Reflexology is not a 'modern' alternative therapy. The earliest record of Reflexology can be dated back to the Egyptian pyramid paintings of 233BC. Reference to Reflexology is also made in the ancient texts of the Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Russian and Egyptian.The Chinese used a form of foot massage 5000 years ago and developed it alongside acupuncture This is the earliest record of using the feet to promote good health. American Indians practiced a form of Reflexology for hundreds of years. They were aware of the exchange of energy from the earth through the feet and how important it is that there are no blockages in the feet to hinder the movement of energy.
An American ear, nose, and throat specialist, Dr William Fitzgerald (1872-1942) is the forefather of modern Reflexology. He developed zone therapy and he found that energy pathways along the foot could be used for analgesic purposes and for anaesthesia. Hefirst realised the importance of pressure on parts of the body by watching how pain could be relieved during operations by pressure on certain areas of the body. He started to research the phenomenon and found that by pressing firmly or massaging certain areas of the body, effects were noticed in other parts.
Fitzgerald’s work was then later developed by a massage therapist, Eunice Ingham (1897-1974) in Florida. Ingham was able to map the feet to the body’s organs and she developed pressure therapy to reduce congestion in the body. It was Ingham who gave Reflexology its name. Ingham concentrated her working field to the feet and adapted the pressure she used on the feet so that it healed and stimulated rather than using the therapy for pain relief as first used by Fitzgerald.
Reflexology was bought to England by Doreen Bailey in the 1960’s who was a student of Ingham.
Reflexology today is still closely linked to the Chinese belief that Chi is the vital life force; all parts of the body and mind are interrelated whilst working on the findings of Fitzgerald and Ingham.