Reflexology Tips and Techniques - with Ann Gillanders

Migraine

A Reflexology Case History

Terry, a sufferer of long term migraine, high cholesterol levels and chronic low back pain.

Terry was 45 when he decided to turn his life around, as he described it, and try something new, and strange as it seemed he felt that reflexology was certainly worth a try.
His health had always been problematic. The migraine attacks he described as a 'curse' that had been with him since puberty certainly had increased during the last 20 years, and despite a variety of drugs from the doctors, which helped the attacks but did nothing to prevent them occurring, he just suffered the debilitating attacks, which occurred on average twice a month, lasting between three and four days.
They usually occurred on Friday evenings and lasted over the weekend. By the time Monday came he was usually able to go back to work, which, as he said was just as well, otherwise he would have lost his job many years ago.
His job involved hours of driving: 250-300 miles most days was not unusual. This obviously did not help his back condition.

What do we know about migraine?

Many cases relate to intolerance of food. Attacks usually start in the morning and last, in their acute stage, between 4 and 24 hours.
Symptoms are quite varied and include a severe throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head, a sensitivity to light, vomiting, dizziness and sometimes periodic abdominal pains.
Children are more likely to suffer from stomach cramps during migraine attacks. In fact we do hear the phrase 'stomach migraine'.
There is evidence to suggest that there is a link between migraine headache and vascular system instability but the mechanisms are not yet known.
Most clinicians and researchers believe that excessive intracranial arterial constriction (causing inadequate blood supply to the brain) followed by the reverse, a dilation of the arteries causes the symptoms.
What causes the change in arterial pressures? Some feel that a build up of histamine can be responsible. Foods such as alcohol, chocolate, cheese and the yellow and orange coloring in foods, seem to be very responsible.

It was the liver area in Terry's feet that reacted so acutely when pressure was applied. Was it, I wondered, because of the high cholesterol level, or was the liver very toxic which was causing the migraine?

Liver and Migraines

Let's now learn more about the liver. It is a truly intricate and complex organ and, without question, the most important organ of metabolism.
The health and vitality of the individual is determined by the health and vitality of the liver. What an onslaught this vital organ is subjected to in a lifetime, including toxic chemicals, various herbicides, pesticides, fats, drugs, alcohol, additives and colorings.
The liver's basic functions are threefold: metabolic, vascular and secretory. Its vascular activities are remarkable – filtering over a liter of blood per minute. The liver very efficiently removes bacteria, antigens and antibodies from the circulation.
The liver produces and secretes one liter of bile per day.
What about the metabolic functions? They too are quite amazing. The liver stores and produces vitamins and minerals, detoxifies and excretes into the bile hormones such as cortisol, estrogen, histamine and thyroxine.
We talk about feeling 'liverish'. A congested or sluggish liver can make you feel that way. One of the leading causes that contribute to impaired liver function is diminished bile flow. This can be caused by numerous factors the most common of which is obstruction of the bile duct due to gall stones.

Exposure to toxic chemicals, drugs or hepatitis is usually apparent in the individual with a sluggish liver. Amongst the symptoms people with this condition complain of are fatigue, digestive upsets, chronic constipation and premenstrual syndrome.
With impaired liver function, as little as one ounce (25mg) of alcohol can produce damage to the liver which results in fat being deposited in the liver cells. This ultimately causes a very large abdominal area particularly in males, and the weight of this enlarged abdomen usually causes low back pain and sciatica.
As I proceeded with the reflexology treatment, Terry's feet certainly reflected all the weaknesses and congestion in his body
However, I was mystified as to why he had such a high cholesterol level. He was of slight build, a non-smoker and non-drinker with no family history of heart trouble. In fact, his older brother had a low cholesterol reading.

I am convinced that in many cases, high fat levels in the blood are due to the liver being unable to eliminate its fat levels efficiently. In cases of chronic constipation, the toxic congested bowel puts undue stress on all the other organs of elimination, the liver being the main one.
The congested bowel, I am sure, prevents the liver dumping its waste products for evacuation through the bowel so fats and toxins are retained, hence the high cholesterol level.
Therefore the most important area for me to work on was the intestinal area. If we could get this area working efficiently this would leave more opportunity for the liver to release its fats and toxins.

Reflexology Treatments

The first treatment was spent explaining my findings and identifying the area that I would concentrate working upon.

I anticipated that Terry would have a reaction, and he did: frequent bowel actions over the next three days, a slight feeling of nausea particularly in the morning, but no associated headache.

The second treatment - more intense work on the intestine. There was no point in tackling the liver sensitivity yet, the bowel was the main cause of the trouble here.

The third treatment - Terry said that he felt quite energetic during the last week, still was having frequent bowel action which he was amazed about, and his low back pain had been much improved.

The fourth treatment - Terry had a migraine headache which lasted just one day, the pain was less severe than usual. No sickness with this attack.

The fifth treatment - had a symptom free week.

The sixth treatment - no migraine, no back pain at all, bowels still working overtime, felt much 'lighter' and energy levels were still high.

The seventh treatment - We had a two week gap this time - still no migraine and no back pain.

The eighth treatment - Another two week gap. Patient reported that he was symptom free.

The ninth treatment - This time Terry had a one month gap. Still well and due to see the doctor for a further blood test to determine the cholesterol levels.

Analysis
Terry had the result of his blood test and much to the amazement of the doctor and himself his cholesterol level had dropped dramatically. Back pain had disappeared and constipation was now a thing of the past.

My conclusion

I feel that Terry's condition originated from chronic constipation which caused the liver to retain fatty lipids and toxic waste - hence the raised cholesterol level. His low back pain, too, was caused by constipation. A congested bowel causes extreme pressure on the lumbar spinal nerves.