If your eyes are the mirrors of the soul, then your feet are the blueprint of your body. At least those who practice foot reflexology think so. Reflexology, which is also called zone therapy, is the practice of pressing or massaging areas of the feet and hands to stimulate circulation and nerve impulses to promote health throughout the body. The feet and the hands are divided into zones or areas that correspond to parts of the body. Pressure applied to certain zones creates a signal through the nervous system to the brain which in turn will stimulate the internal organs to make any necessary adjustments in fuel and oxygen. It also will lower the overall “operating tempo” which means less stress and wear and tear on the body’s systems. By applying pressure to specific reflex points on the hands and the feet, you can stimulate the body’s own healing powers.

If this sounds like modern day bunk to you, thought up by some enterprising con artist, then you’ll be surprised to learn that as far back as ancient Egypt there were practitioners who believed that reflexology worked. Pictures in tombs show people having their hands and their feet massaged. In ancient Chinese cultures, there is also evidence that reflexology was practiced.

In the United States reflexology was introduced in 1913 by Dr. William Fitzgerald. His book, Relieving Pain at Home, developed the zone theory. In his writings he tells of an interesting fact that he discovered. Not only did applying pressure on the zones relieve pain but the causes of the pain as well. Other notables in the field who advanced the zone theories are Eunice D. Ingham and her student, Mildred Carter.

An important fact to keep in mind is that reflexology was never intended to supplant medical care. For optimum health regular visits to your physician is always the best recommendation. But doctors often encourage people to take advantage of other treatments outside the mainstream ones. Some doctors encourage massage to reduce the stress and increase the circulation. (Many years ago nurses routinely gave massages to hospital patients.)

Even with this long history of reflexology, there are a number of skeptics who feel that there isn’t enough hard scientific evidence that reflexology really works. What almost everyone will agree upon is that many health problems are caused by stress and tension in everyday life. Massage therapy has always been an excellent source for treating stress. As a reflexologist works on each zone, it triggers a release of stress and tension. Depending on which side of the aisle you are on, you can come up with evidence either way. What it all comes down to is how you feel after a treatment. I’ve had some treatments and I say, “Go for it. Put your best foot forward!”

Related Articles
	Natural Foot Care One area of the body that gets a lot of abuse, but oftentimes not enough attention is our feet. They take on a lot of stress during the day with commutes, uncomfortable shoes, and standing in long lines. There are many easy, natural treatments for common problems with the feet that can help   ...Read more		Reiki: Experience Healing and Radiant Energy Do you often feel low energy, fatigued, and sluggish? Have you suffered from an illness or a depressed emotional state for longer than you can remember? Consider an energizing Reiki session – either on its own or with your next massage or bodywork treatment. Reiki is a wonderful way to reduce   ...Read more