Reflexology

About Reflexology

A treatment lasts for between 45 and 60 minutes.  The reflexologist will start with a full consultation to build up a picture of your health and lifestyle.

Your reflexologist will then ask you to remove your shoes and socks, and will then use their hands to apply pressure to the feet using the Ingham Compression Method ® (unique to members of the International Institute of Reflexology).

Reflexology can benefit people of all ages and, depending on the length of time a condition has been present, can improve or eliminate many ailments during a course of four to six treatments.

Key Benefits

• Improves circulation
• Relaxation
• Helps nature to achieve homeostasis (bringing your body back into balance naturally)

History of Reflexology

Modern reflexology is based on an ancient form of therapy. There is evidence of some form of foot and hand therapy being practised in China as long ago as 4,000 B.C. and also at the same time in Egypt, as depicted in the tomb of Ankhmahor shown below.

 

The re-discovery of some form of systemised foot treatment is accredited to Dr William Fitzgerald who called it Zone Therapy and drew it to the attention of the medical world between 1915 and 1917.

In 1917, Dr Fitzgerald wrote "Zone Therapy or Relieving Pain in the Home". Two years later, they enlarged this book and published it under a second title "Zone Therapy or Curing Pain and Disease".

From 1915 and into the early 1930's, the subject of zone therapy was controversial, although it met with a certain amount of success with osteopaths and dentists.

One physician who did believe in Fitzgerald's work was Dr Joe Shelby Riley of Washington. He and his wife, Elizabeth, credit Dr Fitzgerald as one who, in modern times, brought this science (ie. Zone therapy) to the notice of the public

The physiotherapist working with Dr Riley at St Petersburg, was Eunice Ingham (1889 - 1974). Eunice Ingham extended the work of Dr Fitzgerald and painstakingly mapped the feet with all the corresponding organs and glands of the body. In the early years, she worked with doctors to prove her findings and to prove to them that reflexology was a useful diagnostic tool.

Eunice Ingham is known as the pioneer of reflexology and she wrote two well-known books "Stories the Feet Can Tell" and "Stories the Feet Have Told".

Working with her was her nephew, Dwight Byers. He is the current President of the International Institute of Reflexology. He worked for many years with his Aunt and is equally keen that her work and that developed by the Institute more recently, should be passed on for the benefit of many people.

Throughout her forty years of experience treating many thousands of people, Eunice Ingham devised a system of techniques which enable the practitioner to contact the reflexes in the most effective and economic way. This system is known as the "Ingham Method" which I practice.