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Treating ADHD with Reflexology

ADHD affects 10 percent of children in today's society. It has been accepted as a genetic disorder, although no one really knows the cause. If these symptoms look familiar to you, your child may be suffering from ADHD.

Common complaints and problem areas include

Fidgeting and squirming

Rocking and jiggling legs

Fears Sleep and often wakes up crying or unable to get back to sleep

Frequent nightmare and terrors

Excessive talking

Easily excitable and demonstrates unpredictable behaviors

Impulsive (regardless of consequences)

Does not follow directions

Tendency toward daydreaming

Very short attention span and very distractible

Defiant and does not obey rules

Sees himself or herself as a failure

Destructive or aggressive toward others

Unorganized and often loose things

Clumsiness, uncoordinated (for example, finds it very hard to ride a bike)

Poor hand eye coordination, difficulty tying, writing, drawing, cutting etc

Some have speech difficulties like stuttering and problems with pronunciation.

There are many kinds of treatments for ADHD. Some of the most common conventional treatment regimens include occupational and play therapy, child and clinical psychiatry (which usually results in medication), physiotherapy, remedial practice, speech therapy, and educational therapy. A few holistic approaches that have been shown to work include supplementation, diet intervention, reflexology and homeopathy.

Reflexology is the practice of applying pressure in a strategic manner to reflexes of the feet and hands, and even the face and ears. Reflexologists see the hands and feet as an open door to the bodies systems. Each section of the feet and hands correlate to a specific organ. By stimulating nerves on specific areas of the feet and hands, you can stimulate blood flow and eliminate toxin buildup in the corresponding organs and systems of the body. And because reflexology works to put the body in a state of well-being, it is beneficial to every system in the body. It helps reduce body tension and definitely brings a sense of relaxation. This can be very beneficial to someone suffering from emotional disorders or manic episodes.

So why is this technique so beneficial to children? The most obvious reason is because it works. However, it is also known that reflexology is so beneficial to children because they have not yet been "programmed" to societies way of handling sickness. When the mind is more receptive and does not contain the boundaries that many adults have, it is understood that the body works more effectively and efficiently. It is true, we get programmed to using drugs and surgery to take care of our problems, when the truth is, and therapies such as these have been used successfully for thousands of years. Why? Because they work!

Research has found that not only is it beneficial as a tool for relaxation and stress relief, but it is also an effective tool for improving circulation; relieving pain, detoxification, recovering from surgery, and as an immune and nervous system stimulator. In fact, many people with illnesses such as allergies; chronic sinus problems; acid reflux; migraines; PMS; behavioral disorders; menopause; insomnia; fertility problems and even arthritis have been helped tremendously by reflexology treatments.