Reflexology

Natural aging and having a baby have changed my body and health, I feel different. So, I had been thinking about getting a check-up.  I was fortunate enough to happen upon a coincidental and unsolicited word of mouth referral, to a real Chinese doctor, and one to whom Western doctors refer their patients.  He does not advertise, he does not need to.  He has clients from all over the country come to him.

Reflexology is very similiar to acupuncture, and associated with (TCM) Traditional Chinese Medicine. The feet, hands or head can be worked. Most of what you will see about reflexology on the internet says "it is not diagnostic," there are a lot of non-medical people getting certified, they will just give you a foot massage and address some pressure points.  This doctor, however, did do a diagnostic for the first session.

He was great!!  He asked for no information over the phone or prior to the session except for demographics and referral source.  So the only clinical info he knew about me was my age, and obviously, that I'm female.

He went through each pressure point on my foot, and a few around the foot, with either his hands or a wooden massage tool, and small dab of lotion, and told me accurately about each system in my body!!!  I gave him my left foot first, but could just as easily have given my right. He had not specified.

When he activated the pressure points, it was obvious if I felt nothing, if I "could feel it a little," or it was painful.  He was tremendously reassuring during the session.  He pressed several points to begin, and then in his thick Chinese accent, "Ahhh, good news.  Your heart is fine, it is soft (meaning arteries not hardened), strong."  The next point was the adrenals, and boy, was that painful!  "Don't worry," he said smiling, "most people this hurts them, it means stress, you are stressed."  Other systems that were good: immune system, kidneys, lungs, brain, eyes, muscles, joints, intestines, thyroid.  He could tell that I've been having problems with insomnia.  I don't usually have insomnia, but had been for weeks prior to the appointment!!  He noted I had some very mild allergies/sinus problems.  True.  He noted there was something mild with my ear, either some small hearing loss or inner ear problems - true again.  He also noted something about headaches.  I don't usually get them, and I actually told him "no," that "wasn't correct."  But in the days that followed, I realized he had been right!  I had thought they were dehydration headaches, and had dismissed them.  I don't remember if he told me what was causing them, probably not, since I denied having them.  He noted there were some very minor changes to my Pituitary gland after having a baby.  He also noted I had some very small fibroids in my uterus and my breasts, "no serious problem, no cancer.  uterus is okay."  He noted my outer hips were fine, but my inner hips were a little off, also stated that is normal after childbirth.  I asked him if he thought I would have any problems getting pregnant again, or if stress would be a problem for me.  He indicated there shouldn't be any problems with that.  Although, he could work with me on it if I wanted.

He didn't go through the other foot like the first one, instead used it to double check/confirm what the first foot had told him. 

Overall, I felt reassured that I am still healthy.  He would have encouraged me to come back if I needed it, but instead he offered, "you don't need to come back.  but you call me, if you want to come back."

In the days that followed, I felt energized, happy, and relieved.  I started going to bed earlier and doing relaxation techniques every day.  Partly because I had wanted to make these changes, and partly attributable to the reflexology itself.  It marked a transition from an unhealthy lifestyle to a healthier one.   
Bottom line: Reflexology has my hearty endorsement!