Integrating Reflexology and Five-Element Theory

I have always been interested in TCM and this course did a great job of incorporating it with reflexology. I will definitely use this information.

A. Marciniak NCTMB - Wichita, KS

Info was very clear and easy to understand.

Jaci Cappels, LMT NYC, NY

The book is excellent, and I liked the review of TCM. I will definitely use the techniques provided in the book to enhance my reflexology treatments.

Kelly Kurttila, LMP, NCMT, Seattle, WA

I enjoyed the course material. The text book is well written, easy to read and refer too.

Patricia McCary, Therapeutic Massage, Lincoln, VT

Informative material, good presentation, easy to use

Ricky Young LMT Charleston, SC

I was very impressed with the service and the overall course. It was very informative.

Tina M. Baer, LMT Brandon, FL

I found this course to be an interesting and informative basis for this modality

Wanda King, CMT Aspen CO

Thank you for offering this type of course. It will greatly enhance my reflexology practice.

Angela Conroy, LMT

I enjoyed seeing all the connections found in one source as a massage therapist in nursing school this book will be a resource for educating patients!

Marilyn Manning, LMT, NCTMB

Good course. Glad I chose this course to further my continuing education.

Patricia Troutman, LMT

Clear concise and to the point. A wonderful refresher for anyone who's familiar with the practice.

Pamela Phillips-Steele

I loved this course, it really taught me a lot. I know a lot more about reflexology/medians of the body now. I really liked that a treatment plan was put in the last chapter and how it also showed how to place our hands to help with the strain on the therapists. I really liked how it showed where the different reflex points for the organs of the body was shown on the feet also.

Janet Burns, LMT, NCTMB

This is a very convenient way to accumulate CEUs. I am a more visual and hands on learner so it was a little bit more difficult for me and took me a little longer to get through the printed material and visualize it, but none the less valuable. I am so glad this is an option! Thank you!

Desiree Marana, LMT

I was very interested in this subject and it will definitely enhance my practice! Thank you very much!

Mickie Joseph, LMT, NCTMB

I learned a great deal and will incorporating this material into my practice.

Cynthia Hayes, LMBT, NCTMB

Great material.

Jill Scott, LMT

Great course for understanding the meridians.

Steve Pearson, LMT, NCTMB

Great class, I knew reflexology, but a good refresher and the chinese meridian info was wonderful.

Donelle Mann, LMT

The course was extremely comprehensive & interesting. I wished a DVD was provided to show a demonstration of the reflexology manual sequence. That would have been so helpful!

Mary Chlebina, LMT, NCTMB

This is the first time I took a course on line. I already was familiar with the materials, and was happy to learn more on the subject. I will be using this in my practice

Suzanne Tilden, LMT

I really enjoyed this course, exceeded my expectation.

Patricia Refermat, LMT

I would highly recommend this course.

Sherri Cooley, LMT, NCTMB

I would highly recommend this course. This course was chock full of great information on reflexology. I feel that I need to go back and read the book again. Too much to absorb in one read. It was so interesting and useful. It made me want to go back and take more courses relating to Eastern accupressure studies. A little tough at times to find the correct answer to the question as I thought it could be between two answers for some of the questions. Overall, a great course.

Virginia Adams, LMT

An excellent text for any professional reflexologist I found the course well written clear precise very interesting and and inspiring. This course has encouraged further study in the eastern modalities. So glad i enrolled in the course because I learned so much about TCM. I will definitely reread the text.

Deneen Jenkins, LMT

This course was extremely well done and informative. I would have liked a full-foot reference chart. I will recommend this course to my co-workers! Thank you!

Carole Buehler, LMT

I have been looking for a Reflexology course because I had an interest in it when I was in school. This course was very interesting. I enjoyed reading the book and it will be a good reference tool. Thank you!

Marie C. Grove, LMT

This course was extremely interesting to me. I have practiced Reflexology for 14 years and the information in this course has broadened my knowledge about meridians.

Cynthia Atha

I really enjoyed the course!!! It is very interesting and illuminating. The author explained the material very clearly and in an organized structure. Thank you.

Nora Sasson, LMT

Loved this system of reflexology, as I had loved the authors first book. It puts it all in a perspective that makes sense since I knew a bit of the systems she teaches. So looking forward to practicing this!

Lisa Quam, LMT

I really loved this course! It sparked my interest in TCM! I have studied it here and there through the years, but it seems now that this may be my next course of study for the direction of my business. I am interested in an online course specifically in TCM and acupressure therapy.

Donna Ramirez, LMT

This was the best continuing education I have ever taken and I have been an LMT for 16 years and a Reflexologist for 35 years. I learned so much more than I anticipated. Inge Dougans is a wealth of info! Thank you!

Jeanette L. Golter, LMT

This is an excellent course that will help both personally and professionally. Highly recommended.

Sharon Miller

Excellent book and course. My training for LMT was done with a huge focus on TCM, dx and tx. This was an excellent presentation and right to the point. If you had a lot of training in TCM, OCA (Oriental Clinical Assessment) and AMMA, this course would be very interesting if schooling focused more on Euro-massage. This may spark an interest in TCM. Love it!!

Adele L. DeMeo

This is my third course with the Institute ... They are helpful and easy to follow ... Thanks !

Daniel Swetman, LMT

Awesome course! Love taking my CEU's with you. Thank you!

Daniel French, LMT, BCTMB

I loved this course once I actually took the time to do it! I was completely fascinated and excited with the information and I have been practicing reflexology for many years.

Deborah Henne, LMT

I have applied the techniques of reflexology for years. This course gave a deeper understanding of how and why reflexology is an excellent approach to stimulating the body's profound ability to heal itself when given proper feedback.Thank you for this course, I will definitely apply the knowledge presented in it.

Michelle Parker, LMT

I loved this course and I am so excited to integrate reflexology and all that I learned about the meridians into my practice. I had already taken a reflexology course in my massage program but this book was an enormously helpful guide that offered many new perspectives and background. I could use some study charts to go with the course and to use in my practice to further help me. Thank you.

Karen McCraw, LMT

1. Identify how Europe and America influenced the development of reflexology; the Chinese connection, and the ways that zones and meridians relate to each other.
2. Define and differentiate between energy and Chi.
3. Define and differentiate the yin/yang, 5 elements and meridian theories.
4. Clearly communicate why the meridians are essential for reflexology.
5. Identify at least 5 correct applications of meridian theory and the 5 elements in reflexology practice.
6. Identify how the muscles, each of the 5 elements, and the 12 meridians relate to health and to massage and bodywork practice.
7. Correctly relate each specific area of the foot to the corresponding reflexive area of the body.
8. Correctly relate structural foot problems to imbalances in the rest of the body.
9. Identify the responsibilities of a reflexologist, common client reactions and how to determine the appropriate length of treatment.
10. Identify the correct way to perform the basic treatment techniques and the recommended sequence for a reflexology treatment.

"The element fire is seen as providing the energy governing the heart and small intestine. In addition, there are two other systems linked to the fire element, namely circulation/pericardium, which protects and regulates the blood flow, heat and nourishment throughout the body; the other system is termed the 'three heater', 'triple warmer' or 'three burners' and it acts to maintain proper temperature and warmth in the three cavities - respiration, digestion and elimination. In many Western translations, the three heater is described as the endocrine meridian as each of the three cavities also relates to hormonal glands and the functions thereof. Fire is light and warmth and its function in the body is not only to maintain heat but also to give warmth to others. The fire reflects the zest for life, the spark and vitality in body and mind. To be on fire is to be full of excitement about life. The fire imitates the quality of the food that has become Chi in the body; excess or lack of this can be expressed by many symptoms expressed, such as hot painful joints, fever, hot flashes, inflammations, heart burn and digestive problems, sexual coldness, lack of emotional warmth to other human beings (even those who are close), poor circulation of the blood that makes the extremities very cold, varicose veins and hemorrhoids. The two fire functions, circulation and heating, are important to the overall harmony of the body." (Reflexology: The Five Elements and Their 12 Meridians: A Unique Approach by Inge Dougans, 2005, p. 114)

What are the two functions of the Fire element that are important to the overall harmony of the body?

1. eating and drinking
2. sleeping and exercise
3. circulation and heating
4. breathing and eliminating