interstitial fluids. It identifies bacteria and viruses as well as pathogen cells which may adversely affect the body and helps to eliminate them. If the body is a garden, then the immune system is the fence and the gate which protects this garden from intruders.

Like most living things our immune system consists of different elements: proteins, cells, fluids, tissues and organs as well. All of these combine together to function as a system with the singular plan: keeping the body safe from potential harm. Parts of the body involved include the spleen, the bone nucleus, the lymph nodes and T - cells ( which mature in the thymus ) all which perform very important functions.

Our immune systems evolve as we age in distribution for the body to adjust and combat new pathogens. A healthy immune system is the foundation for health in an odd. And, we all know that stress plays a part in our immune function and in consequence reducing stress may quicken the process with which the immune system can function to our benefit.

Any disorder in the immune system is a concern. Disease can be particularly harmful in riveting the body when the immune system is at a less than optimal level. A amount of chronic conditions affect people with a lackadaisical immune system too. Some immunodeficiency diseases may close when the body reacts to pharmaceuticals, an infection or even as a determination of a genetic disease.

On the other hand, when the immune system performs beside oneself actively, it tends to attack contrastive healthy tissues as if they were pathogens or foreign organisms. In this case we have diseases of the immune system which may decision and which is known as autoimmune disease including rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus type 1 and lupus erythematosus. All of these affect the human body in their own way and the conditions may range from mild to downright unbearable.

Any essence that affects the human immune system will true go-ahead a person weak and sometimes painful to a debilitating degree. They influence the ability to sleep, go to work, to the quality of life in general.

All immune system diseases need medical attention, and so, there will always be a team in place.

Diet and exercise can help gorge some of the symptoms of the chronic conditions. Of course I add reflexology to the help victual owing to when stress is flat, figure in the body not only functions better but, has a better chance for rejuvenation ( or a return to homeostasis ).

In the case of painful individuality like arthritis, exercise or range of motion techniques may not seem like the thing to do but in mind, doctors have suggested that exercise with such conditions has immense benefits. Other benefits receive increasing bone and muscle strength and increasing energy levels. Exercises like mobile, yoga, tai chi, ( cycling and jogging which are more advanced ) should be done with doctor driver's seat.

And, people should get to be consistent with their comparable health protocols such as moderate exercises and chin music from overdoing instrument. Summon up as with any advanced disease stages a person must get their doctors permission before embarking on any identical health routines including exercise and / or reflexology. It’ s also best to exercise when the pain level is at its lowest. It’ s a good thing to build up gradually and not to overwhelm you by trying to do too much, too this day.

If you’ re thinking about your reflexology, ( and I am too ) this is exactly what we do, start slow and gently and gradually increase the amounts of time and / or pressure.

Just as with the diet a person adopts it’ s a crucial element of well - being that the diet should be geared towards fulfilling certain goals.

I have long contended that reflexology should also be geared to fulfilling certain goals.

So what does that penurious for reflexologists?

One of the most powerful things we do in our reflexology is to connect to the liquor tides. Not in the way that massage does. No, in a more subtle “ conversational” way through the touch that is native in our reflexology.

Now, let’ s go likewise. I’ m talking about the touch that is gentle, biddable, touch that is about the nerve center, the concentration, the listening and being non - invasive. What I’ ve just described here - our reflexology alternating mold and finger walking fretfulness. The dwarf incremental “ bites” as we inch along, stopping to note even the most minute changes in tissue meat.

That’ s the touch I’ m words about.

But there’ s weighty more, decisive greater than the weight of all our concentration and safe, dove-like touch.

There’ s a symphony of movement beneath our thumbs, there are rivers and streams, canals and tributaries all moving in their rhythms, their orchestrated ebbs and flows.

The secretion that is moving there, unbefitting our ply and finger tips is busy installment the body by transporting and removing metabolic unnecessary, waste, fluids, lymphocytes, pathogens… the brochure of events goes on.

And we’ re speaking in a perfect world here. What if things get thickheaded? What if, as John Sarno states, ( Heal Your Back Pain ) there is congestion created in the body by trauma, injury but also emotions and thoughts?

What’ s a body to do?

You know I’ m going to say Reflexology…

And, as a reflexologist, you also know this is what we’ ll polestar on - the lymphatic system reflexes: the groin lymph reflexes - located around the ankle bones, introductory aspect; the axillary lymph reflexes - located between the webs of the toes, dorsal angle; the spleen ( largest lymphoid in the body ) reflex - located midway between the lengths of the 4th & 5th metatarsal shafts, plantar angle; and the thyroid reflex - located at the society of the 1st metatarsals, medial attribute.

I detail these reflexes at smallest once in every convention.

Okay, you know that. What you might not know is that congestion in any area can be further investigated.

How?

By listening to the bones – in reflexology, I call it “ Foot Whispering”.

If the bones are hard and tight, ( every bone has its own range of motion ) then there is a pull in the connective tissue ultimately. That pull is impeding the structure elsewhere to alteration in it’ s natural flow or it’ s homeostatic rhythm.

These pulls or adhesions can sick influence the liquor tides of the body. And, a possible byproduct is “ congestion”.

Now all this is happening on the most subtle of layers and I would never try to manually reflex any change to any of these body structures. This is the job of a medical know stuff.

But we, as reflexologists, also live in the land of attention and intention. Many would say that’ s the most powerful place to be.

So for your next client showdown, and the next one and the next one, bring your attention to the level of the bones. It’ s the deepest, densest layer of the body that concept deeper floats on.

Put your ear to the ground and listen. Be attentive, just listen.

Hear the whispers and you’ ll be agitated at the power of the shifts that will occur.

© Wendy I. Coad

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