The origins of reflexology

Understanding the nature of the cosmos begins with Socrates’ insight: Man, know thyself. Numerous accounts show that a form of foot therapy, similar to what we now call reflexology, has been practised for centuries by many different cultures.

As early as 5000 years ago, in India and China, a treatment was known that involved applying pressure to specific points on the hands and feet. It was used for preventive purposes but also to diagnose various diseases by observing the pulse and tongue. The oldest document describing the practice of reflexology was discovered in Egypt in a fresco dating back to around 2330 BC, found in Saqqara in the step pyramid known as the ‘Great Physician’. It depicts two therapists performing a massage on the feet and hands. It is hypothesised that this massage was also practised in other parts of the world, such as America. In fact, this method is still used by North American Indian tribes, and it is thought that they may have learned it from the inhabitants of Central and South America, the Maya or the Incas. According to Dr Harry Bressler, who was the first to conduct historical research on reflexology, there is information about this method in every time and place on Earth.

A curious anecdote tells that the great sculptor Benvenuto Cellini apparently practised strong pressure on his hands and feet to heal himself from all ailments. At the beginning of our century, Dr William Fitzgerald, head of otolaryngology, continued Bressler’s research and tested many of his theories on his patients. He realised that by applying strong pressure with his hands or with wooden combs or clips to certain areas of the body, he could achieve anaesthetic effects in distant points, identifiable on a “map” that divided the human body into ten vertical zones. In 1917, a book entitled “Zone Therapy” was published, the result of a collaboration between Fitzgerald and another doctor, Dr. Bowers. The book outlined the basic idea that the human body is divided into ten zones: five on the right side and five on the left side. However, Fitzgerald did not take into account the reflex points of the foot, which are so fundamental to modern reflexology. Dr. Shelby Riley further developed and expanded the techniques of the therapy, drawing the first detailed diagrams of the reflexology points of the foot and identifying that, in addition to the vertical lines, there were also horizontal subdivisions in the body. Fitzgerald, Bower and Riley developed the theory of zone therapy, but it was Riley’s assistant, Eunice Ingham, who, through tireless and passionate research, expanded and refined her teacher’s maps and discovered new ones, focusing on the refinement of a method centred on foot reflex massage. Ingham (1879-1974) could be described as the “mother” of modern reflexology. She described her method in her 1938 book, “Stories the Foot Could Tell”, which was successful and attracted many students. Today, Eunice Ingham’s research continues thanks to her grandson Dwight Byers, who runs the International Reflexology Institute in St Petersburg. Important developments were made thanks to the studies of Walter Fronenberg, which led to an expansion of basic knowledge about the treatability of the motor nervous system and the vegetative nervous system. Dr Robert St. John is credited with a special application of reflexology, called ‘Prenatal Therapy’ and later defined as ‘Metamorphic Technique’, which is able to recall the individual’s gestational period.

Holistic Foot Reflexology

Reflexology is a means of rebalancing circulation by stimulating reflex points on the foot. We all know that circulation is life and stagnation is death, and that everything around us is alive and in motion. Nothing remains unchanged; our vitality is increasing or declining depending on the quality and circulation of our blood. The application of this therapy allows us to assess the state of health or, rather, the energy balance or imbalance of the organs. Organs are viewed from three perspectives: physical, psychological and energetic. The sore points on the foot, corresponding to the organs in imbalance, are a warning sign that allows us to identify a disharmony before it manifests itself as a disease. In this sense, reflexology becomes a valuable tool for prevention. The entire body is reflected in the foot according to the concept that the small reflects the large. The human body is actually reflected in many other parts of the body, such as the hands, ears, tongue, colon, iris, face and cells. A reflex is an involuntary response to a stimulus, a rapid response by the body, which reacts with self-preservation, i.e. with the instinctive reptilian brain. Our feet reflect our image: the mirror reflects a real image, often different from the one created by our mind. When studying reflexology in depth and consulting texts, you will notice that sometimes the illustrated foot maps differ in several points. This may initially cause confusion, but with practice you will realise that it is often an enrichment of your knowledge and an opportunity to observe and stimulate the foot from different perspectives.

There are several theories on how and why reflexology works, but regardless of the techniques used or the theories believed in, there are two points common to all schools:

• All parts of the body are reflected in the foot according to a system of reflexes.
• The goal of the reflexologist is to stimulate these reflexes.

Reflexology, when practised correctly and with certain precautions, can never cause harm.

Contra-indications

Do not perform reflexology treatments in the following cases:

● Infectious diseases with high fever

● Acute inflammation of the venous and lymphatic systems

● Severe cardiovascular diseases

● Diseases requiring surgical treatment

● Large areas of fungal infection on the feet

● Severe nervous disorders

● Taking painkillers, sedatives and hypnotics in the 24 hours prior to treatment

● In children under 6 years of age and the elderly, the treatment has no contraindications, but the touch must be lighter and the duration shorter, focusing on specific problems.

Reflexology is a gentle and non-invasive technique that can be used to treat a wide range of conditions. It is particularly effective for relieving stress and promoting relaxation.