What medium do you use?

[xzpansnl]

Hi all - about to start a reflexology course, and wondered if the experienced reflexologists on the forum could advise on what medium to use?

I've done a search on the posts on this subject, but didnt come across anything very recent. All advice gratefully received...jtp

 

[kneednese]

Hello,
It depends on your college or tutor. A couple of years ago people would use talc, but then they stopped using it.(for health reasons) I trained with corn powder. I hope you have a lovely time learning reflexology.
Good luck
Rachelx

 

[Dea]

Hi

Yes it depends on the college they normally have a cream that is covered under the college Insurance that you can buy from the college while doing your case studies later on you can decide for yourself what is safe and non allergic under your own Insurance

Hope you have a lovely time

 

[Olivia D]

I use the Tui bee balm wax and it is lovely.

Never liked talc nor cornstarch.

Patchouli

 

[Alina Orozco]

When I first trained they used talc then it changed to corn flower which I hated - didn't like the feeling of it. I went through a phase of using cream but now I use oil. I know a lot of people use the tui wax but i don't want to use it as it has bees wax in it - although i'm not vegan I want to use products that are so this ones out for me.

 

[nkexjuvsijmibaemz]

I generally rub a tiny bit of olive oil into my hands immediately before client's arrival but apart from this I use nothing. Occasionaly I might use a light dusting of baby powder if a client has exceptionally sweaty feet. To finish I usually massage in a general foot cream. With experience you will discover what works best for you. There is no single right answer to this question

 

[ladyhorde4]

Anything goes really .
I know of reflexologists that use AQUEOUS cream also Body Butter is common. There is a company called Grace that does all kinds of specific blends of wax for masage and also a Reflexology one.

Eileen.

 

[meanolmaw]

I use House of mistry powder for the treatment and house of Mistry calendula cream to finish....

 

[wazzyrobin]

I use A.R.T cream...but trained in corn powder.

 

[210.KYLE.210]

Trained with Tui Foot Balm, tried using talc/cream doesn't seem to have the right slip/grip.

x

 

[nfniwpbc]

Yes, Tui makes a lot of balms, tho most are beeswax based. I just like the beeswax. 'fraid I am not so ethically minded, however, if a client said they were vegan (haven't had one yet) I would use something else. I have a nmber of vege clients and they don't mind the beeswax but then they eat eggs and dairy etc so not quite the same.

I could never use talc etc especially if the client had reaalllyyy dry feet.

Patchouli

 

[Enough Nonsense]

I started off by using talc, and have moved on to use a number of things. I do make up my own cornstarch and add a few drops of essential oils such as tea tree and lavender. I only use the powder if the feet perspire. I also now use body butter to finish off the treatment - the body butter is a combination of sweet almond oil and shea butter.

Binah
xXx

 

[Anubis]

I use the House of Mistry Calendula Powder and finish off the treatment with some essential oil blended into warm lotion (I am an aromatherapist too).

 

[llpvmlwm]

Hhhhmmm, body butter, never thought of that, sounds nice.

Patchouli

 

[Mr Roboto]

Ohh never thought about vegans, mind you I don't have that many clients but I know they aren't vegans/vegetarians etc x

 

[Ballet Dancer]

Hi,
I trained using corn flower and then used talc for my case studies. However i really found that most people have very dry skin on their feet and i have never treated a foot that did not need a good moisturize. I discovered tui foot balm for reflexologists which i really like but also end with a sweet almond oil mix with calendula and peppermint essential oil, which seems to go down well and is great for the feet. ( I am a aromatherapist).

 

[Pam Beasley]

I was trained with talc and still use talc.

 

[Ghoubustris]

Use just your hands - Reflexology is NOT massage - not even foot massage!

Anthony Larkin
Teacher of Reflexology to Practitioner Diploma level since 1987

 

[Chariot]

Hi Anthony could you elaborate further as to why you feel so strongly about not using a medium.
Effects on fascia ?

I am not a reflexologist but I do alot of foot massage.Currently with oils.
Regards steve

 

[ngv]

after trial and error with lots of mediums...i use Badger's Balm organic products. i can see that use of mediums - especially oil - can allow the hands to 'slip' over the foot and its reflexes but clients do love them....and with my aroma training...i like the fact my badger's balm is packed full of lovely organic oils.

i'd also like to hear more about why reflexology should be performed 'bare'

but i dispute the fact that reflexology does not have a 'foot massage' element to it....my clients love the 'warm up and dessert' moves which are massage strokes and, as such, are better performed with a medium.