Reflexology With Helen Sheppard

05/11/2025

HALLOWEEN SPECIAL

At
Elsa Cleminson - Crystals Shop
With
Angelic Wisdom - Medium for Card Readings!!

Limited spaces and times.
Taking bookings get in now to save your slot 😊

30/06/2025

💧 Lymphatic Drainage Facial Massage

An Easy, At-Home Guide

You don’t need a spa day to boost your glow — your fingers are magic! Use gentle pressure (like you’re petting a kitten) and always move in the direction of lymph flow ➡️ downward and outward. Let’s begin! 👇

💜 Step 1: Jawline to Neck

With clean hands, place your fingers just under your ears and gently stroke down your jawline to the base of your neck.
🔁 Repeat 5–10 times
📍 Why: Clears drainage from your face to your main lymphatic ducts.

🤎 Step 2: Under Your Chin

Glide your fingers from the middle of your chin outward toward your jaw.
🔁 Repeat 5–10 times
📍 Why: Reduces puffiness and encourages fluid to flow downward.

🍊 Step 3: Centre of Your Face

Use your fingertips to stroke from the sides of your nose out toward your ears.
🔁 Repeat 5–10 times
📍 Why: Helps drain the sinus area and reduce facial bloating.

💗 Step 4: Chin & Jawline

Sweep upward along your jaw, then down the sides of your neck.
🔁 Repeat 5 times
📍 Why: Lifts and shapes the jaw while clearing lymph.

🩵 Step 5: Cheeks

Start at the corners of your mouth and glide upward under your cheekbones toward your ears.
🔁 Repeat 5–10 times
📍 Why: Boosts circulation and defines cheek contours.

💙 Step 6: Around the Eyes

Use your ring fingers to gently circle from the inner eye corners, across the brow bone, and under the eyes.
🔁 Repeat 5 times
📍 Why: Reduces puffiness, dark circles, and tired eyes.

🤎 Step 7: Cheekbones

Sweep from under your eyes along the cheekbones out toward the hairline.
🔁 Repeat 5–10 times
📍 Why: Lifts and refreshes the midface.

💜 Step 8: Forehead & Outer Corners

Glide from the center of your forehead outward, and down along the outer face to the neck.
🔁 Repeat 5 times
📍 Why: Relieves tension and helps move fluid from upper face areas.

🌿 Bonus Tips:
• Do this 2–3 times per week, especially in the morning.
• Always hydrate after — lymph loves water!
• Pair it with your favorite serum or oil for a smooth glide.
• Breathe deeply and relax — your nervous system will thank you 🧘‍♀️

💧 Happy draining, glowing queen! 💖
Your lymph is flowing, your face is glowing, and your body is gently detoxing from the inside out.

©️

29/06/2025

THE BENEFITS OF PEBBLE MAT WALKING

A stone mat is an essential item that, when used regularly, offers a range of health benefits, including enhanced sensory feedback and improved proprioception. It has also been shown to increase mindfulness and concentration.
The various types of pressure produced on the reflexes are felt throughout the body.

Standing, walking, and shifting body weight onto the pebbles offer notable benefits for the body. An interesting observation was how the feet gently adjusted in harmony with the slow, yoga-style breathing exercise performed while standing on the mat. This led to changes in how the soles of the feet made contact with the pebbles. I noted that this movement triggered physiological responses throughout my body, including changes in heart rate and digestive processes.

This is a form of mindfulness practice that holds great value for reflexologists because it emphasises the importance of using various types of reflex contact during treatments. Additionally, it can also offer therapeutic benefits to the practitioner.

Neuropathy of the feet is a condition caused by various factors, leading to an uncomfortable and unpleasant sensation. In my case, it resulted from a lumbar or sacral spinal injury, mainly affecting my left foot with a tingling feeling that disturbs sleep. Walking on the mat for a few minutes almost completely alleviates the symptoms.

I advise starting with a less challenging mat than the one I use (as shown) Do not use it if you have any foot abnormalities or injuries.

Improved physical function and blood pressure in older adults through cobblestone mat walking — a randomised trial. This new physical activity may provide a therapeutic and health-enhancing exercise alternative for older adults.
- Fuzhong Li et al. J.Am Geriatric Soc Aug 2005

A study conducted at the Oregon Research Institute found that regularly walking on a cobblestone mat reduced blood pressure and improved physical performance in older adults.

Tony Porter
www.artreflex.com

28/06/2025

22/06/2025

Morton’s Neuroma ( Everything you know here)

Definition:

Morton’s Neuroma is a painful condition involving the thickening of the tissue around a Distal nerve leading to the toes, most commonly between the 3rd and 4th metatarsal heads. It is not a true tumor, but rather a perineural fibrosis or neuroma caused by nerve irritation or compression.

Causes:

👠 Wearing high heels or tight, narrow shoes that compress the toes

Repetitive stress from activities like running or sports

Overweight increasing forefoot pressure

🦶 Flat feet or high arches causing altered biomechanics

👣 Foot deformities (e.g., bunions, hammertoes)

🔁 Repeated trauma or microtrauma to interdigital nerve

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🧠 Clinical Anatomy:

Affects the common digital plantar nerve (most commonly the third intermetatarsal space between 3rd and 4th toes)

The nerve runs under the deep transverse metatarsal ligament

Compression between the heads of the metatarsals leads to fibrotic changes

Plantar digital nerves branch from the medial and lateral plantar nerves (branches of the tibial nerve)

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🚨 Signs & Symptoms:

⚡ Burning or sharp pain in the ball of the foot

🧨 Tingling or numbness in the toes (often 3rd & 4th)

👣 Feeling of a pebble in the shoe

🔥 Pain exacerbated by walking, wearing tight shoes or high heels

➖ Pain relief when removing shoes or massaging foot

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🔬 Pathomechanism:

1. Repetitive mechanical stress → compression of digital nerve

2. Ischemia & inflammation of nerve

3. Perineural fibrosis develops around the nerve

4. Enlarged nerve irritates surrounding structures

5. Cycle of compression, irritation & fibrosis continues, worsening symptoms

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🧪 Physical Examination:

Palpation: Local tenderness in the 3rd intermetatarsal space

Mulder’s Click: Compress metatarsal heads while squeezing the forefoot → palpable click & reproduction of pain

Web Space Test: Applying pressure between metatarsals elicits symptoms

Toe Squeeze Test: Squeezing forefoot causes pain radiating to toes

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# Diagnostic Tests:

MRI or Ultrasound: Can detect the thickened nerve

X-ray: To rule out other conditions like fractures or arthritis

Diagnostic Local Anesthetic Injection: Temporary relief confirms diagnosis

# Physiotherapy Techniques:

🔄 Manual Therapy:

Joint mobilization: Especially of the metatarsals

Soft tissue mobilization: Plantar fascia and intermetatarsal areas

Stretching:

Calf muscles

Plantar fascia

Intrinsic foot muscles

Strengthening:

Foot intrinsic muscles (toe curls, marble pick-ups)

Arch strengthening exercises

$ & Padding:

Metatarsal pads to spread metatarsal heads

Forefoot taping to relieve nerve pressure

# Modalities:

Ultrasound therapy

TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)

Cryotherapy or contrast baths

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# Supportive Orthosis:

Metatarsal dome pad (placed proximal to the neuroma site)

Custom foot orthoses with arch support

Gel toe spacers or wide toe box shoes

Rocker bottom shoes to offload forefoot pressure

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# Home Advice:

# Wear wide-toe, cushioned shoes

# Avoid high heels or narrow footwear

# Apply ice therapy after long walks

# Do toe stretches and foot exercises daily

# Use metatarsal pads or soft insoles

# Take regular breaks during prolonged standing/walking
Doctor of physical therapy