Reflexology

Origins and historical development :

What is thought to be the earliest pictorial evidence of a kind of Reflexology being practised was found in an Ancient Egyptian tomb at Saqqara, which dates back to 2500BC. It is believed that some form of Reflexology was used by many across India, America, Japan and Middle Ages Europe around 1300AD. Sir Charles Sherrington b1861, developed the idea known as Proprioception, establishing that nerves co-ordinate and control the functions of the body and was award the Nobel Prize for his work.

In the early 1900’s Dr William Fitzgerald, whilst experimenting with pain relief established that pressure applied to certain parts of the body could have an anaesthetic effect on other parts away from the site of the pressure. Dr Fitzgerald was the first to chart longitudinal zones of the body, calling his work, “Zone Therapy”. In 1918 Dr Joe Shelby Riley and his wife Elizabeth, published the first reflex zone map of the feet, in their book “Zone Therapy Simplified”. Dr Riley also invented the “Hooking” technique and recorded one of the first theories of reflex points and zones of the ear. An assistant of Dr Riley’s, Eunice Ingham, developed alternating pressure techniques in the 1930s. This became known as Reflexology. She produced detailed maps of the reflex points on the feet and toured America lecturing and teaching. In 1938 she published “Stories the Feet Can Tell” and in 1963 “Stories the Feet Have Told”. After training with Eunice Ingham, a German practitioner called Hanne Marquardt was credited with the concept of transverse zones, which divide the body into three areas. She went on to train large numbers of medically qualified people as Reflexologists. Another student of Eunice Ingham’s, Doreen Bayley, brought Reflexology to Britain in the 1960’s and set up the Bayley School of Reflexology. Most schools in the UK descend from this school or Eunice Ingham’s International Institute.

Since 1984 several membership organisations have been established for Reflexology. Its growth in popularity has led to Government intervention and calls for the establishment of a National Occupational Standard. NVQ’s are currently being developed as the therapy moves towards acceptance and recognition.

What to expect during a treatment :

Your first Reflexology session may last about an hour or more, subsequent ones would probably last between 30 – 45 minutes.

You will be asked to remove your shoes and socks and to be seated in a reclining chair. Once you are comfortable and fully reclined the therapist will start by cleansing your feet. They will then begin the treatment on one foot with a series of relaxation techniques, whilst the other remains wrapped in a towel. This is followed by the full Reflexology treatment, during which they may record their findings in writing.

The therapist applies short bursts of gentle pressure to your feet with thumb and forefinger, usually in a walking, ‘caterpillar’ motion along longitudinal zones. Sometimes they will hold and ‘hook’ a particular area. A Reflexologist’s techniques should not incur any pain or tickling sensations. It is encouraged to ask questions or say if you feel anything remarkable or even just to close your eyes and allow yourself to completely relax. When the therapist has completed the treatment on the second foot they may like to end the session with some gentle foot massage to finish off. You will usually be advised to drink plenty of water to aid the cleansing process.

Conditions suitable for treatment :

Reflexology works with one’s own innate healing process. It produces a state of deep relaxation in which the body’s natural ability for regeneration is allowed to come to the fore. Since it is estimated that a large percentage of illness is stress related, Reflexology is an excellent holistic approach both as a preventative therapy; but also for treating certain conditions such as, backache, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, headaches, migraines, sinus conditions, asthma, menstrual problems and hormone imbalances.