Hand Reflexology for Skin Conditions

Original photo by wimayr.

"Our appearance reflects our inner health," says Ann Louise Gittleman, author of The Living Beauty Detox Program."Very often, what we first see with skin, hair and nails is simply a reflection of inner imbalances."

Reflexology can help to correct imbalances within the body and can be very beneficial for people who suffer with various skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, acne, dermatitis, and rosacea to name a few.

“Problems such as chronic acne, pimples or dryness often point to nutrient deficiencies.” says Ann Gittleman. The skin is the biggest organ of the body and requires a large amount of nutrients to keep it healthy and looking good.

Our supply of vitamins and minerals depends not only on our diet, but on how well our body is able to digest the food and drink we consume. Working on the digestive and elimination reflexes, such as the gall bladder, stomach, liver, spleen, intestines, kidneys, and oesphagus, can help to revitalize a sluggish digestive system, increase the circulation to the organs, help the absorption of vitamins and minerals, and help eliminate toxins and waste products from the body.

Bringing the digestive system back in to balance not only improves its function, but also improves the health and function of the rest of the bodily systems including the skin. This in turn can help eliminate the skin conditions mentioned above.

Some skin conditions can also be linked to stress and hormones so I would also suggest working on the adrenal and pituitary gland reflexes. It might also be worth working the reflexes where the skin condition is located, for instance, if you have psoriasis on your elbow, then work the elbow reflex.

Most people associate reflexology with the feet but it can also be performed on the hands. I often advise my clients to work on specific reflex points on the hands in between their appointments with me. The picture above illustrates the reflexes on the hands which should be worked to help improve the absorption of nutrients and aid detoxification and improve the condition of the skin. Move your thumb in a caterpillar like motion over the reflexes in the direction of the arrows. On the circular points, press your thumb into the point, thumb bent and rotate in a clockwise direction.

Apparently, the skin is the last organ of the body to receive nutrients from the food, drink and nutritional supplements consumed, so it is also advisable to apply a cream or oil which contains the anti-oxidant vitamins (vitamins A, C and E) to help improve the health of your skin.

Performing this simple hand reflexology routine daily, in conjunction with a balanced healthy diet rich in the anti-oxidant vitamins, and plenty of water, will help improve the overall condition of your skin.

Psoriasis and Essential Oils

While surfing the net for information on essential oils, I came across a forum which had a post regarding Psoriasis and the use of essential oils. It said: “Avoid oils which promote cell regeneration as the psoriasis symptoms are caused by excessive cell growth. Lavender essential oil, and shea butter are just two of the oils to avoid”.

I have no idea whether this person was a trained Aromatherapist or not and as I wasn’t a member of the forum, I was unable to get involved in the discussion and ask more information about what they had said. I went and had a look in my books for other oils which are cell regenerators and came up with a long list but some of these oils were also listed as being beneficial for Psoriasis. This confused me somewhat.

MedicineNet.com describes Psoriasis as “a noncontagious common skin condition that causes rapid skin cell reproduction resulting in red, dry patches of thickened skin. The dry flakes and skin scales are thought to result from the rapid buildup of skin cells. Psoriasis commonly affects the skin of the elbows, knees, and scalp.”

On the WebMD website it says that a variety of factors can cause an episode of psoriasis “ranging from emotional stress and trauma to dry skin and streptococcal infection.” They also report that “80% of people having flare-ups report a recent emotional trauma, such as a new job or the death of a loved one. Many doctors believe such external stressors serve as triggers for an inherited defect in immune function.”

I contacted the Psoriasis Association to see if they could assist me on which products I should and shouldn’t use with psoriasis. I know Shea butter isn’t an essential oil but was interested that it has cell regenerating properties. The Psoriasis Association commented that “many people with psoriasis do use it [Shea butter] due to its intense moisturising properties.” They couldn’t comment on individual essential oils as they said “unfortunately there has been very little research into the use of essential oils and psoriasis.”

I contacted the Aromatherapy Council to see if they could help me further. They suggested that I “should not look at the condition in isolation but look at the whole picture and blend oils to suit the individual at the time of treatment.” As a holistic therapist, this is something that I do naturally. Although lavender and other essential oils maybe cell regenerators (cytophylactic) they will only stimulate the growth of healthy cells so are therefore ok to use.

Essential Oils which can help Psoriasis include bergamot, clary sage, thyme, tea tree, cajuput, niaouli, lavender, chamomile, geranium, juniper, melissa, sandalwood, frankincense, benzoin, myrrh, and rose.

Carrier Oils which can help Psoriasis include avocado, carrot seed, jojoba, sesame, and wheatgerm.