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Trying to become pregnant? Wondering what steps you can take to increase your chances? Read on to discover how reflexology can help to boost your fertility!
The process of becoming pregnant can be an incredibly overwhelming experience. You might have tried a variety of methods including overly tracking your menstrual cycle or adapting your diet and lifestyle to a fertility friendly alternative.
If it feels like you have exhausted all the options then reflexology might be the solution that you’re looking for.
What Is Reflexology?
Reflexology is an ancient art that accesses the 7000 nerve endings that are situated in the feet. These nerve endings link to every single organ in the body.
Through careful and skilful manipulation, your reflexologist will help to unlock the energy flow towards these organs and thus, rebalance your entire bodily system.
It is a soothing method of treatment that you will thoroughly enjoy! The NCBI (National Center for Biotechnical Information) states that “Reflexology is basically a study of how one part of the human body relates to another part of the body.
Reflexology practitioners rely on the reflexes map of the feet and hands to all the internal organs and other human body parts.
They believe that by applying the appropriate pressure and massaging certain spots on the feet and hands, all other body parts could be energized and rejuvenated.”
How Does It Improve Fertility?
When utilized in conjunction with a healthy diet and lifestyle changes, this is an incredibly effective means of clearing any unwanted toxins from your body which, in turn, helps to rebalance your hormones and reduces your stress levels drastically in preparation for conception.
1 in 6 couples experience issues related to fertility and the same proportion will experience fertility issues with regards to a second pregnancy.
This can cause polycystic issues in women and as such, cause a failure to ovulate which causes further issues.
Can Male Fertility Also Be Boosted?
In the same way that reflexology can boost fertility in women, it can also boost fertility in men as long as it is undertaken alongside healthy nutrition and positive lifestyle changes so that it its able to clear any toxins from the body.
This helps to reduce inflammation and improve sleep which inherently reduces any fat storage and the production of stress hormones like cortisol.
It is important to note that men contribute approximately 50% of the genetics for babies and as such, 50% of fertility issues are related to males.
The key areas for men to improve are their sperm health and sperm motility and shape can be drastically improved by making healthy choices and undertaking practices like reflexology.
Is It As Weird As It Sounds?
Try not to be too judgemental and dismiss the benefits of reflexology before you have tried it out.
Remember, it has been proven to support good health and fertility for over 5000 years! Getting pregnant is a testament to nature’s excellence and as such, do not dismiss the wonders of this natural practice before you have tried it.
How Successful Is It?
Reflexology is incredibly effective if you maintain a nutritious diet and make positive lifestyle choices like quitting smoking, stopping excessive drinking etc. You should also aim to get your BMI (Body Mass Index) to a healthy level.
In contrast, losing too much weight can also be damaging so make sure you establish a healthy and balanced diet that is still packed with the vital nutrition that you will need to nurture your baby in the womb.
A study conducted by the NCBI has shown that a course of reflexology has had the following effects on fertility:
“Twenty-six patients were randomized to genuine reflexology and 22 to sham (one randomized patient was withdrawn). Patients remained blinded throughout the trial. The rate of ovulation during true reflexology was 11 out of 26 (42%), and during sham reflexology it was 10 out of 22 (46%). Pregnancy rates were 4 out of 26 in the true group and 2 out of 22 in the control group.”
What Alternative Methods/Remedies Are There To Boost Fertility?
You should remember that it takes approximately three months for every egg and sperm to mature properly and this should be taken into consideration when you are trying to conceive as you should be planning preconception care that spreads across three months.
Folic acid is also highly recommended as a dietary addition during this period and should be taken in a multivitamin or B complex formula in order to stimulate a natural process of absorption.
You should also track your ovulation and check your body temperature with regularity as this will give you a clear and insightful indication of your ovulation period.
Hormones are the key to conception and thus, reducing stress and sleep hormones is just as vital as ensuring that you have the right balance of oestrogen and progesterone.
Can Pregnant Women Have Reflexology?
Reflexology can be utilized to relieve pregnancy symptoms like morning sickness, heartburn or pelvic pain. It is also especially useful to reduce any swelling in your feet.
It is also highly useful for birth preparation (from week 32) in order to produce the right level of labour hormones and clear your pathways easier so your baby is able to move freely into the birthing area. In turn, this will help your labour to start on time without the need for any induction.
Other Benefits Of Reflexology
Reflexology can help to reduce your stress hormones and thus, improve your sleep patterns which leads to a boost of natural immunity.
It can help to alleviate symptoms of depression as well as shoulder tension or neck pain.
It is also the perfect antidote to those who suffer from polycystic ovaries and the stomach pain that is induced by proxy, this is because it helps to rebalance your hormones and inherently reduce the severity of this pain.
Final Thoughts
To conclude, reflexology has a wide range of benefits that can help to improve your fertility and enhance your chances of falling pregnant.
This is because it naturally rebalances the body’s hormones and as such, releases any negative toxins that have been induced by stress.
Above all, you should try not to stress too much during the period where you are trying to conceive as this will only decrease your chances of becoming pregnant.
Taking reflexology is the perfect way to nurture yourself through this period of time and this self-care is key during the conception and pregnancy process.
You should be as kind to yourself as you possibly can and avoid situations, people and places that raise your stress levels. Reflexology has been proven to work for centuries and engaging in this practice is proven to assist with fertility so trust your ancestors and treat your feet!
