Natural relief from common causes of Inflammation
My Story
My journey with RLD although I didn't know it at the time started when I was pregnant with my first daughter. Like many Mums in their final trimester I was suffering from excess water retention and peripheral swelling in my hands and feet. As part of my preparation for labour I booked in to see a Reflexologist to help me relax and dissolve the anxiety that I felt being so overdue. My expectations from the session were to come away feeling relaxed and well rested and hopefully sleep a bit better that evening. What I wasn't expecting was to also be shown points along my leg I could massage myself as part of Labour preparation. Whenever the reflexologist touched these points my baby would kick and squirm about as I experienced Braxton Hicks contractions! I was surprised and amazed by this but chalked it up to co-incidence at the time. Armed with instructions and indelible pen marks on my legs. My husband tried the same points the following evening and exactly the same thing happened. That was it for me. There was more to Reflexology than just a great way to relax. I need to find out more. The other real surprise was that my swollen hands and ankles had gone down a lot during the course of the treatment. Again I chalked this up to it being because my legs were elevated for longer than I would normally manage. What happened over the next couple of days could not however be put down to putting my feet up alone. My ankles went down completely and looked thinner than before I became pregnant and stayed that way for 72 hours!
Fast forward 10 years, children growing up fast and a change in career direction, I decided to take what was an interest and hobby and retrain to become a fully qualified Reflexologist. A few years after that I had the opportunity to train in RLD with Sally Kay in February 2018. Finally I had the science and explanation why Reflexology had given me such blissful relief from swelling all those years ago.
Here are all the lovely Reflexologists that I trained with on that day. Travelling from all over the country to Train in Oxford. I'm hiding at the back in the middle of the photo.
The RLD Protocol
Trained in this beautiful treatment my clients can now experience how powerful stimulating the lymphatic reflexes on the feet can be. It is a very light and calming technique that can be applied on it's own or in combination with other protocols. The treatment objective is to cause an effect on the lymphatic system for any clients suffering with excess swelling. Although originally designed to support lymphoedema it can be used for so much more.
Sally Kay explains how this lovely treatment was born in her video together with an example of how RLD can help a Lymphodema client.
This technique was developed and trialled in clinical practice using reflexology for patients suffering from cancer at all stage of the disease. A significant number of patients who had been treated for breast cancer can also suffer from secondary lymphoedema.
What else it can help
Symptoms relating to lymphoedema often include :
Underarm swelling
Swollen hands
Painful shoulder
A swollen arm
Discomfort from uncomfortable swelling despite support stockings or compression sleeves.
For further information on this protocol see Sally Kays website. She also has a wonderful range of balms too. Explore how this modality could help you and review the supporting research materials for yourself.
As directly quoted from Sally on her site:
“Lymphatic drainage massage (MLD) is used to treat conditions other than lymphoedema, and RLD may be used similarly. MLD may also be useful with the following conditions:
Arthritis,
Asthma,
Eczema,
Chronic fatigue,
Fibromyalgia, ME,
Sinus problems,
Migraines,
Headaches,
Muscular tension,
Aches and pains
Premenstrual Syndrome.”
Case Study
Fast foreward some more and here is an example of how powerful this treatment can be for some. The difference in just one treatment is clinically significant.
And after just 3 treatments, look at how loose the skin has become for this client offering her obvious relief. I will let her speak for herself.
Client Testimonial
What's next
If you would like more information about the services I can provide pop your questions on my contacts page or hit the book now button for a Reflexology Lymphatic Drainage appointment.
If you are not local to my area then you can find other approved practitioners across the World and England specifically.
Shelley Mason MAR
Reflexologist
#Reflexologylymphaticdrainage, #lymphoedema, #Cancercare