Reflexology: The 5 Elements and their 12 Meridians: A Unique Approach. Inge Dougans

performance. Blood supply to the brain is increased, initially improving judgement and decision-making. The heart speeds up and fuel is released into the bloodstream from glucose, fats or stored blood sugar to provide additional energy. More blood is sent to the muscles to allow for instant action. Breathing rate and function improve as air passages relax. A sense of stimulation is produced and blood pressure rises. Because digestion and excretion are not considered high priorities in a ‘dangerous’ situation, adrenaline causes vascular constriction, which reduces the flow of blood to the stomach and intestine. Blood vessels dilate in some areas and constrict in others; for example, blood is drained from the skin to make it available for use in other areas such as the muscles.

      When the body prepares for ‘fight-or-flight’, it is ready for a short burst of heightened activity. In modern society, many factors can trigger this response, but few can be dealt with by a short burst of activity. Stress situations are often continuous so stress responses are semi-perma-nently on red alert, but physical release is usually unacceptable, so the responses are suppressed – a situation which cannot be maintained safely for too long. The stress build-up eventually explodes internally, knocks the body systems out of balance and causes extreme physical and mental exhaustion.

      The role of the parasympathetic nervous system is to relax the body after a stressful encounter. However, if a person is subject to continual stress, it becomes more difficult to activate the parasympathetic reaction. If the stress situation continues unabated, the body weakens and becomes more susceptible to a variety of diseases.

      Long-term adrenal stimulation with no discharge of energy will deplete essential minerals and vitamins from the system, for example vitamins B and C, which are vital for the functioning of the immune system.¹ This will result in lowered resistance and increased susceptibility to diseases directly related to the immune system such as AIDS (in persons who are HIV-positive) and ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis). Long-term adrena accumulation can also affect blood pressure and cause a build-up of fatty substances on blood vessel walls, as well as damaging the functioning of the digestive system.

      When an organism faces continual or repeated stress, the response system enters the chronic phase during which resistance declines below normal and eventually becomes exhausted. Several diseases result directly from this stage, but the most important effect is a decrease in the body’s ability to fight infection and cancer.²

      Everyone is confronted daily with potentially stressful situations. Our vulnerability to stress can be influenced by life events which cause undue emotional strain. Emotional distress is one resistance-lowering factor. Another important factor, according to some health professionals, is the impact of major life changes. A majority of illnesses are preceded by a constellation of significant events in our lives and future health or disease can be forecast by evaluating these events. The greater the number of life changes, the more serious the oncoming illness.³

      Enormous changes have been inflicted on and instigated by man in the last four decades in Western society. The rapid technological and social change exerts extreme pressure on humanity. To quote from Alvin Toffler’s Future Shock:

       ‘There are discoverable limits to the amount of change that the human organism can absorb, by endlessly accelerating these limits, we may submit masses of men to demands they simply cannot tolerate.’ ⁴

      Life changes are a determining factor in stress-related illnesses, but the extent to which the events lead to ill health will depend to a large degree on a person’s capacity to cope with stress. The way an individual perceives a situation dramatically affects the stress response experienced. It is not so much the actual ability to cope with a situation that matters as the individual’s perception of his ability to cope.

      It is believed that up to 80% of modern diseases have stress-related backgrounds. These include hypertension, high blood pressure, coronary thrombosis, heart attack, migraine, hay fever and allergies, asthma, peptic ulcers, constipation, colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, menstrual difficulties, nervous dyspepsia, flatulence and indigestion, hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland), diabetes mellitus, skin disorders, tuberculosis and depression.

      We may not be able to alter the stress situations in life, but we can alter how we cope. Natural healing techniques, relaxation techniques, meditation, diet and exercise can all help control or decrease the stress response and thereby lessen one’s susceptibility to stress related diseases.

       Chi and stress

      As we have seen, stress has many angles. However, taking into account that the meridians and all our cellular systems are fuelled with Chi, it is evident that stress can be related to the lack of Chi, or the manner in which the Chi ‘performs.’ For example, when we eat too many sugar-loaded foodstuffs we put stress on our pancreas that has to work harder than expected. The result might be congestions along the spleen/pancreas meridian, so creating pain in the knees, a painful menstrual cycle with pre-menstrual stress, or swollen sore lateral breasts. At other times, the quality of our food might stress our liver functions and instead of receiving Chi from the metabolized food, the liver might need more Chi in the digesting processes, leading to a Chi deficit. This imbalance may trigger of an outburst of anger or depression that many may label as stress-related – and therefore be blamed on an external rather than an internal factor.

       Applying Knowledge of the Five Elements

       ‘The highest wisdom has but one science, the science of the whole, the science explaining the whole of creation and man’s place in it.’

      LEO TOLSTOY

       ‘A theory is the more impressive the greater is the simplicity of its premises, the more different are the kinds of things it relates, and more extended is its range of applicability.’

      ALBERT EINSTEIN

      Nowhere in reflexology do these statements hold more relevance than in the connection that exists between the meridians, the Five Elements and the feet. Ancient Chinese philosophy established the five basic elements of fire, earth, metal, water and wood found in the universe, and consequently also in man. The importance was realized of a nourishing and controlling cycle between the elements in order to maintain harmony (see page xxx).

      Each of these elements relates to a pair of meridians. There are 12 meridians found in the body. Each of them is named according to the organ or system it represents and they are arranged in pairs, which are interdependent. The pairs in their interdependence represent yin and yang (see here).

      While the Five Elements describe the interrelationship of man and nature, modern man believes he can control the natural processes of change – with a detriment to himself and the planet Earth. As we know, man has distorted our food chains and interfered with the importance of nature. Throughout the Western world, the consequences of man trying to control rather than flow with natural changes continue to have devastating results. Family units are increasingly fragmented; countries go to war to attempt to wrest control; mankind is killing the life force of the sea, and the animal kingdom; and mankind itself is showing strong signs of reduced fertility.

      When a person is suffering from the symptoms of malnutrition or toxicity, they will go to a medical doctor where they are told that they suffer from a condition that is causing them their pain and suffering. The condition will have a name such as hypoglycaemia, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, arthritis, sciatica, or whatever the current ‘fashionable’ disease is at that time. They are then given a prescription for sleeping pills, muscle relaxants or anti-inflammatory medication. Subsequently, they will go through test after test: CAT scans, MRI scans, X-rays, bone scans, urine exams, etc. Neurologists, rheumatologists, orthopaedists, endocrinologists and even chiropractors may examine them. No one will have the same opinion and nothing will be sure to help.⁵

      Taking a fresh look at the concept of the Five Elements might help us to understand our life paths and take stronger individual responsibilities for transformation, which not only harmonizes our body systems, but brings about an alteration benefiting our children and their future generations.