Thanks for your email.

In order to feel confident about having your friend who just had 2 breast removed Thur. July 29th, receive reflexology you should check first with her doctor. This is so simple to do and this way you won’t miss anything (i.e., a complication or another issue that is not known to you) only the doctor knows about.

Once you get the doctor’s okay, the reflexes you suggested are an excellent choice: chest/lung/breast, lymphatic system,& pituitary.

I would also detail what I call the “BIG 3″ systems, endocrine, lymph and CNS (for calm and relaxation)

I’m sorry that your friend had a less than positive experience with her first practitioner – (and this should be a note to all reflexology practitioners – keep the session client focused).

You’ll be interested to know that the University of Michigan has received a 1.3 million dollar grant from the NIH (National Institute of Health) to study reflexology as a support for the effects of the treatment breast cancer. As their website states:

“Breast cancer patients turn to reflexology for comfort” 9/30/2005

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Researchers at Michigan State University are finding that many women who are receiving chemotherapy while in the late stages of breast cancer are turning to a complementary therapy known as reflexology to help them cope.

In a pilot study, researchers from MSU’s College of Nursing tested three different complementary therapies — reflexology, guided imagery and reminiscence therapy, in which women recall times in their lives when they’ve met and overcome challenges. Of those three, reflexology proved to be the most effective…

As, a reflexologist, even a new one, the more you practice, the more confident you’ll become (1 1/2 years is a good amount of time to have practiced – keep up the good work, you’re well on your way).

I like to remind my students that reflexology is not as exacting a science as say, brain surgery… with reflexology, even the simplest effort has potential to offer a tremendous amount of support. The stress relief that’s inherent in reflexology tends to really help the body in its own healing processes.

And yes, you can certainly help long distance. I believe that the care and compassion that you have for your friend will certainly help, even from afar.

Best wishes.

Wendy Coad
The Reflexology Professor

I have a friend (Amy) who just had 2 breast removed Thur. July 29th. She had cancer in one and decided to have both removed because she also has MS and didn’t want to have to worry about the other one . Her DR. agreed.

Anyway I live in Montana and she lives in Iowa.
I was wondering if it would be o.k. to sugest to her husband to rub her feet in the areas that would help with her healing faster.
Such as chest/lung/breast, lymphatic system,& pituitary.

I had paid for her 1st session to a reflexologist in her home town the day before surgury. She went, but the reflexologist was a real turn off to her because she talked about herself the whole session and didn’t explain what she was doing and why!!!! So I’m assuming she won’t go back.

I had Amy tell me what the reflexologist had done, and explained everything to her and told her that she did a very good treatment and it will help with the stress of surgury even though she talked the whole time.
That put her at ease and she was greatful to know how it all worked.

I’m a reflexologist, but very new at it (1 1/2 years )
So I need the confidence I guess, to be able to help long distance.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.

And I love the news letters. I always look forward to the next one.

Thanks again.
Sheila