|
Reflexology Foot Chart
Reflexology Chart (.pdf)
|
The Basics of Foot Reflexology:
What is foot reflexology? Reflexology is based on the neurological
theory that your feet, ears, hands, ears and iris of the eyes provide a
neurological mini-map of your entire body. (See diagram)
How does it work? By applying pressure to specific neurological
reflex zones of the foot by walking a foot reflexology path or
receiving a foot reflexology treatment, we can flush away toxins
(calcium deposits or urate crystals) that collect around the foot's
nerve endings and cause tenderness and pain. This pain is not
diagnostic of disease; rather, the symptoms of pain are our allies to
signal well-being imbalances and the potential for disease
development (N.B.: diagnosis of disease is only obtained by your
primary care physician and is not in the hands of a reflexology
practitioner or walking a reflexology path.)
Is Foot Reflexology a modern phenomenon?
"If I see far, it is because I stand on the shoulders of Giants." --- Sir Isaac Newton
Foot reflexology is an ancient practice with modern research and
applications for which we thank several medical and clinical "Giants".
In ~2500 BCE, the Yellow Emperor’s physician, Qi Bo instructed his
imperial patient in the world’s oldest medical textbook, The Yellow
Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine. Dr. Qi Bo explained
to his emperor that:
“Interruption in the flow of Qi results in pain.”
3000 years later, American Reflexology Pioneer and
Physiotherapist, Eunice Ingham who lived from 1889-1974 and
founded the Ingham Method of Reflexology (following her work with
Dr. William Fitzgerald who wrote Zone Therapy in 1917) echoed the
great Chinese Doctor’s causal relationship of
stagnation and disease:
“When congestion exists, disease will result…no one can deny the
well-known fact that circulation is life; stagnation is death
(Stories the Feet Can Tell, 1938).”
50 years later, Father Josef Eugster, a Swiss Catholic Missionary in
Taiwan, who is credited with bringing foot reflexology back to Asia in
the 1980's followed in the imperial doctor's footsteps, and those of
Eunice Ingham when he and his co-writers, Geraldine Tay and Eu
Hooi Khaw noted:
"Chinese medical theory tells us that blocked qi and blood circulation
will cause aches and pain. Foot massage promotes blood and "qi"
circulation and is thus able to get rid of the aches. At the same time
it also adjusts and improves the functioning and coordination of the
organs and systems. It has the de-stressing effect when all the
organs and systems are harmoniously coordinated."
(p. 43-44, Father Josef's Foot Reflexology)
Are Foot Reflexology Paths a Modern Phenomenon?
As long as animals and humans have walked the earth, reflexology
paths have existed as cobblestone streets, pebbled beaches and
river beds. The modern aspect of foot reflexology paths is our
human adaptation to our modern society where shoes are worn
throughout the day, people are sedentary and
time is limited to enjoy outdoor barefoot exercise.
With the industrialization of the economy, many communities in Asia
used their ancient knowledge of Chinese Medicine and commenced
the building of man-made Foot Reflexology Paths to benefit public
health, to invest in disease prevention, and to "dig the well before
they were thirsty."
Paths of Health, Inc. is proud to offer the Western Public our
medically therapeutic, internationally researched and
artistically designed paths. (please see "Commission a Path section)
"People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But the
real miracle is not to walk neither on water or in thin air,
but to walk on earth. ---Thich Nhat Hanh
Top of Page
|
