The history of reflexology
Reflexology is not a new therapy. The earliest evidence of a method being used that is similiar to reflexology as we know it today dates back to 2500BC and was found in a tomb belonging to Ankhmahor in Saqqara. A drawing depicts a man applying pressure with his hand to the foot of another, whilst another man is applying pressure with his hand to the hand of a fourth person. The hieroglyphics show the 'patient' saying 'Do not let it be painful' to which the 'practitioner' says 'I do as you please'.
It is well known that forms of applying pressure to the hands and feet for health giving purposes were also used widely in ancient civilisations such as China, India and Japan.
Modern day reflexology grew from what was known as 'zone therapy'. Zone therapy was pioneered by Dr William Fitzgerald (1872-1942) who was an American Ear, Nose and Throat specialist. Fitzgerald discovered that if he applied firm pressure to parts of the hands or feet that an anaesthetising effect could be felt elsewhere. He even carried out minor surgery whilst patients tightly gripped combs in their hands to block pain. In 1917 he published a book on zone therapy that described the link between the palmar surface of the hands and pain in the back of the body and the dorsal surface of the hands and pain in the front of the body. Through his work, Fitzgerald identified 10 longitudinal zones running through the body from the head down to the fingers and toes.
Dr Joe Shelby Riley developed Fitzgerald's work further and it was through Dr Riley that Eunice Ingham, known as the 'mother of reflexology', was first introduced to Zone Therapy in the 1930's. Ingham was a physiotherapist and coined the term 'reflexology'. She observed that congestion or tension in any part of the foot is mirrored in the correspoding part of the body and was the first to identify the feet as the key area to apply pressure to. Ingham used reflexology to relieve pain and to treat illnesses and developed the foot maps that are the basis of those used today through extensive work with her patients. Ingham was also the first to write a book on reflexology called 'Stories the feet can tell' which was published in 1938.
Reflexology was introduced to the UK in the 1960's by Doreen Bayly. Bayly met Ingham in the USA and studied with her before coming to Britain to practice and teach reflexology. Since then reflexology has continued to grow in popularity and is now widely accepted as a safe and effective form of therapy.