Hand reflexology is as effective as any other type of reflexology, but if you have the choice to do foot reflexology, it's preferred because foot reflexes are closer to the surface of the skin.

Hand reflexology is as effective as any other type of reflexology, but if you have the choice to do foot reflexology, it's preferred because foot reflexes are closer to the surface of the skin. Reflexology on the hand will give you the same results as doing it on any other part of the body, but the results will take a little longer to happen. In some Western hands reflexology maps the eyes are associated with the 2nd phalange of the index finger (see map 1) or the middle finger (see map 2). But in the Korean 'Koryo hand therapy' maps the eyes are placed on the tip of the middle finger (see map 3).

Shop Hand Reflexology 6x5' Poster created by Craftykreationz. Personalize it with photos & text or purchase as is! Step 5: Consult a hand reflexology map to identify the points of reflection in your hands that correspond to the parts of your body you want to work. For example, if you have pain in your left shoulder, you have to query the map and see that the points of reflection for your.

Reflexology on the hand will give you the same results as doing it on any other part of the body, but the results will take a little longer to happen.

We use hand reflexology mainly for do-it-yourself reflexology or to relieve symptoms such as headaches, constipation, shoulder aches.. and much much more! Check out hand reflexology pain relief tricks here.

Hand reflexology uses a completely different technique to foot reflexology.

Mainly because the hands are very flexible and the reflexes are much deeper under the skin which means you need to reach deeper and hold for longer to stimulate a hand reflexology point.

The best way to position yourself and the person set to receive reflexology, is to sit across a table from them with a towel under their hands/ wrists for comfort.

Every reflexology treatment begins with a relaxation exercise.

The relaxation exercise sets the tone of the treatment as relaxing and helps to soothe the muscles before you get into a therapeutic deeper massage of the reflexes.

Hand Reflexology Technique

Hand 'reflexes', the spots we are trying to stimulate when doing reflexology, are very deep.

Much deeper than any other reflexology spot on the body.

Step 1.

How to reach Hand Reflexes

1a. using one finger or thumb apply firm pressure in on spot on the hand.

1b. without lifting the thumb or finger rotate the finger/ thumb so the pressure is being applied in a circular motion.

1c. so this over the same spot for about three to five seconds.

1d. move the finger/ thumb to a new spot next to where you have been working and repeat again for about three to five seconds.

How to do Reflexology on the Hand

Begin every hand reflexology session on the right hand, do the whole hand, followed by the left.

Step 1.

Relaxation Exercises

1a. use a little massage or baby oil, and gently rub around the wrist of the right hand. Use wide gentle outward sweeping movements of the thumbs, moving slowly.

1b. keeping the same motion move the thumbs into the palms of the hands, working from the middle/ inside of the palm slowly to the edges. Repeat slowly for about thirty seconds.

1c. turn the hand over, and very (very!) gently across the top of the hand, use your thumbs to push from between the knuckles/ bottom of the fingers, to the wrist. This is very relaxing but using too much pressure can be painful.

1d. holding one finger at a time, hold it as if to wring the finger off the hand and give it a very gentle slow side to side twist so that the knuckle bone joint is being rotated (there should be no cracking noises made on purpose, although some might happen). Slide your hand up so that it can now do the same to the second joint, repeat gentle rotating of the joint and again on the top joint of the finger.

1e. gently give the hand a last squeeze, pat off the oil with a towel, and do the same on the left hand.

Step 2.

Stimulate Hand Meridians

2a. using the Hand Reflexology Technique (described above) apply pressure in a circular motion for three to five seconds clockwise and then anti clockwise on each meridian point shown in the diagram below.

Meridian points on the hands are:

Lung Meridian

Colon/ Large Intestine Meridian

Heart Constrictor Meridian

Triple Burner Meridian

This meridian is described by the ancient Chinese medical text the Nei Ching 'the triple burner is not exactly an organ, but a relationship between a number of organs..' It relates to the three main cavities of the body and the organs within. So is an essential meridian point to stimulate to promote regular balance within the whole body.

Heart

Small Intestine

Step 3.

Fingers

The fingers represent everything from your neck up. It represents the glands, brain, skull, facial skin, ears, hearing and sight...

Toes represent the same areas. The difference between doing reflexology on the toes and fingers is that the fingers offer a greater area to do reflexology on. The fingers are a bigger version of the toes, like the toes have been 'zoomed in' on.

Use the hand reflexology technique on the fingers in this manner;

3a. begin at the top of the thumb on the right hand, move downwards to the base of the thumb, begin again at the top of the thumb and move downwards again over a new area that hasn't received reflexology yet.

Continue until the entire thumb has been stimulated using the Hand Reflexology Technique.

3b. repeat to index finger, and then to every other finger on the right hand. Remember to give attention to every single part of skin available, from the inside to the outside.

The palm of the hand represents your body torso.

Notice that your palm has different shades of colour, it generally is lighter in the middle and darker around the top and side edge; the top pink area is your chest, the light area in the middle includes stomach and liver area, while the bottom padding nearest the wrist (and up along the side of the hand towards the little finger) is the digestion system.

Just under the little finger (on both front and back of the hand) is your shoulder area, rub this area using the Hand Reflexology Technique to get relief from mild shoulder aches!!

Step 4.

Palm of hand

For this step have the right hand laying flat on a table or soft surface- palm facing upwards.

Gently use the hand reflexology technique for each of the below steps.

4a. begin on the soft padding under the fingers- moving downwards over the area, then upwards, then sideways.

4b. follow the same pattern as above for the centre of the palm

4c. using the same technique and pattern do the outer edge of the hand (downwards from under the little finger to just above the hard bone on the wrist)

4d. using the same technique and pattern do reflexology from the base of the thumb across to the outer edge of the hand (all of the soft padding between the palm and wrist). This is a very important area and relates to many things, including your spine and digestive system

4e. lastly, very gently and softly rub the wrist from left to right once, then from right to left

Step 5.

Back of hand

Turn the hand over so that it is palm faced down. Here you will be using the same Hand Reflexology Technique but much gentler. This is a very sensitive area and very gentle pressure is required, frequently ask the person receiving reflexology if they are ok with the amount of pressure applied.

1 work down in one direction- from the knuckles to the wrist until every part of the back of the hand has been done.

Facial Reflexology Map

2 gently do reflexology around the wrist bone and along the wrist.

Step 6.

Repeat on the left hand

Repeat all of the five steps above on the left hand

Step 7.

Relaxation Exercises

7a. while left hand is still facing palm down apply a small amount of massage oil/ cream to the skin, and gently rub from the knuckles to the wrist in soft slow motions for about thirty seconds.

7b. rub around the wrists for ten to fifteen seconds.

7c. turn the hand palm face up, (apply a small amount of massage oil if needed) using thumbs do slow gentle sweeping movements across the palm (begin at wrists or centre of palms and move outwards).

7d. gently wring out each finger.

7e. repeat above steps on right hand.

Step 8.

Water

Reflexology Massage

Water is important because an increase in blood circulation means the body will get rid of waste quicker, but water is what the waste travels in, so make sure to have enough water to get rid of any excess body waste from the blood system to avoid 24 hours of flu like symptoms.

1 get the person receiving hand reflexology a big glass of water

2 tell them to rest for the rest of the day and keep up the water

Hand reflexology is great to do on other people but we think that it is the best one for doing reflexology DIY and also is the best one for getting rid of headaches!

Click here to go straight to the page with Hand Reflexology Tips - how to get rid of headaches, colds and much more!

Reflexology does 3 amazing things!

1. It is relaxing
2. Promotes harmony & balance in your body & its systems
3. Slightly increases blood circulation

Be sure to visit Reflexology Caution for full list of who can/ can't have reflexology

Reflexology cannot cure anything and information on this website is followed at your own risk, for more read the Disclaimer here

We're passionate about sharing the ancient techniques of Reflexology with every person that wants to learn them and relax, thank you for visiting our site!