Holistic meets Allopathic....Podiatry/Chiropody and Reflexology

[Say]

Hello one and all.

I have very much enjoyed reading the myriad of posts on this wonderful Website but have yet to find much regarding Podiatry.

I realise this is not a holistic therapy. but I feel very much that it follows on from Reflexology, as there were SO many clients I could not treat because their feet needed a Podiatrist or were contra-indicated.

I am starting Uni in September (having studied Reflexology and the exams are tomorrow and next Tuesday....fingers crossed!) and would very much like to chat to others who have traversed this route or are indeed contemplating it!

(I have met Karen and Gill on here, when Gill left her moving message about her inspiring life and Karen and I replied to it and realised ALL three of us were very interested in Podiatry (all having studied Reflexology first).

Karen and I are actually starting Uni in September (same place!) so that was brilliant to find someone that easily on here (I had only joined that day!!!!).

Anyway, enough for the moment, I just wondered whether others had a view on the above?

I hope very much to fly the flag for Reflexology and not lose my holistic roots, as I believe both have a place in today's world and should walk hand in hand to help people achieve their best possible health, whatever their presenting ailments.

I was dismayed though to read in the Guardian recently that a Podiatrist (cant remember his name) who when he was asked to comment on different types of shoes... rather shot himself in the foot when he commented on a shoe that purported to have Reflexology points.... He basically said he was an evidenced-based specialist who did not see how a foot could represent organs in the body and show their current state of health etc. etc. At first I thought he was just commenting on the shoe but on further reading he obviously didnt believe in either!

Well clearly, he had NOT heard about Accupressure or Accupuncture!!! Although I have only learnt the zones, I am fully intending to study the meridians...which Accupuncture loosely follows.

Incidentally this Uni has a Degree in Complementary Therapies too! And a Degree in Accupuncture on offer! I hope its a forward-thinking Uni that I shall be able to fit my holistic roots into its syllabus!

Hope to hear from someone soon!

Linda

 

[Keia]

Hello!

I do hope someone has SOMETHING to say to me soon! I had hoped to discuss where holistic therapists can teach allopathic practitioners and vice versa !

Do send any message..Whatever you say will be welcome...and some encouragement would be nice...a Degree is gonna be a hard slog but hopefully well worth the effort as I shall be able to fly the flag on both sides and therefore hopefully stop the bigoted ones saying holistic isnt based on statistics (which I have come across) they dont know the first thing about the holistic way of operating YET they purport to know it isnt worth pursuing....very short-sighted and the reason why so many people end up with side-effects from pills they did not really need to take.....

Take care everyone and write soon! x

 

[singinggram]

Hello Serendiplady and welcome to HP

Hopefully with the move of your thread into the Reflexology forum, you will now get more replies, and an interesting discussion will follow.

Here's a link to the Guardian online, but I couldn't find the article you were referring to ... you might have better luck perhaps.

Best wishes with the current exams and your forthcoming University course.

Holistic

 

[Marlena C]

Well!
I cant believe it 202 'hits' and virtually no-one has replied or even commented....come on ladies and gents...Give me some feed back?

Ta


EDITED to remove excess blank spaces.

 

[Happy As Can B]

Hello Serendiplady

I think my edit above is self-explanatory, and would recommend you use Preview when posting, to see how your post is going to look, and then if necessary remove excess space with your Delete and/or Backspace keys.

I'm sorry you haven't had the hoped-for response to your post, but sometimes it takes a little time for replies to be forthcoming. I hope your patience will be rewarded

I realise I mentioned the Guardian online in my earlier post, but forgot to post the link ... my apologies ... and here is a link to the main page:

[link=http://www.guardian.co.uk/]http://www.guardian.co.uk/[/link]

As I said before, I couldn't find the article you mentioned, so perhaps you would like to do a search there for it, as a basis for further discussion?

Best wishes,

Holistic

 

[annonymous]

Hi Linda!

Ok, you have made me feel guilty - for being one of your 202 hits and not having responded!

First of all, I hope your exams went well, and hope you don't have to wait too long for the results..........

I have just qualified in reflexology, and remember that when I was first considering studying it, I commented to the chiropodist who was treating me at the time that surely if there are hard spots causing pressure on the feet, then according to reflexology this would be affecting your health in some way. I think he just grunted dismissively!

I do think that there should be more understanding between reflexology and podiatry, as from my point of view I think that conditions of the feet are not sufficiently covered in the reflexology course, and that I should better understand any foot problems clients present with, especially if some sort of treatment of the condition is advisable.

Anyway, good luck with the degree course and your future career, whichever way it goes!

 

[tamvzo]

Hi Holistic

Thanks for your encouragement. The guy name was Ron McCulloch (from London Podiatry Centre in Lewisham) and he was commenting on Trainers in particular. I cant find the other link I read but his was on 9th March 2006 in the Guardian. His quote said

'Im an evidence-based practitioner...I think it's a bit dubious to start saying you can tell the sate of your internal organs based on a sensitive point on the foot'

I shall have to find out more about this guy!!! Obviously, until I have SOME knowledge of Podiatry I cant comment on his side of things but one wonders whether he has any knowledge of Reflexology!??

Cheers and thanks for replying.

Linda

 

[Rawand Mahmood]

Hi Sparkie (Sarah)
Thanks so much for your email...sorry I made you feel guilty!

Thanks again for your comments re. exams!

I have to say (because I said I needed an early report on how the exams have
gone in order to accept my place at Uni) the ITEC Examiner was very kind and
told my teacher I had 'a very high mark' for my practical exam!!! And, since I
am fairly confident I got a Distinction (or just under) grade for my written I
think I am home and dry !! (fingers crossed!).

It was mainly BECAUSE I came across people who were contraindicated for
treatment that I looked into the possibility of being able to offer both
allopathic and holistic treatment as; to truly be holistic, one should be able
to treat everyone without making some feel marginised, and disregarded because
of their ailments!

Having said that, the NHS seems to be still in the dark ages as regards
Reflexology and although some areas have a Reflexologist around that is still
rather rare! I believe, that wearing the 2 hats may enable me to offer a much
more total holistic treatment, as I will be coming at the problems (so to speak)
from several angles!

I also intend to learn about the Meridians (as I only have zone therapy at
present) and Accupressure and Accupuncture in order to further my ability to
offer other methods of pain-relief (also employing pressure on the thumb (magic
triangle) and Hallux to help with pain relief when injecting anaesthetics into
painful areas!)

I am really ready also to bang my holistic drum (without hopefully making too
many enemies!) as regards acceptance generally in the medical field, which I
believe is still, again, in the archaic!

I hope your Reflexology is progressing well? Have you a full-time practice, or
do you work part-time and fit other therapies in?? I would love to know how
others start out and you did say you were just qualified.

Do write back and thank you once again for your kind comments.Linda

 

[u d]

Hello againLinda[/align][/align]Well done with your reflexology, does sound like you've done well![/align][/align]Regarding Flying The Flag, well done for that too! The reason I was drawn to reflexology in the first place is that it seems fairly well backed up with evidence and supported by some but not all doctors, and I felt it was a therapy with credibility and many benefits. It will be interesting to learn how the two disciplines work together for you over time. Itdoes make sense and yet I wonder if it is quite an unusual mix, hence the lack of immediate responses to your original post. I feel sure that we are approaching a turning point where CAM is gaining more acceptance and support from the public and medical practitioners. Things have come along way in the last 10 years or so. [/align][/align]In answer to your question, I've only just qualified and am just getting insured in the reflexology, and recently qualified in Indian Head Massage too (with Anatomy and Phyiology, I took quite a bit on, but it was an enjoyable year!) Unfortunately with VTCT you either pass or don't pass, so I don't get the prestige of merit or distinction! Having said that, I studied hard and got high marks in all exams, so feel pleased with things [/align][/align]I am only just establishing a business and getting my marketing material out there - no paying customers as yet as I'm only just starting to promote myself, but have lots of ideas and opportunities for marketing my new business. I am self employed, have other things to fit it around (including a six year old!), but feel that the two therapies will provide a good basis to build a business on. I will probably add other therapies over time, but want to get established and know that another course, case studies, etc. will interfere too much right now.[/align][/align]I will be working from home, as a mobile therapist, and may also have an opportunity for a cheap and flexible arrangement for a room in the High Street - I will discover over time which one works best.[/align][/align]Good luck with it all and keep the drum banging, but try not to deafen anyone[/align]

 

[Mr. Artless]

which uni are you attending?i also have an interest in studing podiatary,not sure weather to take the plunge though!