The Hidden Connections: Glands, Reflexology, and the Chakras

When you lie back for a reflexology session, it may seem like the practitioner is simply working on your feet – but in truth, we’re working with your whole body. Reflexology is deeply interconnected with your inner systems, and one of the most fascinating areas of this practice is how the endocrine glands, reflex points, and chakra system all align and influence one another. In this blog post, I’ll explore these subtle but powerful connections – blending anatomical awareness with energetic understanding – and sharing how reflexology can support balance on multiple levels.

Why the Endocrine System Matters

The endocrine system is made up of glands that produce hormones – the body’s chemical messengers. These hormones influence everything from metabolism and mood to growth, stress response, reproduction, and sleep. Key glands include: pituitary, pineal, thyroid, parathyroid, thymus, adrenals, pancreas, and ovaries or testes. Because hormones affect everything, an imbalance in one part of this system can ripple across the whole body – physically, emotionally, and energetically.

Reflexology: Supporting Glandular Balance

In reflexology, we work on specific points of the feet (or hands/ears) that correspond to different organs and systems in the body. The endocrine reflex points are often tender or sensitive when something is out of balance. Reflexology doesn’t push the body to change – instead, it invites it to return to a state of natural regulation. By stimulating the reflex points for the glands, we support your body’s own feedback mechanisms – and create a space for deeper rest and integration.

Here are a few examples of where gland reflex points appear on the feet: pituitary – centre of the big toe pad; pineal – centre of the big toe tip; thyroid/parathyroid – base of the big toe, on both feet; thymus – beneath the ball of the foot; adrenals – upper arch, just below the ball of the foot; pancreas – left foot, near the middle arch; ovaries/testes – just above the heel. Working these points during a reflexology session helps stimulate circulation and signal the nervous system to bring attention and support to these areas.

How the Chakras Tie In

The chakra system is a concept from Indian spiritual traditions, describing spinning energy centres in the body that influence different aspects of our physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. Each of the seven main chakras has links to a corresponding endocrine gland:

Root Chakra (Muladhara) – Adrenal glands
Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana) – Ovaries/Testes
Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura) – Pancreas
Heart Chakra (Anahata) – Thymus
Throat Chakra (Vishuddha) – Thyroid/Parathyroid
Third Eye Chakra (Ajna) – Pituitary gland
Crown Chakra (Sahasrara) – Pineal gland

When reflexology points for these glands are activated, the corresponding chakra can also come into balance – and vice versa. This is why reflexology can feel so energetically uplifting as well as physically grounding.

What You Might Feel in a Session

Every person responds differently to reflexology, especially when we work around the endocrine reflex points. Some people feel deeply relaxed. Others notice an emotional release. Occasionally a person will experience vivid dreams, gentle detox effects, or sudden clarity after a session. Because the endocrine and chakra systems are both subtle and sensitive, changes are often felt as shifts in mood, sleep quality, menstrual or hormonal cycles, stress resilience, energy levels, and emotional balance.

In my sessions, I always move at your pace. If something feels particularly tender or resonates strongly, we’ll acknowledge it gently – no need to interpret or explain it. Your body knows what it needs to process.

Why This Work Matters Right Now

We live in a world that often pushes us into dysregulation – whether through chronic stress, environmental toxins, digital overload, or emotional burnout. The endocrine system takes the brunt of this pressure, often silently. Reflexology offers a space to reset – to soften into parasympathetic nervous system function, to reconnect with the breath, and to allow your body’s inner intelligence to come forward again. And because many of my clients are also living with complex conditions like ADHD, chronic fatigue, post-viral symptoms, hormonal imbalance or sensory sensitivity, this approach offers a non-invasive, respectful way to create movement without force.

When Reflexology Might Be Especially Helpful

During hormonal changes (puberty, perimenopause, postnatal recovery)
For those with menstrual irregularities or fertility challenges
When experiencing burnout, overwhelm, or sleep disruption
As part of trauma recovery and nervous system regulation
To support people with endocrine disorders or thyroid conditions
For anyone exploring energetic healing, self-awareness, or chakra balancing

Reflexology can also be layered with other therapies, such as homeopathy, reiki, or massage – all working toward the same goal: restoring balance in your whole system.

Final Thoughts

The body is never just physical – and the mind is never just in the head. We are always working across systems: structural, chemical, energetic and emotional. Reflexology gives us a unique way to bridge those systems gently. By supporting the glands through their reflex points – and acknowledging their energetic role through the chakras – we honour the body’s complexity and its capacity to heal. If you’d like to explore this approach, or have questions about how reflexology might support you or your child, I’d love to hear from you.