(613) 970-1193 suzanne@ahealingtable.ca
Origins
There is much evidence throughout the world that massaging feet and hands for better health has been practiced over time:
- 5000 B.C. -China
- 2330 B.C. - Egypt
- 1000 A.D. - Indigenous peoples throughout the Americas
- 1300's - Information about the feet and hands in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) made its way to Europe *
(Vertical) Zone Therapy
Zone Therapy is the first 'western' study of reflexes in the feet and hands representing the vertical zones of the body from head to toe.
- 1300's - * TCM findings were translated from Chinese to Italian
- 1582 - In Central Europe a detailed book was written by Dr. Adamus and Dr. A'tatis titled 'Zone Therapy'. Soon after another book on zone therapy was written by Dr. Ball in Leipzig, Germany
- 1863 - After years of research in Russia, Dr. Ivan Sechenov released papers in the medical community
- 1890 - After years of clinical research in London, UK, Sir Henry Head released papers in medical community
- Early 1900's - Zone Therapy made its way from Europe and the UK to the United States to a chiropractic clinic in Washington, D.C. where Dr. William Fitzgerald, nicknamed the 'Grandfather of Reflexology, releases first edition of the book in 1911, titled 'Zone Therapy', a combined effort with his colleague, Dr. Bowers. Dr. Fitzgerald was also heavily influenced by Indigenous culture and their holistic methods of treating people. This clinic was known to treat patients and give talks around the country from 1913 to 1920 and was known to be the birthplace of refexology in North America.
(Horizontal) Zone Therapy
Dr. Shelby Riley ** worked for Dr. Fitzgerald and developed a map of horizontal zones going across the body and a detailed map of reflex points on the feet and hands. He also suggested pressure points on the outer ear which later became methodology for Ear Reflexology.
Foot Map in an Image of the Body
During the 1930's, Physiotherapist Eunice Ingham worked for Dr. Riley ** in Vermont, United States. Arguably, she is the reason for the world wide popularity of the practice. Her detailed map of reflexes identifies an image of the body.
First Foot Reflexology Map
Physiotherapist Eunice Ingham is the creator of the International Institute of Reflexology, was the author of the first papers and books on 'reflexology' and wrote three books about her observations. Ingham was the first person to identify the organs, glands and body parts represented as reflexes on all four side of the feet. She found and developed the foot maps and reflexology charts that are still in use today.