Part 2 of 3
Could a part of the big toes associated with the cortex brain reflex area signal the presence of Alzheimer’s disease or the possibility for it? Would such an indicator on the foot have implications for diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s?
Clinical experience and research raise possibilities.
Our first inkling of such a possibility occurred some thirty years ago. One of the participants in a Winnipeg workshop stood to tell his story. He had observed a distinctive and similar appearance to twenty-one of twenty-three pairs of feet during a visit to his father and fellow residents. All lived in an Alzheimer’s ward. what he had observed was a fleshiness or protrusion on the ball of the big toe. For some individuals the protrusion created a flap of skin extending under the second toe on which they walked.
Years later there it was in a research report into reflexology work and brain wave activity related to Alzheimer’s: a black and white line drawing representing what was, in essence, the area of the big toe described years ago by the visitor to the Alzheimer’s ward. During the research reflexology work was applied to the broad central area of first segment of the big toe, a brain reflex area. The results showed gamma and beta brain waves significantly increased in activity following reflexology work. Gamma brain waves are known to decrease in activity for those with Alzheimer’s. (1)
“Gamma (brain wave) activity represents an important marker of successful memory formation, episodic recall and other behavioral and cognitive functions. Sensorimotor, learning memory, information processing, and behavioral functions are important in everyday life of humans and are also integral in execution of life processes.” (1)
Observation of this visual stress has been a part of Kevin’s practice since the Winnipeg class. When he sees a pronounced area on a client’s foot, he asks, Do you have memory problems? (2) One woman responded, only half joking, I forget where the kids are. He has observed the stress cue in mothers and in daughters, lessened with the younger woman but demonstrating the potential hereditary lineage of Alzheimer’s. One study found heredity to be 46% of the risk for Alzheimer’s.
Aside from serving as a possible indicator of memory problems and more, such a stress cue serves as a target area for reflexology work. It is a basic tenet of reflexology that such work creates change.
(1) Cevat Unal, Menizibeya O.Welcome, Mariam Salako, Faruk Abdullahi, Nuhu M. Abubakar, Vladimir A.Pereverzev, Siti Sugih Hartiningsih, Senol Dane, “The effect of foot reflexotherapy on the dynamics of cortical oscillatory waves in healthy humans: An EEG study,” Complementary Therapies in Medicine, Volume 38, June 2018 , Pages 42-47
Books by Kunz and Kunz
Research Books
Medical Applications of Reflexology: Findings in Research About Post-operative care, Maternity Care and Cancer Care
Evidenced Based Reflexology Research: For Health Professionals and Researchers
Medical applications of Reflexology:: Findings in Research about Cancer Care
Bestselling Books
Reflexology: Hands-on Treatment for Vitality and Well-being
Complete Reflexology for Life: Your Definitive Photographic Reference to the Best Techniques and Treatments
Intermittent Moving Books
Intermittent Moving: How I Lost My Pants and Mastered My Weight
Un-Sit Your Life: The Reflex "Diet" Solution
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