Reflexology

Reflexology is the application of gentle pressure and massage to reflex points located on all parts of the feet. It is based on the belief that these reflex points relate to and mirror the internal organs, glands and structures of the body. By using pressure on a specific area of the foot, an effect will be stimulated on the corresponding area of the body.

The goal of the reflexology is to stimulate those points and break down any crystal deposits located in the feet, hands or ears to restore normal function to that body system. Pressure on the feet can therefore affect the functioning of the body and encourage the healing process to begin.

Rooted In Ancient History

The history of reflexology goes back thousands of years. Cultures in Europe, as well as in the Far East, have found traces of ‘foot work’ dating back thousands of years. The oldest documentation of the use of reflexology
was found in Egypt, a pictograph showing the use of reflexology was found in the tomb of an Egyptian physician. This image is well known and often reproduced in reflexology books.

It is thought that it was brought from India to China and Japan by traveling Buddhist monks. Monks and priests have often been involved in healing in almost every culture and religion, but especially in the Far East. During the reign of the Mongolian leader Kublai Khan, the fourteen meridian theory of massage was developed.

In 1295, Marco Polo, the great Venetian explorer, a friend of the Khan, brought back stories of healing methods to Venice while European missionaries and monks brought back the knowledge of reflexology to their orders.

The Incas are believed to have practised some form of foot work, and applying pressure to the feet was used by many First Nations.

Reflexology Today

Reflexology as it is known in the West today had its origins in the study of Zone Therapy, a practice that utilised the longitudinal lines of energy that run through the body starting at the feet and moving up to the brain.

In the early 20th Century American Dr William Fitzgerald spent time broadening his medical experience at various hospitals but it was during his post as head of an ear, nose and throat department that he brought to the attention of the medical world his research into ancient Chinese healing techniques.

He had discovered that by applying pressure to the feet he could bring about an increase in the functioning of other parts of the body. By pure chance  Eunice Ingham, a physiotherapist overhead a talk on Dr Fitzgerald’s findings and was immediately fascinated by his discoveries and the benefits of Zone Therapy.

In her practice at an orthopaedic hospital she introduced the practice of Zone Therapy after post operative surgical procedures. She noticed that it speeded up the body’s natural healing and that these patients were able to move more quickly after their operation. Eunice Ingham introduced Zone Therapy or Reflexology as we know it today.

In 1930 Eunice Ingham started a private practice as a Reflexologist. She was instrumental in writing the first book on Reflexology and later opened a teaching school dedicated specifically to train students in the practice of Reflexology.

Reflexology Objectives

The hands and feet are microcosms of the body and by stimulating the nerve endings in these parts of the body we send messages along the nerve pathways to the various organs. In other words we stimulate and communicate with the complex network of nerves which helps to balance the energies within the body. Reflexology also releases endorphins, chemical messengers, similar to morphine which produce a calming and euphoric effect.