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Δευτέρα 23 Μαΐου 2016

Book review and The Peace Point (heart) reflex and the Vagus nerve reflex point!

The Peace Point (heart) reflex!
From the book       



I was intrigued by the Gentle Touch method of Reflexology by Sue Ricks, especially when I actually felt it on myself, initially from a colleague who participated on her course and then from Sue herself.
The amount of pressure is exactly that, gentle. It is still challenging for me to believe that there will be occasions that “less is more”, but my daily practice has proven that this is the case at times.
Reading through her book I found something surprising. I found the Peace Point (heart) reflex. Sue writes about this point “from the bottom of my heart” and as for how to approach the point,  “Very lightly place your thumbs on the bottom of the heart reflex. Think peaceful thoughts yourself and be still inside. Hold this point for as long as you intuitively feel is appropriate. “


What is quite a coincidence is that at this exact point the Vagus nerve reflex point is placed in Nerve Reflexology, under but on the medial sesamoid bone. When pressing this point it should be done in the direction towards the toes.

 

The vagus nerve is something like a super nerve according to recent research and out of many things it’s intimately involved with your heart!

“The vagus nerve is responsible for controlling the heart rate via electrical impulses to the sinoatrial node of the heart, where acetylcholine release slows the pulse.”

Read more here:
http://mentalfloss.com/article/65710/9-nervy-facts-about-vagus-nerve


So it seems that two Reflexologists, one that uses her intuition and emotions primarily, and the other that uses rationale and science primarily have concluded on the same point and its effect. Fantastic! 
For the book itself I like very much that it offers for all (parents, carers and practitioners) in a instructive and informative language a treatment routine including information specifically on how to treat either babies or children. I find the chapter on conditions regarding children and babies plus the usefull information chapter very helpfull making the book essential for every professional to say the least. The chapters on the Chakra's and the Alternative meanings to various pathologies are the iceing on the cake!


Let's take this further on...
Speaking of the vagus nerve, in Cranio Sacral Reflexology the reflex area for this nerve would be the distal phalage of the little toe! Why?  "The 12 pairs of cranial nerves are on phalanges of each toe and finger on the right foot and 12 cranial nerves are in the same location on the left foot."  
Reference:http: //www.positivehealth.com/article/reflexology/cranio-sacral-reflexology (Nice chart picture)







Now some Orthopedic Reflexology speculation...

How many joints does the 5th toe have? It seems only two. Intention is the key word from now on, I suppose Dr. Martine would advise us. 

Background
It is a common understanding that the fifth toe has three bones with two interphalangeal joints. However, our experience shows that a significant number have only two phalanges with one interphalangeal joint.

Methods
We identified 676 patients listed as having had a foot radiograph, during an eight week period, of which 606 radiographs were available for the assessment. The radiographs were then assessed counting the number of phalanges in the fifth toe.

Results
The patients consisted of 344 females and 262 males. Bilateral radiographs had been performed in 49 patients. 362 radiographs (55.3%) were found to have 3 phalanges in their 5th toe, with 291 (44.4%) having only two phalanges.

Conclusions
We have demonstrated the presence of two phalanges is a common anatomical variant. This finding has clinical implications with regard to the treatment of deformities of the fifth toe and the type of internal fixation device used.

Reference: Moulton, L. S., Prasad, S., Lamb, R. G., & Sirikonda, S. P. (2012). How many joints does the 5th toe have? A review of 606 patients of 655 foot radiographs.Foot and ankle surgery, 18(4), 263-265.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23093121
Four different schools of Reflexology thinking in one article, not bad!