Reflexology 101

What is Reflexology?

Reflexology is a healing art that uses acupressure and massage on the feet, hands or ears to promote relaxation, alleviate pain, treat illness, and stimulate the body’s ability to heal itself. Reflexology maps out reflex points on the hands, feet, and ears that correspond to each part of the body. Why focus on the feet and hands? Our feet and hands contain over half of all the bones in our bodies, as well as, 7200 nerve endings and 107 ligaments.

Modern reflexology retains a connection to the ancient Chinese and Indian belief that humans run on “vital energy”, referred to as Chi in Chinese and Prana in Hindi. Vital energy is thought to run throughout the body in a system of invisible, vertical channels called meridians. Achieving the proper flow of vital energy is thought to promote good health. An imbalance of vital energy (too little, too much or blocked flow) is thought to cause disease.

By applying acupressure or massage to a meridian line, a reflexologist seeks to affect the movement of a patient’s vital energy. Reflexology aims to help the body’s energy circulate effectively without blockages, stagnation or energy loss by manipulating reflex points in the feet, hands or ears. Unlike acupuncture, reflexology is noninvasive.

History

Reflexology is an ancient healing art that had its beginnings in Egypt, China and India.

The first documented, medical reference to reflexology was found in an ancient Egyptian wall carving circa 2300 B.C. It shows doctors working on patients’ hands and feet and one patient saying, “Don’t do anything that hurts”.

Dr. William Fitzgerald (1872-1929) introduced reflexology to the Western world in the early part of the twentieth century. He noticed that pressure, when applied to particular parts of the body or reflex points, could provide numbness, alleviate pain and improve the function of certain bodily organs. Dr. Fitzgerald divided the body into ten energy zones that run lengthwise from the head and terminate in the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands. His work was termed Zone Therapy.

In the 1930’s, Eunice Ingham (1889-1974), an American physiotherapist, found that the most powerful reflex points were located in the feet and appeared to be connected to specific areas of the body. Surprisingly, our feet are more sensitive then our hands. Ms. Ingham drew up foot maps where each part of the body corresponds to a reflex point in the feet. Her foot maps are still used today. She referred to her work as reflexology, thus coining the modern term.

Benefits

Reflexology can ease both long-term health conditions and everyday stress. By fixing vital energy imbalances, reflexology hopes to stimulate the body’s own healing process and prevent illnesses from developing.

Frequently reported benefits of reflexology are relaxation, stress reduction, pain management, and improved body function. Reflexology has also been reported to improve venous circulation and lymphatic drainage.

What to Look for in a Practitioner

The Reflexology Association of America recommends that when choosing a therapist, one should look for someone with a minimum of 200 hours of education and National Certification from the American Reflexology Certification Board. Reflexologist’s do not diagnose medical disorders or treat medical conditions directly. Reflexology therapy is not a substitute for medical treatment. People with serious and long-term medical problems are urged to seek the advice of a physician.

What to Expect During a Session

At a reflexology session, as opposed to a massage therapy session, the patient only removes his or her footwear. Only the feet, hands, or ears are touched during a reflexology session. A reflexology session generally lasts between 30 to 60 minutes.

Ticklish? Not to worry. During a reflexology session, firm, deep pressure is slowly applied to reflex points. The most common sensation felt is tenderness. Patients are encouraged to drink lots of water after a session to help cleanse the body of toxins.

How many treatments will I need?

Reflexology can be used anytime as a stress reliever, however, allow at least 24 hours between sessions. For chronic health problems like allergies, headaches, and asthma, patients should expect to go once a week for three to four weeks, and then taper off to bi-monthly or monthly sessions. Because each patient and each problem are unique, the number of sessions required will vary.

Additional Resources

For further information on reflexology or to pursue a career in this field, visit the Reflexology Association of America website or click here.


Interested in learning how to do reflexology on yourself and/or on family and friends? A clear, well organized book on this healing art is The Reflexology Atlas, written by Bernard C. Kolster, M.D. and Astrid Waskowiak, M.D., and published by the Healing Arts Press in 2005.

~ Amanda Miller

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