This study shows
that the application of reflexology leads to a wide range of clear
secondary manifestations (or “ Body Behaviours”, expressed
through different physiological reactions grouped into 4 categories:
- Saccadic involuntary eye movements with eyelids closed, a response to
non-visual stimuli
- Spontaneous body movements, 10 to 20 min into the
session (hands, arms, legs, and fingers, and facial: eyebrows, chin
and labial movements)
The study links
reflexology treatment to:
- Muscle tone variations that release
tensions contained in the musculoskeletal system as a response to
obtain postural equilibrium.
- Growing drowsiness and clear feature and
physical indications of relaxation as the reflexology session
progressed, with brief sudden muscle twitches, temperature decrease,
disconnection of the environmental perception
- Benefits similar to
NREM sleep (characterized by slow eye movement, slow brain waves,
stillness): a short nap that benefits memory consolidation, the
learning process and combatting problematic situations,
concentration.
“The neuronal bases of these correlations seem to
suggest that eye movements control our view of the world and could
therefore be a doorway to our minds” say the authors.
“Recent
research on eye movements in sleep and wakefulness propose new and
diverse theories on the connections that can be established between
eye movements and memory processes, reading comprehension and
learning as well as connections with the processing of emotional
memories. “
Various extremely important physiological processes are
closely related, or determined by sleep: the establishment or
conservation of energy, elimination of free radicals accumulated
during the day, the regulation or restoration of cortical electrical
activity, thermal regulation, metabolic or endocrine regulation,
synaptic homeostasis, immunological activation or memory
consolidation, among others...
There is ample scientific literature
that proves the benefits of reflexology on sleep quality (please see
our previous posts).
It is interesting to note that the application
of sustained sedation during the reflexology treatment in the
temporomandibular joint, the oculomotor center, celiac plexus and the
highest point of the diaphragm might have some relationship with the
results of the study: clinical experience shows that there are points
with great therapeutic content.
The authors also add: “Many of
these responses do not happen simply by touch, suggesting that
reflexology is more significant and deeper than a simple massage
effect”.
Exploring the body through reflexology:
Physical behaviors during application
https://www.reflexology.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Exploring-the-body-through-reflexology.pdf
Eficacia de Reflexologia en insomnio y
sueño http://www.barcelonareflexologia.com/2021/03/eficacia-de-reflexologia-en-problemas.html
Respuestas hormonales y neuronales de
la Reflexología y beneficios sobre cognición social, dolor, estrés,
ansiedad...
http://www.barcelonareflexologia.com/2020/12/respuestas-hormonales-y-neuronales-de.html
