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History
of Reflexology for the body and mind... |
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Reflexology was first used by the ancient Chinese and Egyptians thousands of years ago and involves massaging reflex points on the feet or hands to bringing about relaxation, stress relief and healing properties by unblocking the body’s energy flows. The first record of Reflexology being used as a therapy is shown in the following tomb drawing of the Egyptians dating back to about 2330 BC. This picture shows a man applying massage to the sole of the foot of another man.
Reflexology was also known to some of the primitive African and Red Indian tribes. Modern day reflexology was developed from zone therapy which was introduced by Dr. William Fitzgerald, an American Ear Nose and Throat consultant, in 1917. Dr. Fitzgerald became interested in pressure therapies while practicing in Vienna where he discovered that some people felt less pain than others through the application of pressure on certain parts of the body. This pressure caused the body to produce its own anaesthetic affects alleviating pain. This can still be seen today through such actions as gritting the teeth when in pain or grabbing the sides of a dentist's chair to alleviate pain. Zone therapy was further developed in the 1930’s by Eunice Ingham, the pioneer of modern day reflexology.
In the 1960’s Doreen Bayly, a student of Eunice Ingham, introduced reflexology into Britain where it is now widely recognised as a simple and natural form of therapy.
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