Question

[teacup]

Hi all,
does anyone know why my client's stomach reflex would be firm and spongy on the left, yet sunken and depleted in energy on the right?

 

[Pati]

The stomach reflex is congested regardless of what the foot feels like so I wouldn't have thought it meant anything out of the ordinary that one foor was firma nd spongy and the other sunken.

Haveing said that, both the stomach and pancreas reflexes appear more on the left foot but there is definitely more stomach than pancreas on the right foot so maybe the stomach reflex is sunken and depleted of energy while the pancreas is firm and spongy?

 

[Maggie May]

Maybe it isn't so much the energetic state of the stomach, but the overall imbalance from side to side of the client whether it is energetic or simply biomechanical. Looking at reflexology more from a TCM point of view, the right foot would reflecting the Liver Qi and left foot the Spleen Qi (stomach/pancreas).

RP

 

[Waydayceale]

Ahh thank you reiki pixie, that is interesting. I would love to know more about TCM, I have a few books, but I can't get my head around it.

 

[Pedo Bear]

Hi UH

TCM is a big subject. My statement about Liver Qi (right) & Spleen Qi (left) is just a way of expressing "influences". A more common reflection/influence would be right shoulder problem that (may be) associated with the Liver and left shoulder prob with the Spleen. Please note this is a simplicistic statement.

The problem with reflexology is that it's based on a very basic principle of reflective zones. TCM is more complex as it is trying the understand a more in depth view of the energy body. TCM has systems within systems within systems - ie micro and macro levels. On the other hand, reflexology is simply micro.

I not knocking reflexology, it's a good therapy, but I feel that reflexologists jump to conclusions too quickly when palpating the feet. Studying some TCM can broaden a reflexologists outlook.

Whatever we do, it's all about creating homeostasis.

Best Wishes

RP

 

[Kaira]

I fully agree with you RP that it is wise to broaden knowledge - each theory can help piece together information to gain a deeper insight.

Both the client's shoulder reflexes are unbalanced also. So from a TCM perspective it's the shoulders influencing the stomach? Or have I understood it wrong?

Hip

 

[Dee Cee]

Hi UH

I'm just putting some different ideas across in a simple way. Shoulder problems are usually more complex in reality. If, and this is a big IF, the shoulder problem related to an organ, it would more likely to be a organ disfunction. Both the organ and the shoulder reflexes would need to be worked.

One problem with the zone system is that it would consider an imbalance in the area associated with the shoulders denotes a problem in that area. But the shoulder reflex is a part of the foot that is highly weight bearing and often rubbing in foot wear. This will cause callus and fibrotic adhensions. So is it a shoulder problem or is this biomechanical? What I'm trying to say is that as practitioners we need to broaden our assessment procedures and not leap to fast and badly thought out conclusions.

Best Wishes

RP

 

[MissNobody]

Is it something to do with the opening to the stomach from the oesophagus, as IIRC this is more on the right side than the left? (Just off the top of my head - I remember it from having my hiatus hernia investigated)