By Ian Chow, Certified Massage Therapist / Infant Massage Instructor / Oncology Massage Trainer
Length: 2.5 mins read (535 words)
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Our endocrine system is one the 11 main systems that our body has and it is made out of different glands that secrete hormone(s) that assist in regulating our growth, metabolism, mood among many other things. Each gland produces one (or more) hormone that targets specific organs or tissues in our body.
There are 5 + 2 major glands of the endocrine system and each produces hormone(s) that are vital for us to lead a normal and healthy life.
1). Adrenal – produces hormones that controls sexual function, salt balance in blood, sugar balance and hormones that involved in fight or flight response. Stress level are also associated with this gland.
2). Thyroid – produces hormones that regulate body’s metabolism, muscle and digestive function, brain development and bone maintenance.
3). Pituitary – the “master” gland which produces hormones to ensure all other glands perform their function accordingly
4). Hypothalamus – the link between our endocrine and nervous system. Produces hormones that start or stop the production of other hormones throughout our body to maintain the internal balance (homeostasis).
5). Pineal – produces hormone that enable our body to receive information on light-dark cycles from the environment (the hormone produced also affect our sleep cycle)
6 & 7). Testes (male) or Ovari (Female) – produces hormones to enable our sexual organ does its function i.e. producing sperms or eggs respectively.
The 5 glands reflexology is one of the home self-care routine that one can do at anytime especially while you are watching your favourite series or movies. If you look at the diagramme below, locating each point is not a rocket science. As I have shared with many clients, as our thumb or the reflex stick is pretty broad over a smaller surface, even if we cannot pin point the exact location, high chance we will still hit the point when placed in the approximate location. Hence, please don’t stress yourself out.
But as a guide:
1). Adrenal – from the centre ball of the foot, just move approximately 2 cm downwards til you feel slight indentation.
2). Thyroid – at the base of the big toe. (Below the joint between the 1st and 2nd phalanges)
3). Pituitary – in the middle of the big toe (draw an imaginary X on your big toe and use the meeting point of the X as a gauge)
4). Hypothalamus – right above Pituitary point
5). Pineal – the medial side of the foot where you can feel a bump, parallel to the base of your big toe nail
Press and hold on each point with your thumb or a reflexology stick for about 5 to 10 seconds then relax for about 5 to 10 seconds. Repeat for 3 times. You may also press and gently massage the point in circular motion.
Also, I find this article very useful with two more important points incorporated (solar plexus – central point for breathing and thymus – centre of our immunity ) https://balancingtouch.ca/5-power-points-in-reflexology/
It is not a miracle cure but certainly when you do it long enough over a period of time, you can be sure it brings you health benefits that you may experience it first hand.
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