Ancient Egypt tradition
An ancient Egyptian wall painting of the 6th Dynasty (approx.2400 B.C.) found at Saqqara in the tomb of Ankhmahor, an ancient Egyptian physician, depicts two men working on the feet and hands of two other men. It is known that in ancient Egypt to improve health and as therapies they used what we today name physiotherapy, mud and clay therapy, reflexology, aromatherapy, massages, hydrotherapy, surgery.
Ayurvedic and Indian tradition
Ayurveda (Sanskrit: आयुर्वेद; Āyurveda, "the complete knowledge for long life") or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India. Also in this tradition the use of massaging some feet points is known, even if it results a practice less complex and organic than in Chinese traditional medicine, more connected to massage effects than to reflex points.
Chinese and Thai traditions
Both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Thai traditional medicine.
Chinese Traditional Medicine (CTM) has accumulated rich experiences through a history of thousands of years. It has its own philosophy, a series of theories, as well as various branches. Reflexology, or as Chinese ordinary people call it, foot massage, is a sub-division of CTM. 14 important channels within the human body were defined, 6 among which travel to or from the foot. All these channels link internal organs with sensitive points spreading over the skin. out of over 600 points in the whole body, 66 (about 10% ) are located in both feet. While this book mainly deals with acupuncture, there are also several paragraphs referring to massage (but not foot-massage specifically).
In ancient Siam the use of massage was diffused as health therapy. Furthermore, it was said that King Chulalongkorn (Rama V, 1868-1910) was so fond of this method of rejuvenating that whenever he went out to visit his subjects in remote areas, at least one masseur was included in his entourage. From that ancient massage evolved the Thai reflexology tradition.
Chinese Traditional Medicine (CTM) has accumulated rich experiences through a history of thousands of years. It has its own philosophy, a series of theories, as well as various branches. Reflexology, or as Chinese ordinary people call it, foot massage, is a sub-division of CTM. 14 important channels within the human body were defined, 6 among which travel to or from the foot. All these channels link internal organs with sensitive points spreading over the skin. out of over 600 points in the whole body, 66 (about 10% ) are located in both feet. While this book mainly deals with acupuncture, there are also several paragraphs referring to massage (but not foot-massage specifically).
In ancient Siam the use of massage was diffused as health therapy. Furthermore, it was said that King Chulalongkorn (Rama V, 1868-1910) was so fond of this method of rejuvenating that whenever he went out to visit his subjects in remote areas, at least one masseur was included in his entourage. From that ancient massage evolved the Thai reflexology tradition.
European and Western studies
Even if it is thought that reflexology was mainly an Eastern tradition. it has to be known that in Europe too it has a long tradition. In XVI Century the famous Italian artist Benvenuto Cellini was treated by pressures on his hands and feet to help him for muscle pains. In the same Century Leonardo da Vinci studied in detail the feet anatomy and physiology. In XIII and XIV Centuries Marco Polo and some missionaires brought the massage and reflex knowledge known in the Far East, but the European tradition did not change much..
In 1834 the Swedish scholar P.H. Ling noticed the relation between the pain of some body organs and feet points. Henry Head used reflexed pints for anaesthetic purposes and later on W. Fitzgerald tested more extensively these relations (1913). It is known in Europe and North America also as "zone therapy"
In 1834 the Swedish scholar P.H. Ling noticed the relation between the pain of some body organs and feet points. Henry Head used reflexed pints for anaesthetic purposes and later on W. Fitzgerald tested more extensively these relations (1913). It is known in Europe and North America also as "zone therapy"
Contemporary studies, research and practice
In our days the wider diffusion of reflexology and of holistic medicine is producing a growing number of studies and researches about the use of reflexology as a complementary therapy or as a help for several health problems.
It has to be said that feet reflexology is the most known and diffused, but there are reflexology treatments for hands, ears and face too.
