Hormonal & Menopausal Reflexology
Hormonal imbalances are something many women experience throughout different stages of life, whether it's during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, perimenopause or menopause. Think of these imbalances as little messages from your body, reminding you to embrace self-care practices and nurture yourself with love and compassion. Reflexology is an effective way to help bring your hormones back into balance.
Typical Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance
Hormonal imbalances can manifest in a variety of symptoms among women of all ages. These symptoms may include: -
Menstrual Irregularities: heavy menstrual periods, mid-cycle discomfort, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and painful or tender breasts.
Circulatory System Alterations: hot flushes, night sweats, puffiness, and bloating.
Mental and Emotional Factors: Hormonal imbalances can contribute to anxiety, insomnia, brain fog, migraine headaches, lethargy, mood fluctuations, and a diminished libido.
Sleep Disturbances: Issues may arise, such as insomnia, challenges in maintaining sleep, and alterations in sleep patterns.
Reproductive Health and Related Conditions: This includes concerns such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), ovarian cysts, infertility, gallbladder issues, vaginal dryness, and acne.
Understanding these symptoms is essential for facilitating appropriate interventions and support.
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A good approach is to start with weekly treatments, if possible, for about a month, then move to treatments every two weeks once you're feeling better. Eventually, we can transition to monthly maintenance treatments. After that, we can consider adjusting the frequency of treatments based on your progress and needs. It's important to have regular check-ins to ensure that we are effectively addressing your symptoms.
Here are a few studies which have shown reflexology to be effective at reducing menopausal symptoms.
The effects of reflexology on sleep disorder in menopausal women. Maryam Asltoghiri, Zahra Ghodsi. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, Volume 31, 2012, Pages 242-246,
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042811029788
The effects of reflexology applied to women aged between 40 and 60 on vasomotor complaints and quality of life. Gozuyesil E, Baser M. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2016 Aug;24:78-85.
Dealing with the changes that come with menopause can be a challenging and often overlooked experience for many women. It's a natural process that deserves open and understanding conversations. Peri-menopause or Pre-menopause, which typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, marks the beginning of this significant journey. It's a time when various symptoms may emerge, signalling the transition into menopause.
Going through this myself, I deeply understand the confusion and uncertainty that can accompany this phase. It can be confusing to recognise the symptoms and understand what they mean for you, especially if you experience early menopause, like I did. It's essential to acknowledge and address the emotional and physical changes that menopause brings, which may include mood swings, anxiety, irregular periods, and many others. We must approach these challenges with compassion and remember that each of our experiences is unique and try not to compare them with others.
In Chinese medicine, menopause is seen as a journey towards deeper self-awareness and personal growth. It invites us to attend to our needs in a more compassionate way than ever before. By embracing our changing bodies and adjusting to our evolving needs, we can gracefully welcome our later years with greater wisdom and self-compassion. Seeing this time as a transformative and nurturing phase allows us to reframe menopause as an exciting time of change in a woman’s life.
Self-care is vital to managing hormonal symptoms and hormonal and menopausal reflexology can be a nourishing and effective treatment option to reduce stress, balance hormones, promote better sleep, and help your body operate more efficiently. I believe in a holistic approach and will recommend small lifestyle and diet changes that can make a significant difference over time.
Hormonal & Menopausal Reflexology
“I had struggled for years, feeling as though I would never feel 'normal' again. I was drained, tense, experiencing irregular cycles, unable to sleep, and completely overwhelmed by my body and its issues. However, over the last six months, I have been seeing Gemma regularly. I started with reflexology to help balance my endocrine system, and I noticed improvements almost immediately. My cycles have become much more manageable. From day one I felt that Gemma could tune in and read my body like a map and together we have embarked on a wholistic healing journey, which has seen Gemma develop my own personalised sessions. Not only do I feel more relaxed and in tune with my body, but I also very rarely suffer from migraines, and my energy levels have stabilised.” Amanda
