Articles and Research

Useful info and scientific research, backing the effectiveness of reflexology

To inspire, motivate, deepen knowledge and promote action to better health

Fibromyalgia Relief with Facial & Neuro Reflex Therapy

A research study on ‘Effects of Reflexology on Pain in Patients With Fibromyalgia’

We all need Omega 3 

Have you heard about Eqology?? It is a sustainability-focused Norwegian company renowned for producing and distributing high-quality, pure Arctic oil and marine collagen, and a small range of nutritional supplements to support our health.

Sourced from the deep waters of the Norwegian fjords—thus avoiding heavy metal contaminants—these nutrients are processed immediately on the fishing vessels, and bottled onshore nearby, to prevent oxidation and preserve their potency.

Omega-3 fatty acids offer a wide range of health benefits and are vital for many bodily functions, yet many people are deficient due to modern dietary habits. These essential fats—primarily EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), and ALA (alpha-linolenic acid)—are known to contribute to:

  1. Cardiovascular health: Supporting heart function, healthy blood pressure, and balanced cholesterol levels
  2. Brain health: DHA is a key building block of the brain, enhancing cognitive functions such as memory and focus. It is also beneficial for ADHD, bipolar disorders, and is important for fetal and infant brain development
  3. Anti-inflammatory effects: Promoting joint health, flexibility, and mobility, while helping to reduce pain and stiffness
  4. Eye health: DHA is a major structural component of the retina, helping to reduce the risk of macular degeneration and maintain healthy vision
  5. Immune and gut health: Supporting immune function and gut health, and potentially reducing the risk of autoimmune diseases, including MS
  6. Skin and fascia health: Contributing to healthy skin and connective tissue
  7. Hormonal balance: Especially important for women during pregnancy and menopause
  8. Cellular health: Supporting overall cellular function and maintaining cell membrane integrity

If you’d like to learn more about Eqology’s products, please feel free to get in touch. You can also find more information and order your Omega-3 oil and/or marine collagen here 

Cleansing the body and mind

by Zeena Keast

Cleanse Focus:

Eat nutrient dense and fibre-rich natural foods

Hydrate optimally

Ensure proper bowel movement daily

Exercise, move your body and sweat

Stretch your body

Relax deeply

Practice breathing and meditation

Exfoliate the body – not just the face

Sleep more

Enjoy regular Facial and Neuro Reflexology treatments

Experiment with intermittent fasting*

Focusing on cleansing the body and mind on an ongoing basis by adhering to ‘lifestyle medicine’ approaches is vital to gain the desired level of vibrant health and clarity of mind, in order to reach our highest potential.
Our bodies are designed with an innate ability to cleanse and detox. One of the ways it does this is through a natural process called autophagy*, a method by which cells clean out damaged cellular components, helping to produce fresh and healthy cells. Over time, our cells may accumulate a variety of dead organelles, damaged proteins and oxidised particles that can clog the body’s detoxification pathways and we become stagnant. This can lead to ill health, ageing and age-related diseases, as the cells can’t function optimally, regenerate and divide.

Unfortunately stress and stressors, in the guise of daily living tend to overload us with undesired chemical substances from all sides, and cellular debris accumulates, which our body needs to dispose of. Therefore, keeping our detox pathways open as part of our general self-care should be a priority.
Stressors that impact us can be physical, such as not enough sleep, unhealthy diet, disrupted circadian rhythm, sedentary lifestyle or even too much exercise, and of course chronic pain. The emotional stressors that cause internal chemical reactions and therefore chemical substance overload are negative emotions such as fear, anger, frustration, worry, despair, overwhelm etc… The environmental stressors constitute of things such as exposure to mould, agricultural and domestic pesticide spraying, city pollution, certain household and industrial cleaning products, and public sanitation including tap water quality etc. Our body relies on numerous organs for getting rid of our metabolic waste, cellular garbage, toxins, medication and other waste compounds, so if any our elimination channels are not functioning optimally, this places additional stress on the rest of the body, and other channels need to work harder to ensure adequate elimination takes place.

There are five major elimination channels: digestive system, lymphatic system, skin, kidneys, lungs, and the sixth one is the glymphatic system – the brain’s dedicated waste clearance system – which is mostly active while we sleep. As our central nervous system (comprising of our brain and spinal cord) is highly active, waste can build up quickly, and our glymphatic system takes care of that… if we sleep. Facial and Neuro Reflexology is an effective therapy to regulate the overall body function, enhance all the body flows, and help with keeping the elimination channels open.

* There are several ways to stimulate our body’s autophagy process, and one of the key ways of doing this is through fasting. Research suggests that autophagy and fasting go hand in hand, as we can turn up the autophagy process by restricting our ‘eating window’ or fast intermittently. 

Intermittent fasting (IF) means you eat within a shortened period of time, and you fast the rest of the time. IF gives your digestive system and your body a chance to reset; when you take a break between meals your insulin levels drop and your body has a chance to stimulate the autophagy process and cleanse.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to intermittent fasting. If you are a beginner, the 12:12 protocol is a great place to start, as it is less restrictive, and you only fast for 12 hours per day, and have an equal amount of time to eat your meals.

Eating within a shortened period (typically a 16-8 hour window) and fasting the rest of the time, 16/8 is a great option for those who usually don’t find themselves hungry in the mornings. 

Research shows that longer periods of fasting has greater benefits for overall healing, so build yourself up for longer fasts by regularly practicing intermittent fasts. 

 

Hydration and Electrolytes for better health

By Zeena Keast

Without realising, many of us live in a dehydrated state, which impacts proper function of our organs, glands, muscles and all body systems – including the eyes – affecting our physical as well as mental health.

It is very easy to get dehydrated, and many factors such as the climate, exercise/sports, excessive sweating, forgetting to drink, some medications, over-consumption of sugar-laden foods and sports drinks, as well as air travel and excessive intake of alcohol and coffee can contribute to it. Fortunately, it is also easy to rehydrate, stay hydrated, get back to peak health and maintain it.

Drinking plenty of water and being well hydrated often don’t equal to the same thing. Proper hydration needs not only enough water, but the help of appropriate proportion of electrolytes, as they play a significant role in regulating our body’s water balance.

Electrolytes are molecules of important minerals – sodium, calcium, magnesium chloride, potassium, hydrogen phosphate and bicarbonate – and when dissolved in fluids, form electrolytes.
These are the positive or negative ions needed for our metabolic processes, as well as our  digestion, nervous system, muscular system, visual function – the whole body in fact – down to the cellular level. Our cells rely on correct ‘osmolarity’, as they survive by balancing the water uptake and water loss, and we can seriously harm them if we either take in too much water, and cause serious damage if they don’t get enough. Electrolytes also help maintain our PH balance.

Experts suggest that hydration should be approached as intermittently as eating. Throughout the day, we should avoid sipping ahead of thirst, as that does not hydrate the body properly at any one time, and may result in the loss of valuable sodium in the blood – so we need to rather plan focused fluid intake breaks and drink fully when thirsty. For extreme endurance sports, the quantity of fluids needs to be adjusted to every individual’s needs, to maintain the appropriate hydration level and additional electrolytes are recommended.  

How to hydrate sufficiently

  • It is generally recommended to drink between 6-8 tall glasses of water per day on a rest day, however the most sound guideline is – as long as you are drinking water when you feel thirsty and include plenty of water-rich and electrolyte-rich foods to your diet, you will remain hydrated. 
  • For some variety, enjoy adding the following to your drinking water: lemon, lime, orange, cucumber, strawberries and mint. 
  • Adding a green smoothie or freshly pressed vegetable juice to your mornings will not only contribute to keeping your body well hydrated throughout the day, but help to absorb the rich nutrients.
  • Herbal teas such as Hibiscus, Rose and Chamomile are not only hydrating, but calming and balancing at the same time.
  • Stretching throughout the day helps to hydrate your body via the vast fascia network

Hydrating foods: cucumber, lettuce, spinach, celery, carrot, tomato, bell pepper, cauliflower, courgette, sprouts, beetroot, apple, pear, kiwi, blueberries, raspberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, peach, plums, apricot, orange, pineapple, mango, grapes, grapefruit and more…

Electrolyte rich foods: *can be added to your smoothies*

  • Sodium rich food for fluid balance and nerve function: Celtic salt, Sea salt, Himalayan pink salt, celery and celery juice
  • Potassium rich foods for muscle and nerve function: coconut water, banana, citrus fruit, avocado
  • Magnesium rich foods for muscle relaxation and cellular energy: chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, spinach, cacao
  • Calcium rich foods for muscle contraction and bones: Chia seeds, sesame seeds, leafy greens, almonds and almond milk

Mission Tea’s ‘Hydrate’ is another great option 

ENJOY!!