What medium do you use?

Hello,
It depends on your college or tutor. A couple of years ago people would use talc, but then they stopped using it.(for health reasons) I trained with corn powder. I hope you have a lovely time learning reflexology.
Good luck
Rachelx

Hi

Yes it depends on the college they normally have a cream that is covered under the college Insurance that you can buy from the college while doing your case studies later on you can decide for yourself what is safe and non allergic under your own Insurance

Hope you have a lovely time

I use the Tui bee balm wax and it is lovely.

Never liked talc nor cornstarch.

Patchouli

When I first trained they used talc then it changed to corn flower which I hated - didn't like the feeling of it. I went through a phase of using cream but now I use oil. I know a lot of people use the tui wax but i don't want to use it as it has bees wax in it - although i'm not vegan I want to use products that are so this ones out for me.

I generally rub a tiny bit of olive oil into my hands immediately before client's arrival but apart from this I use nothing. Occasionaly I might use a light dusting of baby powder if a client has exceptionally sweaty feet. To finish I usually massage in a general foot cream. With experience you will discover what works best for you. There is no single right answer to this question

what medium do you use

Anything goes really .
I know of reflexologists that use AQUEOUS cream also Body Butter is common. There is a company called Grace that does all kinds of specific blends of wax for masage and also a Reflexology one.

Eileen.

I use House of mistry powder for the treatment and house of Mistry calendula cream to finish....

I use A.R.T cream...but trained in corn powder.

Trained with Tui Foot Balm, tried using talc/cream doesn't seem to have the right slip/grip.

x

Trained with Tui Foot Balm, tried using talc/cream doesn't seem to have the right slip/grip.

x

Yes, Tui makes a lot of balms, tho most are beeswax based. I just like the beeswax. 'fraid I am not so ethically minded, however, if a client said they were vegan (haven't had one yet) I would use something else. I have a nmber of vege clients and they don't mind the beeswax but then they eat eggs and dairy etc so not quite the same.

I could never use talc etc especially if the client had reaalllyyy dry feet.

Patchouli

I started off by using talc, and have moved on to use a number of things. I do make up my own cornstarch and add a few drops of essential oils such as tea tree and lavender. I only use the powder if the feet perspire. I also now use body butter to finish off the treatment - the body butter is a combination of sweet almond oil and shea butter.

Binah
xXx

I use the House of Mistry Calendula Powder and finish off the treatment with some essential oil blended into warm lotion (I am an aromatherapist too).

I started off by using talc, and have moved on to use a number of things. I do make up my own cornstarch and add a few drops of essential oils such as tea tree and lavender. I only use the powder if the feet perspire. I also now use body butter to finish off the treatment - the body butter is a combination of sweet almond oil and shea butter.

Binah
xXx

Hhhhmmm, body butter, never thought of that, sounds nice.:)

Patchouli

Yes, Tui makes a lot of balms, tho most are beeswax based. I just like the beeswax. 'fraid I am not so ethically minded, however, if a client said they were vegan (haven't had one yet) I would use something else. I have a nmber of vege clients and they don't mind the beeswax but then they eat eggs and dairy etc so not quite the same.

I could never use talc etc especially if the client had reaalllyyy dry feet.

Patchouli

Ohh never thought about vegans, mind you I don't have that many clients but I know they aren't vegans/vegetarians etc x

Hi,
I trained using corn flower and then used talc for my case studies. However i really found that most people have very dry skin on their feet and i have never treated a foot that did not need a good moisturize. I discovered tui foot balm for reflexologists which i really like but also end with a sweet almond oil mix with calendula and peppermint essential oil, which seems to go down well and is great for the feet. ( I am a aromatherapist).

I was trained with talc and still use talc.

Use just your hands - Reflexology is NOT massage - not even foot massage!

Anthony Larkin
Teacher of Reflexology to Practitioner Diploma level since 1987

Hi Anthony could you elaborate further as to why you feel so strongly about not using a medium.
Effects on fascia ?

I am not a reflexologist but I do alot of foot massage.Currently with oils.
Regards steve

after trial and error with lots of mediums...i use Badger's Balm organic products. i can see that use of mediums - especially oil - can allow the hands to 'slip' over the foot and its reflexes but clients do love them....and with my aroma training...i like the fact my badger's balm is packed full of lovely organic oils.

i'd also like to hear more about why reflexology should be performed 'bare'

but i dispute the fact that reflexology does not have a 'foot massage' element to it....my clients love the 'warm up and dessert' moves which are massage strokes and, as such, are better performed with a medium.

but also end with a sweet almond oil mix with calendula and peppermint essential oil, which seems to go down well and is great for the feet. ( I am a aromatherapist).

Might have to borrow this idea if that's ok ? (Am an Aromatherapist too)

Jo x

There is different points of view when it comes to mediums within reflexology. Over the last 12 years I've tried all sorts and now happy with oils that are high saturated or unsaturated ie coconut, olive and sesame. People should use what suits them.

The attitude of some reflexologist that it is not a foot massage is to make it more wow. I prefer to see reflexology as a combined foot massage and micro pressure point energy healing system that considers the feet as a reflection of the whole body.

Not forgetting that in some countries/states a reflexologist might not use a medium so they don't have to have a massage licence.

Why include massage? Because it is an effective form of healing that helps to build a rapport with the client, smoothes the nervous system, increases the flow of blood, lymph and Qi (Chi) both locally and throughout the body.

After many years of practising reflexology, I came to the conclusion that foot charts have there place but are generally rubbish; the intention to heal is paramount - energy follows thoughts - compassion in action; as in any form of healing whether surgery or reflex - the underlining ritual promotes the healing process; and if the feet are considered the microcosm of the whole body - any physical correction to the structure of the feet will provide balance/correction (homeostasis) to the whole body. Everything I have said can of course apply to hand, facial and ear reflexology. This may be this explains how different charts and methodologies seem to work.

RP

Use just your hands - Reflexology is NOT massage - not even foot massage!

Anthony Larkin
Teacher of Reflexology to Practitioner Diploma level since 1987

I find that reply very arrogant. ALL reflexologists know reflexology is not massage, so your attempt to belittle the OP has failed.

My first tutor used talc, but I didn't as I don't like talc. I'm not studying advance reflexology and my tutor advised us to use corn flower if the feet are sweaty. On very dry skin and to end the treatment I use Aqueous cream with peppermint or lemongrass. In summer if they are wearing flip flops I use aloe vera gel.

At the hospice they use E45 cream it's quite nice to work with too.