Reflexology is a practice that has existed for many centuries. Originally, it is a traditional Chinese medicine that has more than 5,000 years of existence:its benefits are well established. Moreover, the foot is considered by Asians as the part of the body that promotes good health. This method was later practiced in India and Egypt. Traces of these massages can be found in some Egyptian temples. The Tibetans, on top of their snow-capped mountains, have also been fervent followers for hundreds of years. In Asian culture, the foot is the mirror of the body. All organs, muscles and blood vessels correspond to a point under the arch of the foot. They are called reflex zones. Massages can stimulate these points and relieve ailments of body and mind.
At the end of the 19th century, scientific studies established a link between the feet and the rest of the body. Foot reflexology has continued to evolve over the centuries. In recent years, this Chinese medicine has been on the rise. Today there are different schools and different practices. Not all reflexologists have the same way of massaging. Some only massage the feet, while others focus on the knees and ankles. Today, modern reflexology is based on the ancient knowledge of acupuncture and on new discoveries. During the 20th century, Dr. Fitzgerald did a lot of research. His knowledge was based on the therapy of the zones…, these same reflex zones present under the foot!
If reflexology is based on ancestral knowledge, it is today influenced by different currents. It is thanks to the American doctor Eunice Ingham that this practice took a therapeutic turn. The latter conducted extensive research on the foot at the beginning of the 20th century. She even created the first reflexology training school. Other researchers then precisely delineated five zones under the arch of the foot. You can choose a reflexologist close to Chinese medicine or in agreement with the Ingham school. Each foot reflexology session begins with questions about your state of health. The practitioner then massages with the thumb or the palm of the hand to act on the problem. Back pain, headaches, painful periods…, but also stress, strong anxiety or insomnia, you can fight effectively against the sores of everyday life. A source of well-being and energy, this practice is also available for the hands, face and ears.
