What is Reflexology?
Reflexology is a complementary therapy which involves a technique using pressure to reflex areas found in the feet and hands. Most commonly, the feet are used as the areas to be worked on. In the feet, there are reflex areas corresponding to all the parts of the body and these areas are arranged in such a way as to form a map of the body in the feet with the right foot corresponding to the right side of the body and the left foot corresponding to the left side of the body. By having the whole body represented in the feet, the method offers a means of working on the whole body and of looking at the body as a whole thus potentially helping symptoms and the causes of symptoms.
The method has been used for several thousands of years and is known to have been practised in a similar manner by the Chinese and the Egyptians.
More recently, Reflexology was described in the form in which it is now known by the late Eunice Ingham, an American lady, who based her method of looking at the feet on work called 'Zone Therapy' which had been described some years earlier in the 1920's by an American, Dr William Fitzgerald. The main pioneer of Reflexology in Great Britain was the late Doreen Bayly who introduced the method in the early 1960's and whose great determination to stimulate awareness and interest in the method should not be forgotten.
Reflexology may be used alongside orthodox medicine. Reflexology can be a wonderfully relaxing experience where you can take time out from everyday pressures. A session of reflexology can help you relax which can help improve mood, aid sleep and relieve tension. The result is an overall sense of well being