| Reflexology, or zone therapy, is the practice of | | | | disorders o Sports injuries o Preventative therapy |
| stimulating points on the feet, hands, or ears, in | | | | o Improvement of mental alertness o Stimulation |
| the belief it will have a beneficial effect on some | | | | of creativity and productivity o Helping to improve |
| other parts of the body, or will improve general | | | | inter-relationships between body systems Current |
| health. Most scientists and medical professionals | | | | practice Reflexologists apply pressure on "reflex |
| consider reflexology to be a pseudoscience, | | | | zones" found on the feet, hands and the ears, |
| offering no more benefits than ordinary massage. | | | | which are said to correspond to the different |
| The most common form is foot reflexology. | | | | parts of the body. Application is done through |
| Practitioners believe the foot to be divided into a | | | | thumb, finger and hand technique. Reflex areas, |
| number of reflex zones corresponding to all parts | | | | like hand and foot, composed of 7200 nerve |
| of the body, and that applying pressure to tight | | | | endings are stimulated by pressure applied. An |
| or "gritty" areas of a person's foot will stimulate | | | | improved instruction to every gland, single part |
| the corresponding body part and cause it to begin | | | | and organ of the body could be achieved by such |
| healing itself. | | | | a health science. The body is then believed to |
| Eunice Ingham developed Reflexology in the | | | | pursue a biologically correct, strengthened and |
| 1930s, based on earlier theory by Dr. | | | | reinforced state. |
| William Fitzgerald known as "Zone Therapy". In | | | | The reflex zones are organized in a way that |
| 1913, Dr. Fitzgerald noted that specific parts of | | | | represents the whole body. |
| the body could have an anesthetic effect on | | | | First of all, there should be a preliminary talk with |
| another area. Developing this theory, he divided | | | | the practitioner before treatment. The |
| the body into ten equal vertical zones, ending in | | | | reflexologist then begins to work on the client's |
| the fingers and toes. He concluded that pressure | | | | feet, or hands if necessary, noting problem areas. |
| on one part of the zone could affect everything | | | | There may be discomfort in some places, but it is |
| else within that zone. | | | | fleeting, and also an indication of congestion or |
| In reflexology, it is believed that there is a "vital | | | | imbalance in a corresponding part of the body. For |
| energy" that is circulating between organs of the | | | | the most of the part, the sensation is pleasant |
| human body, that penetrates into every living cell. | | | | and soothing. Reflexology can help relax the client |
| Whenever this energy is blocked, the zone of | | | | and is believed to stimulate the body's own healing |
| blockage will be affected, and the reflex zones | | | | mechanisms. Usually a treatment session lasts for |
| can indicate the blockage of energy in different | | | | about one hour. For some cases, a treatment can |
| organs. | | | | last nearly two hours. A course of treatment |
| Therefore, if someone has a problem in a | | | | varies in length depending on the need of the |
| particular organ, a reflexologist will press on the | | | | client body. |
| corresponding reflex zone or zones, and the | | | | The reflexologist will discuss this with the patient |
| person will experience pain. This pain is claimed to | | | | at the first session. |
| originate from the deposition of crystals in the | | | | Reflexology is a widespread practice in Asia, |
| reflex zone and, with massage, these crystalline | | | | where foot reflexology (also known as foot |
| structures can be broken down and the pain | | | | massage) is quite popular. |
| relieved. Simultaneously, the pressure applied to | | | | Although many people are skeptical about the |
| the reflex zones by the reflexologist is claimed to | | | | concepts underlying this practice, its use is |
| pass through the nerves to dissipate energy | | | | spreading, perhaps because it is being taken |
| blocks. | | | | simply as a relaxing massage therapy. It is not |
| According to Bill Flocco, Director of the American | | | | the practice that reflexologists use foot |
| Academy of Reflexology in California, "Reflexology | | | | reflexology only, they prefer to use a combination |
| is a powerful natural health science that studies | | | | of foot, hand and ear reflexology to obtain a |
| the relationship of the reflex areas in the feet, | | | | much better result. |
| hands and the ears to the rest of the body so | | | | Sales of foot reflexology equipment, such as |
| that these areas can be worked on with the | | | | rollers, are increasing rapidly. |
| fingers and thumbs in a manner that will lead to | | | | In addition, many new instruments using the same |
| improved health and the maintenance of good | | | | principle are being marketed, such as whole body |
| health." Alleged long-term effects Reduced stress | | | | vacuum cans. Socks printed with reflex zone |
| and induced relaxation Many people try | | | | footmaps were developed based on reflexology. |
| reflexology as their first foray into the world of | | | | By wearing the socks, people can easily locate |
| massage, finding the treatment more relaxing | | | | appropriate areas to apply pressure to. Though |
| than a general body massage. During the | | | | not generally used by professionals, these |
| treatment, clients are only required to relax and | | | | "reflexology socks" have gained popularity in |
| expose their feet to the reflexologist. Treatment | | | | Taiwan and China. Inexpensive how-to books |
| components also include soft music, essence oil | | | | enabling people to perform the exercises by |
| and soft lighting, which combine to create a | | | | themselves are also available for self-help practice. |
| drowsy effect. Clients often fall asleep and | | | | Reflexologists advise caution in applying the |
| describe the experience as the most relaxing | | | | techniques to oneself, and recommend people to |
| hours of their day. After the treatment, they | | | | consult an expert before using them if they are |
| describe themselves as feeling "refreshed". | | | | pregnant or have a chronic disease. |
| Approximately 75% of all illnesses are said to be | | | | Advocates claim reflexology is just as effective |
| related to stress. Stress can lead to headaches, | | | | when used on children as on adults. Some |
| neck and shoulder stiffness, as well as contracting | | | | advocates go further and claim it is more |
| the common cold and the more serious influenza. | | | | effective. Advocates have also suggested that |
| "Prevention is better than the cure", it is said, and | | | | reflexology can also help children create an |
| so it is not surprising to see the growing | | | | awareness of self. |
| popularity of reflexology as a means of relieving | | | | Scientific view Most scientists and medical |
| stress. | | | | professionals consider reflexology to be a |
| Feeling of increased energy It is claimed that | | | | pseudoscience and claim there are no reliable |
| reflexology opens pathways to renew ourselves | | | | scientific studies proving its effectiveness as a |
| and boost our energy level, immediately after | | | | medical treatment, or that there is any form of |
| treatment and for several days afterwards. It | | | | link between specific areas of the feet and the |
| could keep us free from the feeling of lacking | | | | various organs of the body. Furthermore, the |
| motivation, tiredness, and inability to concentrate. | | | | 'crystalline structures' rationale is unsustained by |
| Reflexology advocates say that reflexology not | | | | current understanding of physiology. There is no |
| only relieves symptoms, but also acts on | | | | scientific evidence that healing can be achieved by |
| improvements of our body as a whole. | | | | it or that the claimed "energies" and their |
| Other alleged effects o Acute and chronic | | | | supposed pathways through the body. |
| conditions o Stress related conditions o Sleep | | | | |