History

Reflexology, otherwise known as Zone Therapy, is thought to have originated in China over four thousand years ago. Paintings found in the tomb of Ankhanahor situated just outside of Cairo suggests that it was used by the Egyptians around 2,500 B.C. In 1913, an American physician, Dr. William Fitzgerald, laid the foundation of what he called Zone Therapy, theorising that the body was divided into ten vertical zones and that pressure applied to one area would produce an effect in another.

In the 1930s, two advocates of Zone Therapy, Dr. Joe Shelly and Eunice Ingham, reasoned that since the zones ran throughout the body, the use of some specific areas may be more effective than others. Concentrating on the feet, Dr. Shelly and Eunice Ingham mapped out the entire body in relation to them. They considered each zone to be a channel for the life energy (called "chi" in Oriental medicine) as are the meridians in acupuncture.

This culminated in the founding of the International Institute of Reflexology in 1970.


Theory

It is claimed that by applying pressure to points on the soles of the feet with the thumb and forefinger and massaging vigorously, it has a stimulating effect on the entire zone including the organs and muscles that lay along it. Further, that the nerve endings are unblocked and stimulated thus helping the glands and organs to operate at their optimal level and helping the body to function more effectively.

The ailments recommended for reflexology treatment range from bed-wetting through diabetes, kidney stones, migraines to diseases of the liver and pancreas. It has even been claimed to reverse the aging process. (Carter 1983).


Practice

In addition to using the fingers, other tools include rubber balls, tongue depressors, rollers and clamps. Other "reflex points" may be utilised on the scalp, ears, face, nose, tongue, neck, back, arms, wrists, hands, abdomen and legs.


Assessment

Reflexology has been shown to be based on an erroneous principle similar to other pseudo-medical diagnostic techniques such as iridology, phrenology, and acupuncture — that points on the feet, irises, bumps on the head, or selected arbitrary points are connected in some way to locations throughout the body. Iridology states that each organ, gland and part of the body supposedly has a corresponding reflex. However, the various systems differ greatly in the details. In Shiatsu for instance, the point corresponding to the heart is located at the base of the little finger nail; in hand reflexology, in the palm of the hand just below the base of the index and second fingers; in foot reflexology, on the ball of the foot, and the meridian point associated with chakras is said to be located on the inside of the left wrist. It would appear from this lack of agreement that alternative health systems also use alternative anatomy systems.

While there is little doubt that a massage, whether it be of the foot or any other part of the anatomy, can be a pleasant and relaxing experience inducing a general feeling of well being, there is no medical or scientific evidence to support the claim that this type of massage has any curative power. Even reflexologists admit that the actual physical mechanism which control the zones is not fully understood.



References:

Barrett, S. (Ed.) 1980. The Health Robbers: How to Protect Your Health and Your Life. George F. Stickley Co.
Carter, Mildred. 1983. Body Relexology: Healing at Your Fingertips. Parker Publishing Company, West Nyack, NY.
Chan, P. 1976. Finger Acupressure. Ballentine. NY.
Hafen, B.Q. and Frandsen, K.J. 1983. From Acupuncture to Yoga. Englewood Cliffs. N.J. Prentice-Hall.
Hastings, A.C., Fadiman, J. and Gordon, J.S. (Eds.) 1981. Health for the Whole Person: The Complete Guide to Holistic Medicine. Bantam. NY.
Kopelman, L. and Moskop, J. 1981. "The Holistic Health Movement: A Survey and Critique." The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy. 6:209-35.
Lawson-Wood, D and J. 1979. First Aid at Your Fingertips. Health Sciences Press. Safron Walden, Essex.
Randolf, G.L. 1984. "Therapeutic and Physical Touch: Physiological Response to Stressful Stimuli." Nursing Research 33:33-36.
Raso, Jack. 1994. Alternative Healthcare, Prometheus Books.
Stalker, D. and Glymour, C. (Eds.) 1985. Examining Holistic Medicine. Prometheus Books. Buffalo, NY.


From: Edwards, H. 1999 Alternative, Complementary, Holistic & Spiritual Healing, Australian Skeptics Inc