Reflexology is a form of massage which uses the hands and feet as a means of affecting the rest of the body. While it does work on the body, reflexology is more than a simple relaxing massage. This ancient form of therapy is used world-wide to help improve health and augment contemporary medical care.
History
Egyptian hieroglyphics dates reflexology techniques back to ancient Egypt. Chinese and Japanese medicine have incorporated use of pressure points for health and pain relief for more than 3,000 years. Development of reflexology as it is practiced today began with Dr. William Fitzgerald in the early 1900s who used pressure on areas of the hands and ears to anesthetize patients for surgery. From about 1938 to 1945, Eunice Ingham developed the modern reflexology techniques and chart which shows the location of reflexes on the feet and hands.
More Than a Foot Massage
Reflexology is more than a foot or hand massage. In reflexology, reflexes are points on the hands, feet and ears which correspond to other areas of the body. Reflexology uses pressure on these points with the goal of promoting overall health. Most reflexology practiced in the United States focuses on the feet and hands. Because of the higher number of nerve endings and greater sensitivity of the feet, reflexology is often done on the feet to achieve a more profound affect.
Benefits
There are numerous benefits of reflexology. Reflexology energizes and relaxes simultaneously, facilitates pain relief, aids in stress relief, induces body awareness and stimulates the body's ability to heal itself. Reflexology affects organs and deep muscles that may be difficult to reach or may be tender to the touch with a full-body or direct application massage. Reflexology is non-invasive as it can be done fully clothed.
Precautions
Always work with a well-trained reflexologist. Inform your reflexologist if you have any medical condition or illness or are undergoing treatment for any disease or condition. Pregnancy, cancer, uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes are some examples of conditions to tell your reflexologist about. Communicate with your reflexologist about your comfort level during the reflexology session. Consult with a physician before receiving reflexology if you have a medical condition.
References
- Reflexology Research.com: What is Reflexology
- "Reflexology: The Definitive Practitioner's Manual"; Beryl Crane; 1997
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