It was 2003, I was thirty-six and my first-born baby was two months old. I had developed an
annoying cough which was with me 24 hours a day, I wasn’t sleeping and felt absolutely
drained, as did the rest of my family as I was keeping them awake all night. As a
responsible breast-feeding mother, I refused to take any over-the-counter medicines to help
cure the cough but worried that we were going into the winter and every winter since I
could remember (I worked in a High School) I would have a cold that stayed with me for a
couple of months, and I didn’t want this with a young baby. One day when I was at my wits
ends a friend suggested I visit a reflexologist.
I knew very little about reflexology except that it was a therapy where your feet were
touched in a specific way, and it left you feeling very relaxed. Years previously an old friend
had attended an evening class in reflexology and used me to practice, I can’t remember it
being anything amazing, but I was desperate to get better, so I booked an appointment.
The first thing I had to do at the appointment was go through a consultation form with the
reflexologist, her name was Miriam. During the consultation as well as answering all her
questions, I explained I had an eight-week-old baby, and I was breastfeeding therefore
didn’t want to take any OTC medication for my cough. I can’t recall giving any details on
the birth apart from I had enjoyed a healthy pregnancy with no complications.
The treatment was lovely, and I felt very relaxed. Miriam advised me at the end that my
cough would improve however it may take a few days to go completely and may get worse
first before it got better which left me disappointed. However, she then proceeded to ask
me how old I was when I had my appendix out. This took me by total surprise as I was only
nine at the time, twenty-seven years ago, and had forgotten all about the operation and
didn’t mention it in the consultation. My jaw dropped to the floor, and I couldn’t for the life
of me understand how Miriam could tell that I had my appendix removed from touching my
feet. She then proceeded to ask me why I had to have a Caesarean Section – again my jaw
dropped to the floor, and I can remember thinking “How on earth…”?
I came out of the consultation room amazed and full of wonder at what had just happened.
True to Miriam’s word my cough continued for another couple of days but then
miraculously went altogether, however, I couldn’t forget what had happened in that
reflexology session, I told everyone about it and promised myself that one day when I had
more time, I would find out more about this reflexology business.
Fast forward two years later and I was preparing to return to work after an extended
maternity period. Out came the suits, smart shoes, work bag and as I went through it found
a packet of Vitamin C tablets which I used to take daily to help me fight colds, and then it
dawned on me that since that visit to the reflexologist, I hadn’t had a cough, sneeze, or a
sore throat. Now, this could be because I hadn’t been working in a school, however, I was
constantly going to toddler club, soft-play and mixing with people daily yet not a sniffle in
two years. My interest deepened; I was convinced reflexology had something to do with
this.
January 2005, three months after returning to work, you guess, I woke one morning feeling
as if I had swallowed a box of razor blades, I couldn’t breathe as my nose was blocked and
my head felt as if there was an iron ball inside it rolling from one side to the other every
time I moved. I went to work, felt awful and as soon as I had the opportunity phoned
Miriam’s practice to make an appointment. Devastating news: Miriam had left, and they
hadn’t found anyone to replace her. “Damn,” I thought “I’m going to have to find another
reflexologist, but she can’t be as good as Miriam”.
And so, I found another reflexologist, this lady wasn’t just a reflexologist, but she also
practised aromatherapy and when I left her clinic I was armed with a bottle of tea-tree oil
and eucalyptus and plenty of options on how to use them to help me. Once again within 48
hours I felt recovered.
This was the point that I promised myself that one day I would find out what was reflexology
all about and how on earth did it work?