22/02/2023
The gut is now considered to be the bodies âsecond brainâ. Diet, lifestyle, stress, and medication can lead to digestive complaints. I treat many clients who suffer with issues such as bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain, indigestion and heartburn. When a digestive system is out of balance clients will often use words like sluggish, no energy, reduced appetite, poor immune response and generally feeling out of balance. As a result I would like to explain how reflexology can aid digestive stress.
The bodyâs autonomic nervous system (sympathetic and parasympathetic) is responsible for triggering and turning off our bodies stress response, otherwise known as âfight or flightâ reactions. Simply put, stress is the sympathetic nervous system in overdrive, and the digestive system is the most common site of expression of stress related illness. At a conscious level we experience rapid heart beat and increased breath as the body prioritises the vital organs of lungs and heart to survive the oncoming threat. At an unconscious level the digestive process is forced to slow down to an inefficient rate with reduced blood supply and reduced enzyme production. A Reflexology treatment will aim to:
â˘Â     Promote parasympathetic responses, that is, switching off the stress response.
â˘Â     Stimulate all the nerve routes to digestive organs through the spinal column reflex with great results.
â˘Â     Work specifically the vagus nerve reflex.
â˘Â     Promote gut peristalsis bringing energy to gut function.
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Many clients remark on how often their stomach gurgles during treatments and how in the days following the treatment they will experience good bowel movements. So have a serious look at the foods you eat and manage your stress levels with some reflexology. The message is clear, look after your gut and it will help look after you.
