Reflexology for Beginners

For example, a patient with a ruptured spinal disc who can’t undergo surgery could receive reflexology to relax the area around the rupture and promote healing. You can find a certified reflexologist through the American Reflexology Certification Board.

What it’s Best For: Reflexology is an effective therapy for relieving musculoskeletal aches and pains, including back, shoulder and hip aches, and spinal problems. The treatment also helps clear up allergies and ease headache symptoms.

The Beauty Connection: The top of the big toe is the key reflexology point that’s linked to the face; stimulating this point can increase circulation and improve skin tone over time, according to Cook. But reflexology also helps you look and feel beautiful by keeping our bodies free of pain and tension. “When you’re getting regular reflexology, you’re in good health, and if you’re in good health, you have a glow about you,” says Cook. “Just having your body in balance improves your beauty, your skin and your hair growth.” Some forms of reflexology also use facial stimulus points to treat the body, which has the added benefit of relaxing facial tension and increasing circulation.