Tracing The History Of Reflexology

Just how old is the practice of reflexology? If you are going to trace the history of this therapy, then you will learn that this practice has been in existence for the past thousands of years. And this practice can be traced to a number of places like in India, China and even Egypt. There is even that wall painting that has been discovered in Egypt that shows two men working on the feet and the hands of two men. 

This is an early indication that in Egypt during that time, this form of therapy is already being practiced. There are some evidences as well that point to the early adoption of this therapy in China. And there are some records that suggest that even in North America; this form of therapy has been practiced. And this practice has been passed as well to the Inca civilization.

It all starts with 'Zone Therapy'

If you are going to locate reflexology in western culture, then you will know that the popularity of this form of therapy can be traced at the start of the 1930s. But as far back as the 1913, this form of therapy was already discovered but in a different name. This was first known as the 'Zone Therapy' and it was the American surgeon named William Fitzgerald who first studied these. 

In the studies that was conducted by Dr. Fitzgerald, he noted that there are zones that can be found  on the hands, the feet and the tongue of the person and that all these zones are linked or connected to the many parts of the body. And on those same studies that were conducted by the surgeon, he found out that the placing of pressure on these zones will have an effect in relieving and in curing the pain. Now this has become the basis for the modern reflexology that is known right now, and during that time this was known as the 'Zone Therapy'.

The official introduction of the word and the modern concept of reflexology in the western culture happened in the 1930s. And this was made possible by a therapist named Eunice Ingham. Ingham has boosted the initial study that was made by Fitzgerald and took off from that. Based on her observations, she said that the tension that can be felt in the foot can also be mirrored in the tension on another part of the body. In a way, during that time she managed to make that connection between organs to the foot area. 

Now using this kind of thinking, she said that by treating some of areas of the feet then the pains that are felt by the organ can be diminished as well. By putting pressure on the feet and by relaxing the feet, then this will have a healing effect on the different organs of the person. Now these studies that were conducted by Dr Fitzgerald and Ms Ingham served as the basis for the modern practice of reflexology.
