Reflexology: A Step in The Right Direction

The foot is a work of art and an instrument of magic. On the most mundane level, the foot is an engineering marvel, especially when you consider the size of the feet in relation to the body they support. The foot is made up of 26 bones(it’s interesting to note that the spine has 26 vertebrae), 19 muscles, 107 ligaments, 31 tendon, 30 joints, 125,000 sweat glands, 7200 nerve endings and yards and yards of blood vessels.

Reflexology—the science of involuntary response to stimuli of the foot—is a gentle healing art, not to be confused with body massage, It is a specific pressure technique that works on precise reflex points on the foot that correspond with all body parts. The reflex areas are all over the feet—top, bottom, and sides— and form a mirror image of the body.

Reflexology dates back as far back as 3000 A.D. when the Chinese practiced a form of pressure therapy, similar to acupressure. Pictographs in Egyptian tombs from 2300 BC show feet being held and worked on. A painting of the footprint of the Hindu god Vishnu shows Sanskrit symbols at reflex points. Primitive African tribes used a form of reflexology, and in recent times Native Americans also created their own version.

In 1917, Dr. William Fitzgerald, an ear, nose and throat specialist and author of Zone Therapy, divided the body into 10 equal longitudinal zones, with five zones on the left side of the body and five zones on the right side of the body. The head has ten zones and they run down to each finger and toe. Dr. Fitzgerald discovered that if he put pressure on the tips of each finger with clamps or elastic bands around the top of each finger, this pressure would have an anesthetic affect on the nerves of the hands, arms, throat, and face, this enabled him to do minor surgery without the use of chloroform. An organ or gland found in a specific zone mapped to its reflex in the corresponding zone of the foot.  

Eunice Ingham a physical therapist became interested in zone therapy in the 1930’s and began to develop foot reflexology as we know it today by mapping the body in a precise chart of the foot.

The main goal of reflexology is stress reduction. More than 90% of all illnesses and disease is believed to be stress-related, and because reflexology encourages the body to relax, many functions benefit. Every part of the body receives its nerve supply directly from the spine, abnormal tension tightens the muscle of the spine, resulting in pain and restriction of the flow of energy. Blood vessels also relax, reducing vascular constriction and allowing circulation to flow freely, carrying the necessary oxygen and nutrients to all body tissues and organs, which then release toxins from the body. Reflexology benefits the entire system.

Stress affects people of every age, and disease and illness can take a long time to manifest in the body. Over time, repeated stress reactions weaken the immune system, making us more susceptible to immunodeficiency diseases, depleting the body of vitamins and minerals, throwing off the balance of bodily systems. Stress has a debilitating effect on the body and long-term implications for our whole society. The increasing number of people with heart disease and high blood pressure are evidence of this.

An increasing number of studies have been done on effects of reflexology. In the December 1993 issue of the American Journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, a paper by William Flocco and Terry Oleson PhD. described the first North American study of reflexology, which reduced P.M.S. symptoms by 46 percent for eight weeks of weekly treatments. This sustained with a 42 percent reduction of symptoms for eight weeks after the treatments.

In Denmark, where there are more than 3,500 practicing reflexologists, as compared to 3,000 practicing medical doctors, studies report positive results from reflexology. People suffering from poor blood circulation, kidney stones, constipation and childbirth all benefited. According to the May/June issue of Natural Life, Australian studies report positive results for people with arthritic pain, unexplained internal pain and tension and headaches.

A Swiss research study evaluated the benefits of reflexology for persons with terminal cancer, all of whom were suffering from pain. The results showed the reflexology not only relieved their pain, but also added quality to the dying person’s life. In China a study by X.M. Wang a Beijing Medical University, titled Treating Type II Diabetes Mellitus with Foot Reflexology concluded that reflexology was an effective therapy for type II diabetes mellitus, and listed a number of symptoms this therapy significantly reduced.

What is a reflexology treatment like? It should not be painful. You should expect to relax totally and enjoy yourself.  The client removes shoes and socks and sits in a reclining chair with feet elevated. I examine the feet for color, temperature, odor and texture, and then begin a series of relaxation techniques, and a thumb technique to apply pressure to the reflex points. Each reflex point is made up of a mass of reflex points, each of which is only the size of a pinhead, so precision is required to be effective.

What does a session feel like? Everybody will have a different reaction. Most reactions are usually pleasant, leaving the client calm and relaxed. Some people fall asleep, while others like to talk. I encourage my clients to be silent and listen to music that is playing. This is their hour to relax and feel good. Some clients feel relaxed and tired after a session. Many people find a boost of energy and very often a feeling of calmness and well-being. There are no unpleasant side effects with reflexology.

Reflexology activates the bodies own healing power. It is a holistic approach to healing that emphasizes taking responsibility for one’s own state of health. The main goal of reflexology is to reduce stress, because when the body is relaxed it will heal itself.

Reflexology helps bring the body back into balance and improves circulation, nerve functioning and overall energy levels. This practice can be of great benefit as a preventive therapy. By having sessions at regular intervals, the body enjoys a sustained, balanced state of good health. It is a good way to maintain balance in the elimination systems, which is where most diseases begin.

Barbarah K. Coleman is a Naturopath, Nutritional Counselor, First Line Therapy Educator, Magnified Healer/teacher, National Board Certified Foot Reflexologist, White Light Reiki Master/Teacher and a Karuna Reiki master. She is also a member of the American Reflexology Certification Board and the former Vice President of the Association of Reflexology of Colorado.  Barbarah is the author of numerous health related magazine articles.

Barbarah earned her Reflexology certification at the New Jersey Institute of Reflexology in 1997. She has taught Reflexology at the International School of Beauty of Colorado Springs and at the Broadmoor Spa.

Barbarah studied Naturopathy with Trinity College of Indiana. She also studies nutrition at the Academy of Natural Sciences of New Jersey.

Barbarah's mission is to walk with her clients on their journey toward health, as a health educator, coach and health travel guide.