Reflexology is one of the best treatments for insomnia

Chances are if you experience it, you dont need me to define it, and that fact that it is frustrating is an understatement.

Insomnia affects one out of ten Americans and approximately 30 percent of healthy seniors. Insomnia can cause the inability to fall asleep at night, or cause you to wake up during the night without the ability to fall back asleep.

Although insomnia itself is not dangerous, it often is a symptom of a more serious underlying medical condition.

Insomnia has been studied and it has been shown that 50 percent of insomnia cases can be attributed to depression and psychological disorders, such as anxiety, stress, or grief. Insomnia can also result from a wide variety of causes such as arthritis, asthma, apnea, hypoglycemia, hyperthyroidism, digestive system disorders, kidney or heart disease, muscle aches, Parkinsons disease or just simple physical pain.

Furthermore, it is known that certain drugs such as many of the commonly used anti-depressants, anti-seizure medications, appetite suppressants, beta-blockers for high blood pressure and the decongestant pseudoephedrine (found in most cold and allergy medications) contribute to insomnia.

So what can be done about it without drug intervention? One of the best treatments for insomnia is reflexology for a multitude of reasons.

Reflexology is the practice of applying pressure in a strategic manner to reflexes of the feet and hands, and even the face and ears.

Reflexologists see the hands and feet as an open door to the bodies systems. Each section of the feet and hands correlate to a specific organ.

By stimulating nerves on specific areas of the feet and hands, you can stimulate blood flow and eliminate toxin buildup in the corresponding organs and systems of the body.

And because reflexology works to put the body in a state of well-being, it is beneficial to every system in the body. It helps reduce body tension and definitely brings a sense of relaxation.