There are several theories of how reflexology works.
Those people who accept and work with energy medicine often explain the pathways of energetic impulse in terms of meridians, from classic Chinese medicine. Traditionally minded reflexologists rely heavily on the tenants of Zone Therapy.
Whilst many Western practitioners prefer to consider the method of transfer of information from reflex point to body to be via the intricate web of nerves. Whatever the mechanism, the manipulation of the reflex points reaches all parts of your body, and it is amazing in the way that it pinpoints areas of discomfort, old injuries and tensions.
Use:-
- Each treatment stimulates your natural healing ability so that a total balance can be achieved.
- Although Reflexology can be used for specific injuries and illness, the session are designed to treat each
recipient in a holistic manner.
- Reflexology addresses both the symptoms and their root cause.
- And it can be used as an excellent means of preventative medicine, ensuring a full rebalancing of the system - which is often put out of alignment by stress, fatigue, worry and the daily challenges of life.
Possible reactions to treatment are:
- A sense of relaxation and well being.
- An increase of bodily secretions (urine, sweat, nasal discharge) - this is linked to the cleansing of toxins from the body and as such is not only a positive effect, but is likely to last only a matter of hours.
- A change in sleep pattern - clients may feel either more tired or very energised. Equally sleep itself can be far deeper and more restful, or enlivened by vivid dreams.
- Also a slight temporary increase, or marked decrease, in symptoms of a condition treated.
Roots:-
Massage of the feet was used by ancient peoples all over the world, including China, Egypt, Africa and the Americas.
Little of these early techniques have survived the millennia, however, the working of reflex points for pain relief is still used in its traditional form by Native Amerind Peoples.
In the twentieth century the practice was revitalised and has become known as Reflexology. This began in 1913 when Dr. William Fitzgerald began offering a treatment called ‘Zone Therapy’.
In the 1930s Eunice Ingham, a masseuse and physiotherapist, used Zone Therapy extensively. She found that the feet were far more sensitive than other areas to the pressure work, and mapped the entire body onto the feet. She also began to use the method of working ‘reflex’ points on a far wider range of conditions than Fitzgerald targeted.
In the 1960s, Reflexology was brought to the UK by Doreen Bayly (a student of Eunice Ingham). The school of the British Reflexology Association still bears her name.
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