You might be forgiven for thinking that men do not have hormones, such is the high incidence of the combination of the words "female" and "hormonal health" in the press, but this isn't so! Hormones cause havoc and harmony in both men and women equally.
The endocrine system is a network of interdependent glands which secrete chemical messengers, or hormones, directly into the bloodstream of females and, yes, males as well. Balance is the key here, as the levels of hormones are monitored constantly for any signs of under- or overactivity.
In brief, here are the glands which work so hard to maintain homeostasis (balance) on a daily basis:
Pineal - also known as the epiphysis, is involved in the secretion of melatonin which helps regulate our circadian rhythm (sleep/wake cycles). This is aso a very useful reflex zone to work on if you are suffering from jet lag.
Pituitary - also known as the hypophysis, it is also commonly referred to as the master gland due to the sheer number of glands it effects. The pituitary gland controls growth, metabolism, blood pressure, sexual maturation, and reproduction. If you only work on one gland, make it this one!
Thyroid - controls metabolic rate, muscle control, bone maintenance, brain development. The reflex zone can be worked on in the case of hypo- or hyperthyroidism and goitre.
Parathyroid - they control the levels of calcium in the bloodstream. Essential for bone, muscle and nerve health. The reflex zones can be worked on in the case of low Vitamin D levels in the blood and osteoporosis.
Thymus - this gland was also talked about in my blog post on immunity. The thymus is most active up until puberty. It produces a hormone which helps lymphocytes (white blood cells) mature and protect us against auto-immunity.
Adrenal - these 2 glands produce hormones which help us in times of sudden stress (prompting a "fight or flight" response), they also play a role in creating and maintaining the differences between males and females, and help maintain our salt and water levels. The reflex zone can be worked on to help cope with sudden or prolonged stress.
Pancreas - the exocrine function is to produce digestive enzymes. The endocrine function is to produce hormones that control blood glucose levels. The reflex zone can be worked on in the case of insulin dependency and diabetes.
Ovaries - produce oestrogen and progesterone which are essential to a woman's menstrual cycle as well as fertility. The reflex zone can be worked on in the case of puberty, regulating the menstrual cycle, managing menopause, and polycystic ovary syndrome.
Testes - their function is to produce testosterone and sperm. Testosterone ensures the development of male characteristics. The reflex zone can be worked on in the case of puberty, fertility issues, and testicular cancer.
The image shows the endocrine system reflex zones on the feet. Please note that the location of these reflex zones will differ slightly from person to person due to your individual body shape (and therefore shape of foot). It is convenient to note that in addition to being able to access the endocrine system reflex zones on your feet, reflexologists can also work on the hands and ears.
Hormones - from havoc to harmony with reflexology.