History of Reflexology
Definition of Reflexology
Reflexology is the art of reprogramming the atoms, cells, and electrons of the body to their original state through the triggering of signal points on the foot or hand. It is a science that deals with the principle that there are reflex areas in the feet and hands that correspond to all the glands, organs and parts of the body. Reflexology is a unique method of using the thumb and fingers on these reflex areas. Reflexology includes, but is not limited to relieving stress and tension, improving blood supply, promoting the unblocking of nerve impulses, and helping nature achieve homeostasis.
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The feet have a fundamental relationship to the body. Signal points on the feet provide a link of communication to the major organs, muscles, and the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, elimination, reproductive and skeletal systems.
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Reflexology is used to manage energy savings in the body, reduce stress, and build a greater body awareness. It combats the effects of improper diet and environmental pollutants, and aligns the physical, mental and emotional energies.
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Reflexology is a very specific technique of applying pressure to these reflexes to bring about the desired results. Its history can be traced back to both the Egyptian and Chinese cultures. Modern day reflexology was developed in the U.S. by Eunice Ingham in the 1930’s after her studies of Zone Therapy with Dr. W.M.H. Fitzgerald. Reflexology is a unique pressure technique and should not be confused with massage.
Reflexology Relaxes Tension
Since approximately 75% of today’s diseases are systems attributable to stress and tension, various body are affected in different ways and to varying degrees. One person may exhibit cardiovascular problems, another gastrointestinal upset, anorexia, palpitations, sweating, headaches , to mention but a few of the myriad of bodily reactions to stress. This stress or tension could be described as a tourniquet around the body’s system, a tightening that can lead to serious consequences..
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Reflexology Improves Nerve & Blood Supply
In order to keep the body at a normal balance, itis imperative that the blood and nerve supply to every organ and gland be at a maximum. Of course, the organs and glands contribute to the overall well-being of the body, each making contributions to maintaining an efficient, full operating mechanism, but all receive their instructions from the most intricate of all networks, the nerves.
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These cord-like structures, comprised of a collection of nerve fibers, convey impulses between a part of the central nervous system and other regions of the body. They are the wiring system of the house called the human body. As with-any complex wiring system, a short circuit can mean trouble.
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A short circuit is often caused by tension putting pressure on a vital nerve plexus or even a single nerve structure supplying a vital organ. As tension is eased, pressure on the nerves and vessels is relaxed, thus improving the flow of blood and its oxygen-rich nutrients to all parts of the body.
Reflexology Helps Naturally Achieve Homeostasis
Overactive glands or organs can be helped to return to normal. Conversely, if an organ or a gland is under active reflexology can help return it to its normally functioning level.
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It is important to note here that the normalization action of reflexology is never one of opposite extremes. In other words, once homeostasis or a normal condition is achieved, it cannot be unbalanced by working the area too much. Overworking can cause some minor reactions such as diarrhea or perhaps some nasal mucous being secreted (runny nose). These reactions though, are cleansing poisons from the body. Succinctly, reflexology cannot harm a system, it simply brings it back into balance.
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The Zone Theory
Reflexology embodies the relationship of the reflexes in the feet to all of the glands and organs in the body. Let’s now discuss that relationship. Just how does one small area of the foot affect something like the pituitary gland? Just what is the link?
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This is where Zone Theory becomes significantly important to every reflexologist. The zones are like the wiring in a house. The reflexes travel through the zones similar to electricity through the wires, but please note that this analogy is not to be confused with the nervous system in the body. Reflexes as far as we know today, are not nerves.
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The link from the feet to the organs and the glands in the body is a series of imaginary longitudinal lines, each encompassing a zone. In order to locate the zones accurately in the arms and hands, the thumbs need to be placed toward the body, the opposite of the anatomical position.
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Any sensitivity located in specific areas on the foot will signal to you that there could be congestion in that area. It should become evident then, that by working the entire foot, the entire side of the body is being affected (the left foot representing the left half of the body).
It is important to remember another significant aspect of reflexology, an abnormality in any part of the zone may affect anything in that zone. (Better Health with Foot Reflexology, the Ingham Method, Dwight C. Byers)
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Each zone can be considered a channel for the intangible life energy, called Chi in Asian medicine. Stimulating or “working” any zone in the foot by applying pressure with the thumbs and fingers affects the entire zone throughout the body.
For example, working a zone on the foot along which the kidneys lie will release vital energy that may be blocked somewhere else in that zone, suh as in the eyes. Working the kidney reflex area on the foot will therefore revitalize and balance the entire zone and improve functioning of the organ.
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Organs: The Inside Story
The body is packed with vital organs and glands that are packed on top of everything else in the body.
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Start at the spine (the midline of the body) as a means of orienting yourself to the relationship between the foot reflex points and the organs of the body. Now, you have a reference point for each foot. Then use the waistline guideline for your horizontal or lateral marker. The most important body organs are located in four distinct quadrants.
The feet are a reflection of the body with all its glands, nerves, and organs having distinct locations on the feet. Being thoroughly familiar with this concept of location makes the zone theory so much easier.
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It is a wonderful referral basis in working with patients and clients, or even people you are talking with. If they have something that is troubling them at the second toe you can draw that line right up through the inside of the shin bone through the knee and the thigh, which comes up through the inner groin area as well as up into the lungs and down through the arm into the hand.
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Also, there are referral areas, basically, the palm means the bottom of the foot; the inside of the forearm can refer to the calf of the through the body. The outer side of the arm can refer to the front of the shinbone. The front of the upper arm refers to the back of the thigh, etc.
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So in zone therapy that’s a very powerful way to teach people who have these different tweaks of pain or even concentrated areas of pain that it may not necessarily be coming from that area. That is what referral pain is.
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Reflexology charts show the points of the hands and the feet. There are also auricular charts, which show the points on the ears that cover all of the organs, just as in our hands and feet. We also have emotional body points in our ears as well.
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Do you recall ever having little twinges or pings in your body and you wonder what it is? You apply this also to the meridians because we are a layered effect of many subtle systems. You may have a tweak over here and oddly enough, it’s your gall bladder. You may have one of those little bites in the back of the calf, your gastrocnemius muscle and it may be your spleen meridian. We are a very complicated being and these charts are very valuable tools. We are electrical beings we have an emittance of frequency.
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Each zone can be considered a channel for the intangible life energy, called Chi in oriental medicine. Stimulating or “working” any zone in the foot by applying pressure with the thumbs and fingers affects the entire zone throughout the body.
For example, working a zone on the foot along which the kidneys lie will release vital energy that may be blocked somewhere else in that zone, such as in the eyes. Working the kidney reflex are on the foot will therefore revitalize and balance the entire zone and improve functioning of the organ.