Reflexology: The Hand and Foot Massage

The practice of foot massage has a long history. Even the ancient cultures upheld a tradition of massaging the feet to improve well being. Massaging the pressure points of the feet was used in China over 5.000 years ago.

Foot reflexology is well-known in the UK. It is based on the principle that there are reflexes or zones on the feet which connect to your glands and organs by means of meridians. By stimulating these zones with a massage technique, you can stimulate specific nerve regions and also increase blood supply to a specific region. Foot reflexology was first developed by Eunice Ingham in the 1930's. After working with several hundred patients she wrote a book entitled "Stories The Feet Can Tell" in which she discussed her cases and drew a map of the reflexes. Reflexology as we know it today was introduced to the UK in 1960 by Doreen Bayly, a former colleague of Eunice Ingham.

Reflexology claims:

• The body is split into 10 zones- there are five on each side of your body.
• Each part of your body is represented by an area on your hands or feet.
• Massaging each individual area will stimulate the energy flow, blood circulation and nerve impulses to the area of the body that corresponds to the area being massaged.

How Foot Reflexology Can Help

Reflexology of both the hands and feet has been and is used to treat ailments such as: arthritis, anaemia, acid reflux, tension, thyroid problems, digestive disorders, heart condition, high blood pressure and kidney malfunction.

Hand Reflexology

Hand reflexology works on the same principle, that reflex points in the hand correspond to specific areas of the body and the internal organs. Massaging these reflex points stimulate the organs to improve circulation, reduce tension and balance the body's energy. Because reflexology can be performed on the hands, there are a series of simple exercises that you can perform yourself. You can begin by gently holding your hand and manipulating it from side to side to flex the wrist muscles and improve circulation. Then apply a gentle massaging pressure to each area of the hands and fingers. If you notice any abnormal sensitivity, leave off that area for a few days and then gently work over it again.

You can perform another simple exercise by taking a golf ball or a ping pong ball and clasping it gently between your palms. Slowly roll the ball between your hands allowing it to apply gentle pressure on all areas of your palms and fingers. During a typical therapy session, the reflexologist will spend the majority of the time massaging the pressure point on the hands and feet. Because reflexology is gentle and not invasive, it may often be used where other kinds of body therapy are not appropriate.