Fertility Road Issue 03

FERTILITY ROAD
GUIDES/REFLEXOLOGY
Helping you plan for every stage of your journey...
TREADING
A NEW
PATH OF
FERTILITY...
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If a word ends in ‘ology’ there’s a good chance that at some
point, and in some way, its science has been linked to that of
fertility. Patients will pursue the dream of having a family
with the same veracity as specialists seeking to unravel the
secrets of the human body, but should reflexology be added to the
list of alternative remedies that hold their own when it comes to
providing trusted routes to parenthood?
Maybe so. An increasing number of women are claiming significant
results having experimented with this popular type of foot
massage - a technique and approach that dates way back to the
ancient Egyptians and Chinese, and one that uses pressure points
on the feet (and hands), in doing so unblocking channels and freeing
up the flow of positive vibes around the body.
Scientific investigations remain disparate, but the theory is that
the sole of the foot, in particular, acts as a map for the inner workings
of the body. It therefore follows that particular points on the foot,
if manipulated in a skilled and knowledgeable way, can send
therapeutic, repairing vibes to the brain regarding a woman’s egg
production, correcting imbalances and freeing up energy pathways.
Unlike other assisting techniques, there is no evidence whatsoever
that reflexology interferes negatively with any processes either before
or during pregnancy. Some reflexologists will refuse patients
in their first trimester, though this is thought to be for the reason of
protecting against adverse publicity that might errantly be linked
to the therapy in the event of miscarriage.
Instead, reflexology is best viewed as an exercise – something that
can be built up gradually to suit an individual’s taste and demands.
Renowned therapist Lynne Morgan was recently quoted as
saying: “Reflexology is very successful in the treatment of a wide
variety of pregnancy discomforts and conditions. It can be used for
relaxation and pain relief, and research has shown that women
who have regular reflexology treatments during pregnancy have
far shorter labours than those who don’t.”
In addition, research leans heavily towards the idea that reflexology
is excellent for maintaining or increasing milk supply, as well
as helping with postnatal depressing and general relaxation.
And the good news for those looking to explore more about
reflexology is that the technique’s reputation is very much being
endorsed by the NHS, with many healthcare professionals
recognising its incredible benefits.
Some maternity units have their own reflexologists either working
within the practice or accessible through it, so try asking your
midwife if she knows of any that your local Trust uses.
So what are the scientific numbers that have pushed this
relaxation art right forward into the consciousness of potential
participants? Well, the Association of Reflexologists recently
gathered feedback from their members, finding that over 50% of
clients seeking reflexology in connection with conception found
themselves pregnant within six months.
Of course, these figures are very difficult to quantify. A certain
proportion of that number would have fallen pregnant anyway,
while others will state that it is the calming effect or faith created
by and placed in reflexology that actually creates better conditions
with which to conceive, rather than the technique itself.
But reflexology has as worthy a place on the market as any of
the other alternative remedies, and given that it takes the form of
such a simple, non-intrusive process, its popularity is only
expected to increase.
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