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Reflexology (or zone therapy) is the practice of stimulating points on the feet, hands, or ears (termed reflex zones), in the hopes that it will have a beneficial effect on some other parts of the body, or will improve general health. The most common form is foot reflexology. The foot reflexologist applies pressure to points on a person's foot.
The foot is believed by practicipants to be divided into a number of reflex zones corresponding to all parts of the body.
Definition
According to Bill Flocco, Director of the American Academy of Reflexology in California, "Reflexology is a powerful natural health science that studies the relationship of the reflex areas in the feet, hands and the ears to the rest of the body so that these areas can be worked on with the fingers and thumbs in a manner that will lead to improved health and the maintenance of good health."
The term reflexology is used to mean reflection rather than reflex. The idea is that in reflexology, the reflex zones found on the soles of feet, palms of the hands and ear will act as small "mirrors", reflecting the whole body structure. It is different from acupuncture, where tiny needles (instead of hands of the reflexologists) are used to stimulate the reflex zones over the whole body. It is a hand-on treatment intended for vitality and well-being.
A person who is qualified to practice reflexology is called a reflexologist.
In reflexology, it is believed that there is a "vital energy" that is circulating between organs of the human body, which penetrates into every living cell. Whenever this energy is blocked, the zone of blockage will be affected. The reflex zones can reflect the blockage of energy in different organs. Therefore, if someone has a problem in a particular organ, when a reflexologist presses on the corresponding reflex zone or zones, the person will experience pain.
The pain is believed to originate from the deposition of crystals in the reflex zone. With proper massaging techniques, these crystalline structures could be broken down and the pain would be gone. Simultaneously, the pressure applied to the reflex zones by the reflexologist is thought to pass through the nerves to dissipate energy blocks. It is therefore believed that reflexology can help heal organ sickness.
Introduction
Many people like to go for a massage session after work in order to relax themselves. Reflexology is one of the massage techniques being used for this purpose. However, reflexology is far more complicated than a typical massage session to serve people. There are different types of charts which purport to show a relationship between the foot, or hand, or ear and the rest of the body.
The history
The ancient Indian, Chinese, and Egyptians were the first to practice it. It is presumed that reflexology originated in ancient Egypt. The earliest evidence of reflexology study was found in a 4000 year old Egyptian tomb.
In 1913, Dr William Fitzgerald noted that specific parts of the body could have an anesthetic effect on a related area. Developing this theory, he divided the body into ten equal and vertical zones, ending in the fingers and toes. He concluded that pressure on one part of the zone could affect everything else within that zone.
In the 1930s, Eunice Ingham, a therapist, further developed and refined the zone therapy into what is now known as reflexology.
How does reflexology help?
The body has the ability to heal itself. Following illness, stress, injury or disease, it is in a state of "imbalance", and "vital energy pathways" are believed to be blocked, preventing the body from functioning effectively. Reflexology is believed to restore and maintain the body's natural equilibrium and encourage healing.
A reflexologist uses hands only to apply gentle pressure to the reflex zones on the feet, palm of hands or the ears. For each person the application and the effect of the therapy are unique. Reflexologist believe that sensitive and trained hands can detect tiny deposits and imbalances in the feet. And by working on these points the reflexologist can release blockages and restore the free flow of energy to the whole body. Tensions are eased, and circulation and elimination is improved. This gentle therapy is believed to encourage the body to heal itself at its own pace, often counteracting a lifetime of misuse.
How does reflexology work? In psychological terms, the power of suggestion serves mainly as the primary factor, and the placebo effect also plays a role in making reflexology work. Also, reflexology enhances the functions of the lymphatic system and restores proper chemical balance in the body. Thus, it helps to ensure better health. Apart from this, it is believed that nerve endings are unable to transmit their impulses because of crystalline deposits that build up and block their pathway. Reflexology is believed to clear these crystalline deposits.
Basic principle
Dr. William Fitzgerald, who introduced the reflexology treatment to the West, found that pressure on particular parts of the body would have a special effect on a related area in 1913. For developing his theory, he divided the body into ten equal, vertical zones. Under his conclusion, the pressure on one part of a zone would affect everything else within that zone and the reflexive areas on the feet and hands have the linkage to other organs of the body within the same zone.
Some practitioners proposed that the reflex is due to the stimuli of nerve axon, where the nerve fibres are connected to the respective zones in brain.
Practice
Reflexologists apply pressure on "reflex zones" found on the feet, hands and the ears, which are said to correspond to the different parts of the body. Application is done through thumb, finger and hand technique. Reflex areas, like hand and foot, composed of 7200 nerve endings are stimulated by pressure applied. An improved instruction to every gland, single part and organ of the body could be achieved by such a health science. The body is then believed to pursue a biologically correct, strengthened and reinforced state.
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