I had pain in the abdominal area most of the time and was bloated to such an extent that I could not wear some of my clothes, especially in the afternoon.

I woke up with a flat tummy, and as the day progressed, flatulence started to build up in my colon until I looked four months pregnant by late afternoon. This was accompanied by a lot of pain. I decided to seek help and went to see a doctor. They did a colonoscopy on me and took X-rays after filling the colon with barium.

There were no tumours, cancer, inflammation or any abnormalities except for the pathway of my colon. This was quite unusual with the transverse colon going higher up in the right thoracic cavity and then going down twisted with the ascending colon, almost like a spiral.

Amazingly this resembles the birthmark I have on the left side of my lip. Just as my colon is going higher up than usual on the left side of my body, my lip is “going higher up” than usual also on the left side.

Up to this day I have to watch my diet very carefully and have to have regular reflexology treatments in order to keep the symptoms at bay.

Inge’s comments:

1. The two lines (grooves) from the nose corners are a sign of weakness with the colon
2. The lower lip represents the colon where a birthmark is present confirming Madalein’s weak problem
3. The split grove (line) in the middle of the lower lip occurs when there is a problem with the acid/alkaline and blood-sugar levels. In the science and observations of the 5 elements – the lips belong to the Earth Element and any weaknesses such as cracks, swollen lips, dry lips and the need for using limp balm – confirms imbalances with the acid/alkaline and blood-sugar levels.

Prior to my diagnoses – I had suffered for years with extreme menstrual pains (one of the symptoms of potential endometriosis) as well as acne and I was put on the contraceptive pill. The menstrual cycle was never regular but could count anything between 21-45 days.

Taking the contraceptive pill suppressed my acne and the monthly menstrual cycles became lighter, regular and with less pain. However, the underlying cause for my body having to express these intense symptoms were not dealt with and when the time came – and we wanted to start a family – I was infertile.

My mother – recognising my despair and depression – sent me to the local reflexologist against my logical judgement. (Hyperlink to article on reflexology)

What was a person able to do through my feet – when the problems were in my pelvic region? However, I was pregnant after the second of ten treatments and our first son Daniel – was born in January 1979.

Both conditions – blocked fallopian tubes and endometriosis - can be mapped as congestions on the pancreas meridian and therefore a warning sign that I had problems with my blood-sugar balance.

My diet consisted of loads of simple carbohydrates, coffee and cigarettes. The protein was mainly pork-meat and not much on the vegetables side at all. I generally did not enjoy vegetables and most fruits.

During my teenager years – I suffered from knee and shin pains that were diagnosed as ‘growing pains’. I would frequently have big cold sores on my upper lip and my lips were generally always dry and sensitive. I was generally a ‘mouth’ breather with the result I would drool saliva onto my pillows when sleeping.

Nearly all my molars had to be root treated and some removed during my teens. The quality of hair was mostly thin with lots of hair loss and splitting in the ends. My finger nails were always soft and peeling. During the same period I was treated for severe athlete’s foot problems that manifested between my fourth and fifth toes.

Throughout my life ‘before’ becoming a reflexologist – I suffered from chronic constipation resulting in only a few difficult bowel movements on a weekly basis and this again produced haemorrhoids. My nose would bleed frequently and was internally covered in big scabby painful sores. My sense of smell was poorly and often oversensitive resulting in having difficulty in shopping for fresh produce and they all had a ‘rotten’ smell. I had a very transparent whitish look to my face and my arms were covered in lots of long body hair.

Still, I was to be given more life-lessons. Having successfully benefitted from the reflexology treatment – I continued with my lifestyle with the exceptions of giving up smoking. However, during my first 3 months – I craved oranges and would easily eat 15 in a day and unbeknown to my knowledge thereby creating an acidic environment in my body. However, much of this acidity was absorbed by our son’s skin tissue.

Daniel was born with a massive birthmark covering most of the right lower arm. The medical system informed us that Daniel would need skin graft – once he was fully grown. I went back to MY REFLEXOLOGIST but she told me that she would not be able to help – and maybe I should find a method of changing his lifestyle and ‘detoxify’ him! His lifestyle – he was breast fed??

After some months of searching – I came across my next life teacher and her work gave me an understanding of ‘internal health’ vs. toxins in the tissues – e.g. the birthmark or many of my own health problems.

Her work taught me about the moon faces and relating these to the female menstrual cycles and ovulations. Within that science – different foods are to be consumed for two different energies of people – namely those conceived at new moon and those conceived at full moon. The yin and yang principals.

As the pictures bear evidence – the recommended lifestyle was successful and within a period of 6-7 months – Daniel’s birthmark changed to be normal looking skin tissues.

His daily nutritional intake consisted of loads of organic vegetables and grains, but most importantly – I went to the forest and picked stinging nettles to make bottles of herbal teas for him to drink – this helped in getting his Ph in the tissue fluid to be more alkaline rather than extreme acidic.

Daniels birthmark took me in the direction of understanding the importance of a balanced Ph in the tissue fluid of the body and again without this hardship – I would not be the person I am today – and Daniel would most probably not even been born.

Recording my health profile using the philosophies of the 5 Elements and the 12 Meridians my case study would look like this:

Metal Element represents the lungs and colon:

• Impaired sense of smelling
• Long body hair on my arms
• White transparent look to my face

Earth Element represents the stomach and spleen/pancreas:

• Lips were dry and sensitive
• Drooling saliva onto the pillow
• Needs for eating lots of simple carbohydrates

Water Element represents the bladder and kidneys:

• Generally weak teeth, soft and peeling finger nails
• Bad quality of hair, splitting and loosing

Meridians to show congestions:

Colon: Scabby sores in the nose, bleeding nose, disorders of sense of smell, cold sores on upper lip.

Stomach: Acne, teeth abnormalities, drooling salivary problems, chronic constipation, knee pains, shin pains.

Spleen/pancreas: Dry and sensitive lips, fallopian tubes dysfunction, menstrual abnormalities e.g. endometriosis

Bladder: Hair thin, lost of hair loss and splitting, haemorrhoids, athlete’s foot (between 4^th and 5^th)

In today’s modern electronic world where medical diagnoses depends on X-ray machines, CAT scans and blood tests to ascertain the status of individual persons seeking answers for their ill health, often resulting in defining something good or bad, right or wrong, strong or weak – it is interesting to note that our subconscious observation of each other and making judgements based on tactile indicators is still very much on the go.

Sitting across a table talking to our best friends or family members – each of us subconsciously capture the appearance of the others. We look at their faces and make judgments – do they look tired, ‘washed out’, older or sick. Is their hair in a good condition, do they have a healthy complexion; we take note of their voice, if the clothes they wear make them look great or tired etc.

We have many conditional or temporary dispositions that indicate much about our current physical and metal health. These characteristics change all the time, such as acne on the jaw line, a swelling under the eyes, a rash or blemish on the cheeks or cold sores on the lips. (Madelain - My Story) However, when assessing a person these characteristics all ‘speak’ a language of their health profile.

The foot is a finely tuned mechanical masterpiece which has lost some ground in the popularity stakes over the years. But with increased interest in holistic healing practices comes the realisation that feet play a fundamental role in health and well-being.

It is estimated that approximately 80 per cent of adults will develop mostly self-induced foot disorders, even though most people are born with healthy feet. There is a tendency to blame foot problems and deformities – corns, calluses, bunions and the like – on ill-fitting shoes. The medical profession, in treating and understanding these feet conditions, often blame the shape of our shoes.

The original causes for foot, hand or even face conditions are far deeper and more revealing of your health and life than the surface observations.

Inge Dougans has been teaching throughout the world - face, feet and hand tactile readings for 25 years – using combinations of the Chinese philosophies, the meridians and reflexology to understand health profiles of the individual person. http://www.dougans-international.com

INGE DOUGANS

Inge Dougans is an internationally renowned author and teacher of Reflexology & Meridian Therapy incorporating the philosophy of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). Inge has been teaching reflexology for over 25 years and has schools and campuses all around the world.

The reason Inge got involved with reflexology was because she suffered with infertility. She was diagnosed with blocked fallopian tubes and endometriosis from which the medical systems gave her a 10-15% chance of falling pregnant. Read Inge’s story and learn about the symptoms and signs for infertility.

The only option given to Inge was surgery.  After encouragement from her mother, who paid for the treatments as Inge was not convinced that Reflexology would really help, she fell pregnant after only two treatments.  Today she is a proud mother of two sons.

Inge Dougans is still going strong - being a pioneer in her field – always creating – always finding ways to spread her knowledge to the people. Inge has realized that seeing patients or students face to face is limiting the amount of people she can help and guide.

Therefore Inge has developed “Exploring Health Online”. This website will give you a health profile with answers to many of your ill-health and congestions. All you have to do is log onto the website, complete the questionnaire and submit it along with a photograph of your face, hands and feet - and Inge and her trained international team will be able to give you a health profile.

Inge is author of:

1. reflexology – the 5 elements and their 12 meridians – a unique approach (UK edition)
2. The New Reflexology – A Unique Blend of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Reflexology Practice for Better Health and Healing (USA edition)
3. The Complete Illustrated Guide to Reflexology

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