March 1, 2014

By Elyse J. Williams, MS, CNS

It’s March, and in Central Oregon that means we have the returning of light to our days with the illusion of an approaching Spring, yet Winter is still here and reminding us to be patient.  Children are masters of absorbing this transition of energy as we parents sometimes get distracted by deadlines, changing family dynamics, worries, responsibilities and plans for play and work.  We poise to cruise to the beat of our own envisioned schedule when suddenly our little one(s) force us to halt with a melt down like we have never seen, diarrhea, a mysterious rash, anxiety, a fever, or some other symptom of rising heat and irritation in the system.

What do we do?  Usually spin into a place of more stress and responsibility, anxiety and action.  But what if instead we chose to listen to Winter’s still ever present wisdom, reminding us to slow down, ground and integrate our systems, to just “be” and listen to our bodies, and encourage our children to do the same.  The best gift we could possibly give ourselves and our little ones, a way to build deeper connection and receptivity, is to call our own “snow day” moment, brew some tea and grab some soothing oils, and start to rub some feet and ground!

Reflexology is the art and science of stimulating neural and energy pathways of the body to rebalance, relax, and cleanse, through stimulating reflexes on the foot with pressure of the thumb.  The beauty is, anyone can do it (and trust me as a reflexologist at Hawthorn this may be something I shouldn’t brag about).  Yes YOU can do it.  In a world where it is common for preschool children to be put on prescription mood altering drugs, and teenage depression and suicide rates are rising exponentially, we SHOULD be doing it with our children, regardless of age.

Here is what you need to know to get started:

  1. Set the intention.  Reflexology opens up pathways of communication between doer and receiver, and these pathways stay open during traumatic times when a child needs to talk about worries and problems.  We may feel insecure or incompetent, but miraculously children don’t perceive this, and instead by practicing reflexology with your child you provide the setting to become healer, counselor, and friend, as well as parent.

  2. Have massage oil or lotion, towel, essential oils, and create appropriate mood with lighting and music.  Make sure child is relaxed in comfortable seat either reclined or lying down with support under knees.  As a starter it can be nice to refresh and calm feet with a warm washcloth.

  3. Use relaxation techniques to connect comfortably to child’s foot.  To start use two hands to greet each foot, and simply hold ankles or put your palms to their soles and hold for a few minutes, this is a great time to add oils to each hand before hold so you get your own therapeutic breathing and grounding time.  Slide two hands up on each foot from ankle to toes, thumbs squeezing bottom of feet, hands curved around each side, and fingers rubbing top and gently squeeze slowly and smoothly, more vigorously to increase energy.

  4. Loosen ankles with a jiggle, push and pull tops forward and back, and simply hold base of ankles and pull lightly to release pressure from hips.  Then get creative!  Play with gentle smooth strokes, there is no wrong way to relax the feet, just make sure you apply enough pressure that it is not ticklish.

  5. Reflex!  Use your thumb, starting at base of heel, and walk up imaginary lines following toe lines like your thumb is an inchworm.  Keep thumb incontact with skin at all times, don’t jump too much, and apply steady pressure as thumb presses in, and walks upwards to press in again.  Start outside and work up heel to little fifth toe, then heel to fourth, and repeat to walk five lines from heel straight up to last toe, the 1st, big toe.

  6. Play “Problems and Sole-utions”, use right foot to work out problems, and left foot to bring in solutions to those problems.  Encourage children to use colorful visualizations and affirmations that can be made into rhymes.  Be playful and trust the power of visualizations like a bruise fading away, a wound healing, a cold clearing, or stress dissipating like a cloud.  Children are intuitive healers, let them lead if they are willing.

5 Essential Oils to use on Feet:

  1. LAVENDER: Use on toes and inside line of foot, calming mind and upper senses along with spinal reflex.

Emotional Properties: Calm composure, easy self-expression

Physical Properties: Sooths nervous tension, insomnia, calming, cleansing, anti-inflammatory.

  1. MELALEUCA: Use on balls, chest/lung reflex, heart on left side

Emotional Properties: Strength, resistance, confidence

Physical Properties: Supportive to body and immune system with wide range of antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties.  Strengthens lungs, heart and nervous system.

  1. GERANIUM: Use on area below ball to center of foot, upper internal organs  focus on liver right side, stomach/spleen on left.

Emotional Properties: Security, receptivity, intimacy

Physical Properties: Clears heat and inflammation, relaxes nerves and supports nervous exhaustion, liver stimulant, calms agitation and eases frustration and irritability.

  1. WILD ORANGE: Use on area from center of foot to top of heel pad, lower internal organs focus on intestines and lower digestion.

Emotional Properties: Ease, adaptability, optimism

Physical Properties: Digestive stimulant and calmative, poor appetite, indigestion, flatulence, constipation as well as irritable bowel.  Overall tonic that disperses moodiness and irritability from stuck energy.

  1. PEPPERMINT: Use on heel area and inside line of foot, pelvic and spinal reflexes.

Emotional Properties: Attentive, tolerant, visionary

Physical Properties: Stimulating effect is warming than cooling, calming to nerves and muscles, good for soothing hot congestion, analgesic, antibacterial, calms fever. Invigorates mind and stimulates stomach absorption.

Now you have enough tools to get started!  Keep sessions short at first, 10-15 minutes, and let child fidget if he/she wants to.  Remember to stay loose and playful, and enjoy the power, intention, and connection that arises when you take ownership of your own and your child’s self-growth and healing.

Still want to know more? Come to our FREE health talk Monday March 17th from 7-9 about Reflexology and Essential Oils for Moms and Kids.  Hope to see you there!