The History of Reflexology

Reflexology is known to be more than 4000 years  old. Paintings discovered on the Egyptian Tomb of  the physician to the king, dated back to about 2300 BC show an actual reflexology treatment in progress.

Reflexology was widely used in Europe, Russia, North America and Indian Tribes but it was the Americans, which must take the credit for putting Reflexology ‘on the map’.

Dr. William Fitzgerald, an American ear, nose and throat surgeon, developed the Zone Therapy in the early 1900’s.He found that if pressure was applied on the fingers, it would create a local anaesthetic effect on the jaw, face ear and nose. He divided the body into 10 zones and corresponded them to   reflexes on the feet and hands. Using this he could control pain in patients during minor operations, giving an anaesthetic effect.

The 10 longitudinal zones run the length of the body, from the top of the head to the tips of the  toes. The theory is, that parts of the body, within a certain zone will be linked with one another by energy flow within the zones and therefore affect one another.

The Principles of Reflexology

The body functions as a whole, and many organs and glands make up the body and these unite to form a system in the body. This means they work interdependently to achieve their function. The names of these systems are:

• Skeletal system
• Muscular system
• Nervous system
• Respiratory system
• Circulatory system
• Lymphatic system
• Digestive system
• Reproductive system
• Urinary
• Endocrine

The body is only as healthy as the weakest gland or organ.

Reflexology improves the lymphatic circulation and assists the body in speeding up the limination of toxins and waste products and stimulates the immune system.

It increases blood circulation helping the transport  of essential hormones, oxygen and nutrients necessary for cell life. Reflexology can also help to control the perception of pain by stimulating the release of endorphins - the body’s natural painkillers - from the pituitary gland in the brain into the bloodstream.

But reflexology works best when it is used to treat the whole body rather than specific conditions. In this way, it improves all the body’s functions, and this in turn encourages the natural healing process to work more speedily and efficiently.

Benefits

• Pain Relief
• Reduces stress & induces deep relaxation
• Improves circulation
• Improves muscle tone
• Cleanses the body of toxins & impurities & encourages lymph drainage
• Manipulation of the foot itself (joints,  muscles, ligaments etc.)
• Encourages the body to heal itself
• Revitalizes energy
• Balances mind, body & spirit
• As a preventative health care

The human body is completely reflected in the feet and a point on the foot, which relates to an area of the body, is called a reflex.

By applying pressure with the hands to the reflex areas of the feet, the therapist can locate imbalances and blockages of the reflexes and zone pathways, which, through treatment, can be corrected, thus restoring the flow of the body’s natural healing energies and aiding a return to optimum health.