What
is Reflexology?
The
massaging of feet to diagnose and cure disease. In the
1930s, Eunice Ingham (1889-1974) applied Occam’s razor
to Dr. William Fitzgerald’s teachings in Zone Therapy
(1917) and dubbed the result Reflexology.
Reflexology
is based on the unsubstantiated belief that each part of
each foot is a mirror site for a part of the body. The
big toe, for example, is considered a reflex area for
the head. It is believed that Reflexology maps the body
with the feet, the right foot corresponding to the right
side of the body and the left foot corresponding to the
left side of the body.
Because
the whole body is represented in the feet,
reflexologists consider themselves to be holistic health
practitioners, not foot doctors. Allegedly, the ancient
Chinese and Egyptians practised Reflexology, and it is
still very popular in Europe.
Practitioners
of Reflexology claim that they can help a variety of
aches and pains by massaging the correct reflex points
on the foot. It is said by those who practice it that
Reflexology can help to eliminate migraine headaches and
relieve sinus problems; restore harmony to hormonal
imbalances and alleviate breathing disorders and
digestive problems. If you have a back problem, a
massage on the right spot on the right foot (which might
be the left foot in some cases) can alleviate your
suffering. If you suffer from circulatory problems or
have a lot of tension and stress, Reflexology promises
relief.
Reflexology
is often combined with other therapies and practices,
such as acupressure, shiatsu, yoga, and tai chi,. often
involving the hands and other body parts or zones, not
just the feet. Reflexology seems to be a variation of
acupressure, with its notion that there are
correspondences between special pressure points and the
flow of chi to bodily organs.
One
reason foot massage may be so pleasurable and is
associated with significant improvement in mood is that
the area of the brain that connects to the foot is
adjacent to the area that connects to the
genitals. Foot massage – Reflexology is a
pleasurable and comfortable treatment particularly for
those people who experience peripheral neuropathy due to
HIV disease; those with a lowered immune system or both.
