Written by Laura Mazzucato, Reflexologist
Laura Mazzucato is a reflexologist specialising in women's health, stress & anxiety management. After spending more than 15 years in a high-stress professional career, Laura reached a point of emotional and physical exhaustion, which led her to the path of Holistic therapy.
From puberty until menopause, women experience hormonal changes that may cause distinct symptoms and varying disease risks. Women’s health faces unique challenges throughout adolescence, the reproductive years, and menopause. Foot reflexology supports women during these three life stages by helping to relieve and alleviate discomfort or health conditions related to hormonal fluctuations and the reproductive system.
1. The menstrual cycle
The menstrual cycle can be challenging as women constantly go through a series of natural changes in hormone production and the structures of the uterus and ovaries. The cycle is divided into four phases, during which women may experience various symptoms. These symptoms can also fluctuate depending on age, overall health, emotional state, quality of life, and other factors. For example, the intensity of bleeding or lower abdominal pain may increase or decrease over the years.
The most common discomforts during the menstrual cycle, especially before and during menstruation, include premenstrual tension, pelvic pain, headaches, irritability, low mood, and emotional and nervous tension. Several bodily systems are involved in this cycle: the hormonal system, the reproductive system, the nervous system, the muscular system, and the lymphatic system. Additionally, the emotional and energetic aspects are important to consider.
The menstrual cycle and its symptoms can also be influenced by health conditions such as:
Endometriosis: Cells similar to the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) grow outside of the uterus, resulting in inflammation and pain. The causes are numerous: genetic predisposition, hormonal imbalance, and/or inappropriate inflammatory and immune response.
PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome): This is an endocrine disorder that causes the growth of follicular ovarian cysts and other health troubles such as irregular periods, infertility, pelvic pain, excess hair growth, and so on.
Uterine fibroids: This refers to a growth in the uterus that can cause abdomen or pelvic pain, along with heavy and prolonged bleeding. The causes are not well known but are thought to be hormonal and genetic.
The conditions listed above can also lead to fertility issues.
How can foot reflexology help reduce the symptoms of the menstrual cycle?
Each part of the body (organ, hormonal gland, tissue) is reflected on specific areas of the feet, which are called reflex zones or reflex points. By applying a specific type of pressure and massage on a reflex zone, the reflexologist stimulates and affects the organ, gland, or tissue to which this area is connected. The aim is to activate and boost the body’s own healing process to bring balance back and lower the discomfort felt.
Reflexology works at three levels:
It works on the zones that are directly connected to the issue. For example, if the client suffers from pelvic pain during her periods, reflexologists work on the reflex points corresponding to the parts of the body where the pain is felt: the uterus, the ovaries, and the entire pelvic area (muscular, skeletal, & lymphatic systems).
It works on the zones that play a role in the metabolism of the area where there is an imbalance. For instance, for a condition such as endometriosis, reflexologists work on the hormonal system, which plays a role in the reproductive system.
It works on an emotional level. During the menstrual cycle, the body, energy levels, and quality of life are constantly changing and, thus, challenged. This, in turn, can lead to more stress and emotional instability. Therefore, reflexologists work on the nervous system too, to restore calm, balance, and relaxation for the woman to feel safer and at ease.
2. Infertility
Infertility for a woman is defined as the inability to conceive or to carry a pregnancy to full term. Sometimes, following thorough investigations, the causes are identified by a healthcare professional such as a gynecologist or a fertility specialist. However, most of the time, it is left unexplained; doctors cannot always find a specific or identifiable medical problem at its root.
In both cases, Foot Reflexology can come into play to boost women’s (but also men’s) fertility and increase the couple’s chance of creating life.
How can foot reflexology help boost fertility?
Reflexology works on an individual and holistic basis.
Reflexologists take into consideration that each individual is different from one another and should be acknowledged at multiple levels: physical, emotional, and energetic. They take into consideration any health conditions already identified by a healthcare professional, but they also take the time with each client to identify, as much as possible, any other obstacles that could be causing infertility.
For example:
The client will be asked if they suffer from any other symptoms than the ones related to infertility, as they could be obstacles causing infertility as well.
After a general treatment of the feet, the reflexologist will take extra care of the reflex zone(s) in which tension is felt, even though there are no obvious connections with the areas of the body related to the reproductive system.
The reflexologist will take a deeper look at the client’s lifestyle, diet, emotions, level of stress, and even traumas.
As each individual is unique, the reflexologist approaches each client uniquely to make them feel at ease.
When a couple tries to conceive naturally, it is recommended to get several treatments before ovulation and after implantation.
If a couple tries to conceive under assisted reproductive treatments, it is recommended to start the treatments a few months prior and then again between the drug treatment cycles.
3. Maternity
Maternity is the period during pregnancy and shortly after birth. Pregnancy is the nurturing of a fertilised egg in the womb, which gives the fetus time to grow and develop sufficiently to survive on its own. During this period, women go through multiple physical, physiological, and mental changes. For instance, the hormonal system changes, blood volume and heartbeat increase, and tensions and discomforts such as nausea, headache, and back pain appear; and the appearance of the body changes, which can be tough for a woman’s self-confidence. Of course, this list is non-exhaustive. To fulfill the mother-to-be’s physical and emotional needs, she must be able to rest, relax, unwind, and enjoy this time in her life.
This is where Foot Reflexology can come in. From the second trimester until after birth, Reflexology promotes physical homeostasis and emotional equilibrium.
What are the benefits of foot reflexology in maternity?
During pregnancy:
It creates an ideal environment in which the fetus can grow.
It is invaluable in helping relax and calm the mother so that the uterine muscles are nurtured, thus reducing discomfort and tension in the back and pelvic area.
It helps release physical and mental fatigue. After a treatment, energy is renewed, and the ability to cope with the pregnancy becomes easier as overall tensions, pain, and discomfort decrease.
During the birth process:
With the relaxation of the uterine muscles, more space in the birth canal is created, which eases and quickens the birth of the baby, thus promoting shorter labour.
The newborn is reported to be healthier and more content.
It helps reduce pain and stress caused by labour.
It increases the natural bonding of the baby with the mother.
After birth:
It promotes the natural expulsion of the placenta.
It increases the production of milk.
It helps the mother to better recover physically and emotionally.
4. Menopause
Menopause occurs as a result of another hormonal change, the drop in female hormone production. It is a natural step in a woman’s life for the menstrual cycle to eventually come to an end. The woman no longer ovulates, and periods stop.
Even though menopause is a natural process, discomfort can occur alongside this, which can seriously affect a woman’s well-being and quality of life.
The symptoms include hot flashes, dryness, lack of libido, insomnia, headaches, tiredness, weakness in bones, emotional turmoil, and so on. These symptoms can vary in quantity and intensity between individuals.
What are the benefits of foot reflexology with menopause?
Menopause can affect all of a woman’s bodily systems. With Foot Reflexology, all of the systems, organs, glands, and tissues are stimulated to restore balance and reduce symptoms. The endocrine system is strengthened as the organs are affected by this hormonal change.
The woman’s body is a complex machine submitted to many hormonal changes throughout life, which affect women physically, as well as mentally and emotionally. Thankfully, over the past years, we have given more and more importance to understanding women’s health.
Reflexology is not a miracle treatment; it is still essential to require a medical consultation if a woman experiences any symptoms related to her health. However, reflexology is an excellent complementary, holistic therapy that can help restore a woman’s health at every level, thus improving her quality of life, overall well-being, and confidence as a woman. Feeling more comfortable with the body and its fluctuations will encourage a woman to embrace her feminity, accept the transformations that go with it, and, last but not least, enjoy and feel happy being a woman.
Laura Mazzucato, Reflexologist
Laura Mazzucato is a reflexologist specialising in women's health, stress & anxiety management. After spending more than 15 years in a high-stress professional career, Laura reached a point of emotional and physical exhaustion, which led her to the path of Holistic therapy. This was instrumental in her decision to change career paths; after attending her first reflexology treatment, she finally realised her true calling. Since then, Laura has been passionate about reflexology and amazed by its power on the body. She regularly attends training and workshops in order to enhance her skills and knowledge, and to maximise the benefits of treatments for her clients’ health. Her motto: Make Your Health Your Priority!
