Reflexology and Schizophrenia

Reflexology is a healing art believed to have been practised in Ancient Egypt, China and South America. The theory behind it is similar to that behind acupuncture and acupressure - that there are energy meridians or pathways that run through the body. In reflexology, every part of the body is represented by its own correspondance areas on the hands and feet. By manipulating these areas, the energy pathways of the body are accessed. Reflexology aims to clear any blockages in the energy meridians, to help the body to develop an environment where healing and balancing might occur.

Reflexology is particularly useful to those suffering with schizophrenia because it is, primarily, extremely relaxing. It can give worn nerves at least a little rest, which creates the chance for more deep-seated problems to be addressed.

No one knows what schizophrenia really is. Some say that the term seeks to cover too much ground to be very helpful. Western medical opinion has it that it is a chemical imbalance in the brain; which is to say that the chemical balance in the brains of schizophrenics has been found to be different from that of people without schizophrenia. It's important to stress that this could as easily be a symptom of schizophrenia rather than the cause. This is something that is over-looked by psychiatric medicine, which is frightening when you think that their treatments are often geared solely towards messing about with this "chemical imbalance".

The pineal gland is the most mysterious of all the glands. Psychiatry knows very little about it. It is the gland of the mystics, home of the "third eye" of Eastern religion and Western magickal tradition. It is very much at the heart of the schizophrenic experience. Reflexology provides a rare and gentle route to the pineal gland. By light manipulation of the places that correspond with it, preferably in conjuction with a session that will ease the entire body, it is possible to provide a less traumatic environment in which the functions of the pineal gland may develop.

If there is no access to a reflexologist, it is possible to manipulate your own correspondance points. They're found on your big toes and thumbs, on the uppermost section, running along the side furthest away from the other fingers and toes. A few minutes a day spent slowly and gently massaging these areas can be very beneficial.

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          |0| |0| |0| |0|                               |0| |0| |0| |0|
          | | | | | | | |                               | | | | | | | |
          | | | | | | | |    __                   __    | | | | | | | |
          | | | | | | | |   / 0/ --- pineal  --- \0 \   | | | | | | | |
          |  V   V   V  |  /  /      gland        \  \  |  V   V   V  |
          |             | /  /   correspondance    \  \ |             |
          |              V  /        areas          \  V              |
          |                /                         \                |
          |               /                           \               |
          |              /                             \              |
          |             /                               \             |
           \___________/                                \____________/