Hayfever is an allergic condition where the body overreacts to pollen and releases a chemical called histamine, which is responsible for inflammation. The medical name for hay fever is Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis Generally, symptoms are worse during the months of April to September, but due to high pollution, some people (including me!) are complaining of symptoms much earlier in the year. I experience symptoms as early as January! Hayfever causes an inflammatory response in our body. Symptoms include: - Runny nose - Itchy eyes - Sneezing - Headache / sinus pain - Drowsiness / Fatigue - Wheezing - Coughing Many over the counter remedies (antihistamines) often come with side effects such as drowsiness and can also interfere with other medications you may be taking. Reflexology is a natural alternative to medication and is safe for children and adults, including pregnant women. With 15,000 nerve endings in our feet, treatments help to improve the circulation of oxygen and nutrients around the body. As each reflex point in our feet relates to a particular organ, gland or body system, reflexologists, as a general rule of thumb, work on reflexes, which feel out of balance. The reflex points which are often affected are the:

Sinuses - to open up clogged areas in the sinuses

Eyes – to ease itching and watery eyes.

Liver / Kidney – aids in eliminating toxic waste.

Lymphatics - helps to clear toxins in the body encourages detoxification and boosts the immune system

Adrenals – to reduce inflammation and increase energy levels

Chest/lungs/bronchials – to clear the chest of mucus and aid breathing

Thymus gland – strengthens the immune system

The solar plexus – reduces stress and relaxes breathing

Ileocecal valve - to help regulate mucus production.

Splenic flexure - for easing allergic symptoms

Thymus - to stimulate immune activity

Spleen - to balance immune function

Head – to clear the ‘brain fog’ often associated with a build up of toxins.

The pituitary (“master gland”) - stimulates and balances hormone secretions of all the other glands. Having regular treatments will reduce inflammation, headaches and help you to breathe more easily.

During a reflexology session, you will also benefit from relaxation, stress-relief (symptoms are often exacerbated by stress) and an energy boost. Afterwards, I will show you hand reflexology techniques to use at home to manage symptoms over the coming weeks.

Love & Light xx