The European Therapists Register

Reflexology
The theory underlying reflexology practice is that pressure on reflex points stimulates the energy flow along a pathway (meridian, zone), clearing congestion and balancing it throughout. Pressure applied to any part of the pathway affects the entire pathway. Working on all reflex points in the feet returns the body to homoeostasis, defined as the tendency towards a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes. Once in this state the body'’s own immune system will be able to overcome whatever is troubling it. History Reflexology is not a new method of treatment. It goes back at least 5000 years when some form of pressure therapy was practised in China, India and Egypt; a wall painting, found in the tomb of the Egyptian physician Ankhmahor at Saqqara (about 2330 BC), shows such treatment being administered. Development In charting their findings the pioneers of foot reflexology noticed that the relationships between points pressed on the feet and the parts affected occurred along definite pathways. They drew up a diagrammatic chart of these pathways and called them '‘zones'’. Reflexology, the treatment based on these zones, has also been know as '‘foot zone therapy'’. It has since occurred to some reflexologists, notably Inge Dougans, that the zones discovered by Dr Fitzgerald and Eunice Ingham correspond rather neatly with the meridian theory of acupuncture. She argued that acupuncture and reflexology share the same concept of energy channels which happened to have been given different names; namely '‘meridians'’ in acupuncture and '‘zones'’ in reflexology. She pointed out, though, that the energy flows in one continuum and that dividing that continuum into different meridians is purely a measure to facilitate discourse. Regardless of what the energy pathways are called, empirical science has demonstrated that, though not visible, they exist and that working on the reflex points can improve health, prevent or even cure disease. Practice The practitioner gently exerts firm pressure on the reflex points in a systematic way, in order not to miss any, by making small, creeping movements, caterpillar fashion, with a thumb or finger along each foot. This stimulates and sends nerve impulses along the energy pathways to the various parts of the body to which they are connected . The impulses clear or reduce the congestion in the energy channels, thereby revitalising the energy flow and promoting homoeostasis. Congestion or symptoms of ill health in the body are revealed as tenderness or pain over the reflex points in the feet which usually subsides on application of gentle pressure over the points. Sometimes grit-like structures (calcium deposits) can be felt which cause momentary acute pain; the treatment easily breaks them down, and once broken down they are excreted in the normal way. Care needs to be taken not to go beyond the patient'’s pain threshold, because reflexology is effective through reducing tension and inducing relaxation; pain creates tension, and going beyond the pain threshold is counter-productive as well as distressful. There is, nevertheless, a level of pain which patients often call a '‘healthy pain'’, because they are aware that this pain is a precursor to the relief of their symptoms and ultimately better health.

Reflexology

The theory underlying reflexology practice is that pressure on reflex points stimulates the energy flow along a pathway (meridian, zone), clearing congestion and balancing it throughout. Pressure applied to any part of the pathway affects the entire pathway. Working on all reflex points in the feet returns the body to homoeostasis, defined as the tendency towards a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes. Once in this state the body'’s own immune system will be able to overcome whatever is troubling it.

History
Reflexology is not a new method of treatment. It goes back at least 5000 years when some form of pressure therapy was practised in China, India and Egypt; a wall painting, found in the tomb of the Egyptian physician Ankhmahor at Saqqara (about 2330 BC), shows such treatment being administered.

Development
In charting their findings the pioneers of foot reflexology noticed that the relationships between points pressed on the feet and the parts affected occurred along definite pathways. They drew up a diagrammatic chart of these pathways and called them '‘zones'’. Reflexology, the treatment based on these zones, has also been know as '‘foot zone therapy'’. It has since occurred to some reflexologists, notably Inge Dougans, that the zones discovered by Dr Fitzgerald and Eunice Ingham correspond rather neatly with the meridian theory of acupuncture. She argued that acupuncture and reflexology share the same concept of energy channels which happened to have been given different names; namely '‘meridians'’ in acupuncture and '‘zones'’ in reflexology. She pointed out, though, that the energy flows in one continuum and that dividing that continuum into different meridians is purely a measure to facilitate discourse. Regardless of what the energy pathways are called, empirical science has demonstrated that, though not visible, they exist and that working on the reflex points can improve health, prevent or even cure disease.

Practice
The practitioner gently exerts firm pressure on the reflex points in a systematic way, in order not to miss any, by making small, creeping movements, caterpillar fashion, with a thumb or finger along each foot. This stimulates and sends nerve impulses along the energy pathways to the various parts of the body to which they are connected . The impulses clear or reduce the congestion in the energy channels, thereby revitalising the energy flow and promoting homoeostasis. Congestion or symptoms of ill health in the body are revealed as tenderness or pain over the reflex points in the feet which usually subsides on application of gentle pressure over the points. Sometimes grit-like structures (calcium deposits) can be felt which cause momentary acute pain; the treatment easily breaks them down, and once broken down they are excreted in the normal way. Care needs to be taken not to go beyond the patient'’s pain threshold, because reflexology is effective through reducing tension and inducing relaxation; pain creates tension, and going beyond the pain threshold is counter-productive as well as distressful. There is, nevertheless, a level of pain which patients often call a '‘healthy pain'’, because they are aware that this pain is a precursor to the relief of their symptoms and ultimately better health.

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