Reflexology, Part of Living In The Philippines
Yesterday I had my first reflexology session. I did it mostly because I have pain in my lower legs most of the time and I’m hoping it will help that. The pain is not severe but the constant nagging gets old and maybe its worse than I realize. I try to block it out. Last thing I want to do is think about it.
Henry administering Reflexology on my foot.
I started taking Norgesic Forte for it a few months back and I was so thrilled for about a month. The pain was gone but now its back, not as bad as it was before but it came back. Now, if I do nothing for it, the pain gets very bad in my calves and my shoulder too. I would call it severe.
Jessie had been telling me about reflexology a year before I came to the Philippines. I had never heard of it so I looked around and found that in Memphis, the fortune tellers practised reflexology. That was not a place I was likely to go. I thought I’d try it once I got here, Jessie said it was very popular here.
Reflexology, The Pain
Reflexology involves the feet, mostly massage. but a very vigorous massage. Its been more than 24 hours, Jessie and I both had it done and we are both still sore. Not bad, its almost a feels good kind of sore. My calf MIGHT be a little better but I’ll give it time before I saw for sure. I have good days and bad days on that. I don’t think its suppose to cure everything from one treatment.
Me in pain during the reflexology treatment
Reflexology and the Torture Device
Reflexology seems to be done differently around the world. People here all acknowledge that there is pain involved but that it gets better as you have more treatments. When someone digs there knuckle into your foot its going to hurt. I saw this technique on the Amazing Race in another Asian country. It doesn’t stop there though.
The reflexologist pushes this into the bottom of your foot.
Reflexology, The Magic
There is a touch of magic with reflexology. You could call it superstition, spiritual healing or even a bit of black magic. I’ll not think of it as black magic though. What am I talking about? As he was working on my feet, he’d work on an area and then move his hands down my foot and pull on my toes. It was as if he was pulling the illness out of my foot. Then after he was finished, he picked up the towel under my foot and bundled it up and then took it outside to get rid of the “bad stuff.”
Reflexology a Cure
They do claim reflexology cures all kinds of conditions. I’m not looking for cures but I’ll take them if I get them. 🙂 I do hope it will help with the pain in my legs. It may not but I’ll find out as I’ll keep doing it. If nothing else, it is part of my becoming more of a Cebuano.
Tagged with: Living in Cebu • Living In The Phlippines • Philippine Health • Reflexology
Filed under: Living in Cebu
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Hi Rusty, I hope that you do keep it up and that it helps you over time. Stimulating pressure points on the feet are related to all the organs in the body, and could be beneficial with your pain and other health conditions that you deal with. As with all such therapies, there is no overnight cure, so keep at it, even if it takes time. As you know already, a lot of these issues didn’t happen overnight, and take time to relieve. I think you’re on the right track.
I will keep it up. The guy doesn’t charge because its a healing gift. Paid him P100 for each of us or P200 for both. I can handle that 2 times per month. My leg is better today.
I got pictures of all the pressure points, I’ll try putting them in another post, didn’t want to over load this one iwth pics.
Have you had it done here? Other places?
Very interesting Rusty, please be sure to let us know how it ends up working for you. As you know from our conversations, I have pain all over too, so it would be great to know if it ends up helping you. Hope so pal.
Thanks for commenting. I will keep everyone updated on how it goes. First impressions are quite favorable. I have no pain in my left leg today but the right leg is a bit more of an issue. It is hurting. It has been almost constant pain for 20 or 30 years now. I could take enough muscle relaxer that it would go away for a day or three but then come back. That stuff knocked me out. I couldn’t take it all the time when I worked. Its street name is “mellow yellow” but I can’t figure out why anyone would take that for recreational use. It appears some did though. It will leave you out of it for a couple of days until you get use to taking it.
Hi Rusty, I’ve done a lot of studying of many alternative therapies, reflexology is one that interests me. It’s done on the hands and other parts of the body too. As with accupuncture and accupressure, stimulating one area can effect another. I’m all for something natural helping to eliminate pain, and it’s very realistic to think that it’s possible. Maybe down the line massage would help you a lot too. You’ve made the first move, just be open to what it can do for you. For myself, I only want the “mellow yellow” that Donovan described.
I use to hate to take meds but after pouring so many down me for so many years I guess I got over it, for better or worse. Wish I didn’t need them.
It is possible to massage the pain out of my legs but its hard to do. Deep muscles are sore. Getting to t hem takes a lot of effort and then they are quite hard too.
Sometimes it appears the muscles in my arms are in inflamed, knots that ca be seen. hasn’t been that bad though in a long time.
Just this constant nagging in my calves. I use to get a lot of those nasty night time craps that would wake me up in intense pain. Many people get them but not as often as I use too. Then they went away and instead, just started hurting all the time.
More scary, is that my legs often get numb on the surface. that’s not a good sign.
The more reading I do on scleroderma the more convinced that I have that and might have have lupus at all. Probably both but I have a lot of things common to Scleroderma.
I can see you are an expert at your field! I am launching a website soon, and your information will be quite useful for me.. Thanks for all your support and wishing you all of the success.
I have been reading your posts for the last couple of hours, and it all has been very informative and well written. I On a side note, I was wondering if you wanted to swap blogroll links? I hope to hear from you soon!
Greeting to all.
I am Marc’s wife, Jamila.
He wanted me to see your post because he thought I would be interested being this is one of the massage and healing therapies I use. I was very happy to find out that the healing arts do have a place there. I am a massage therapist, Reiki Master, and a Metaphysical (mind, body and spirit work together) healer.
I use a different type of tool to get to the reflex points, in fact use my hands most of the time. But I do have varies crystals and natural stone that I use sometimes.
Thank you for sharing.
Oh!! did receive the information on natural herbs and healing for your personal health issues.
I hope you found it useful. Gave you some knowledge and peace in knowing that all this can be healed or relieved in nature.
Love, light and laughter,
Jamila
Mama Jaye
Rusty,
I would like to hear more of your visit to the healer.
As for my wife’s natural healing knowledge, I can vouch for her, and her PhD is another reason.
Be Well
Marc
Hi Jamila, thanks for commenting.
information on herbs? Not sure. I’ve not seen it yet.
I could get the guy to come only twice. 🙁 It seemed to help my legs. I need to find another person.
Rusty,
One of the reasons that kind of treatment hurts so much. Is that all the nerves from your waist down end in your feet.
Years ago I bought some health type sandals that were designed to stimulate all the nerves in your feet and to promote better health.
The top of the sandal was covered in little rubber nodules. The first time I tried to wear them I lasted about ten minutes. And my feet were sore for days. But as I increased my tolerance level. I started to feel better and my feet didn’t hurt anymore.I wish I could find some more of those sandals.
Be Well
Marc