Reflexology
- What is Reflexology?
Reflexology, an ancient art practiced by all cultures, is a science based on the premise that reflex areas located in the feet or hands, correspond to all glands, organs, parts and systems of the body. The physical act of applying pressure using thumb, finger and hand to these reflex areas, relieves a wide variety of health problems and promotes well-being and relaxation.
The observation of these reflex areas is also useful for the earlier detection of the body condition which can prevent sickness before getting sick.
- Reflex areas and Key principles
Each foot has over 7,000 nerve endings, 26 bones, 107 ligaments and 19 muscles. There are specific areas in the sole of foot that correspond to particular gland, organ, part and system of the body. The condition of particular part of the body is reported to specific area in the sole of foot. And the pressure to specific area in the sole of foot can activate particular part of the body.く
- History
Reflexology has a long history. It was used by healers in many ancient societies of Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America as much as 5000 years ago. The most common theory is that the earliest form of reflexology originated in China. Some Native Americans have been using similar methods for centuries.
In 1913, an American doctor William Fitzgerald (1872- 1942) documented the ‘Longitudinal Zones’ of the human body: a method which examines the health condition and the fundamental physical maintenance of the body using 10 vertical zones of the body. He believed gentle pressure on a particular area of the foot would generate relief in the targeted zone. This process was originally named zone therapy. A few years later, another doctor named Joe Shelby Riley published drawings of zones on both the feet and the hands to promote what he called Zone Reflex.
In 1930's, a pupil of William Fitzgerald named Eunice Ingham (1889- 1974) kept Dr. Fitzgerald’s concepts alive and further developed the technique. She made a map of the sole of the foot describing the areas connected to specific organs, and established the term ‘Reflexology’ instead of 'Zone therapy'. She was largely responsible for increasing the popularity of reflexology.
In 1958 Hanne Marquardt trained in reflexology with Eunice Ingham in the U.S. and has maintained a practice in her native Germany for many years. Her RTF (Reflexotherapy of the Feet) is taught in 15 schools in Europe to practitioners with a medical-therapeutic background. Then in 1960's, a pupil of Eunice Ingham named Dorothy Bailey widely popularized the technique of reflexology in England, from where it then spread to Europe.
