Reflexology is gaining popularity in the Western world as a non-invasive and natural way to complement standard medical care. Practitioners of reflexology believe that a person's hands, ears and feet contain reflex points that correspond to internal organs. According to the theory, when you apply pressure to the reflex points the corresponding organs are affected and their functioning improved.
History
The practice of reflexology dates back thousands of years to areas in Africa and Asia. Ancient practictioners likely passed their methods down through the generations orally; however, an early pictograph--dated to 2,330 B.C.--showing reflexology diagrams was found in Egypt. A Chinese text written around 1,000 B.C. discusses the connection between life force and specific points in the feet. Marco Polo introduced the practice to the Western world by translating the Chinese text in the 14th century. Dr. William Fitzgerald introduced the concepts of reflexology to the United States in his writing in 1917. Later, a physiotherapist named Eunice Ingham helped expand upon early work and created the map of reflex points in the foot that is still in use in 2010.
Reflex Points
Each foot contains approximately 23 reflex points. Each point corresponds to an internal organ that will be beneficially affected when someone applies pressure to it. Each foot contains reflex points for the organs on the same side of the body. Organs that are present on both sides of the body, such as the lungs and kidneys, will have reflex points on both feet. The reflex points on the toe pads are for the sinuses, nose, brain and pituitary. The underside of the long parts of the toes contains points for the eyes and ears. The ball of the foot contains the lung and thyroid reflex points. The reflex points for the solar plexus, stomach, pancreas, kidneys, colon, bladder and small intestine and are near the middle of the foot and back toward the heel. The spleen and heart points reside on the left foot, and the liver point resides on the right foot.
Training
Some massage therapy schools offer degrees and certifications in reflexology. While you can learn and practice the basics of reflexology on your own, certification may be required if you would like to work at a spa or massage parlor. In 2009, the District of Columbia and 42 other states required that massage therapists be formally educated and licensed to legally practice.
Typically massage therapy schools admit only applicants with high school diplomas. Most programs require more than 500 hours to complete, including courses in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, ethics and business management. Classes in a specialty area, such as reflexology, may be required as well. An aspiring massage therapist might be required to take one of two nationally recognized tests: the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork or the Massage and Body Work Examination.
Techniques
A reflexologist memorizes the locations of the reflex points on the foot. He will warm up a client's feet by rubbing their bottoms with his palms and applying massage oil. Then, he will use the tips of his thumbs to apply direct pressure to individual reflex points, usually for a few seconds. If a client has a chronic illness that affects an organ, such as liver disease, the reflexologist might spend extra time on the reflex point that corresponds to that organ.
Reflexology mats enable you to perform foot reflexology on yourself. These mats contain knobby bumps of various sizes that you can walk on to stimulate your reflex points.
Efficacy
The effectiveness of reflexology seems rooted in the fact that it tends to reduce stress. People who have received reflexology treatments have shown reduced symptoms of stress, depression and pain. Foot reflexology can reduce blood pressure in some cases, which again may be related to stress reduction. The effectiveness of reflexology for diseases not normally associated with stress warrants more research. For instance, a 2001 study of chronic sinusitis patients performed by Dr. D.G. Heatley of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine showed that reflexology alleviated symptoms of sinusitis as well as more traditional treatments, such as nasal irrigation.
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