In the view of most of the world's healthcare systems our body works via energy lines or meridians (qi in Traditional Chinese Medicine) . These meridians could be viewed as the electrical system that connects and keeps all the organs, glands, and tissues working together. The "qi end zone" of the meridians is in our extremities, the hands and feet. Reflexology is compression massage, similar to accupressure, of the hands and feet in order to aid healing.
History of the Healing Form

Traditional Asian healing arts have included techniques for massaging the feet, hands, and body to assist healing of tissues and organs. Early records in China indicate a form of reflexology was practiced 5,000 years ago. In Egypt, a pictograph in the tomb of the physician Imhotep who was practicing medicine about the same time, 2300 BC, clearly shows one person massaging another's feet.

As a specific healing treatment apart from massage, accupressure or acupuncture, reflexology was initiated by an American ear-nose-throat specialist, Dr. William Fitzgerald, in the early 20th century. Dr. Fitzgerald divided the body into ten zones that began in the toes, extended through the fingers and continued to the top of the head. He taught that the body contained bioelectrical energy that flowed through the zones to reflex points in the hands and feet. In 1938, a physiotherapist, Eunice D. Ingham, advanced Fitzgerald's zone theory. She determined that the feet were the most important areas to work upon because they are so sensitive, and she mapped out the entire body and correlated it to zones on the feet.

Ingham established an institute to teach reflexology, where thousands have been trained. She taught and lectured widely, and her book Stories the Feet Can Tell can still be found in many libraries. Another method developed by Laura Norman is taught in some hospitals and universities. Some practitioners specialize in reflexology, but many other health care practitioners incorporate reflexology with other therapies.
How It Works

The treatment environment is set up similarly to massage--subdued lighting, soothing music, perhaps a healing fragrance wafts the air. The patient lies down or is stretched out on a reclining chair--the objective is that you're relaxed and legs are extended. Hot towels soothe and relax your feet, and suitable oils make this a treatment that engages all senses. A treatment may be 30 minutes or an hour long.

Reflexology is useful in maintaining health, diagnosing problem areas, and healing both acute and chronic ailments. Depending upon the nature of the illness or condition being treated, relief may occur with one treatment, or improvement may require regular (2-3x/week) treatments over a few weeks or months.

Treatment by a trained practitioner is exquisite, but they are not always easy to find. With a partner and a guidebook, you can give this therapy to each other, and children will benefit from reflexology as well. Massaging the reflex points on the hands is easily done by yourself, and foot treatment is possible on oneself although the legs cannot be extended for self-treatment.
Experiences

While slowly recovering from a viral attack that caused tremendous fatigue a friend offered a foot massage. Although familiar with reflexology, I had never had a treatment. I was to learn that for a person in good health a foot massage is not painful, but every system in my body was under duress. The foot massage hit a point sending what felt like a mild electrical shock up my right side; in that instant the fatigue and brain fog I had been experiencing for seven weeks lifted. I sought out a professional reflexologist for regular weekly treatments for the following months.

In our family reflexology pointed to a liver ailment months before sonograms found large cysts, and massaging the liver reflex has immediately eased duress caused by OTC medicine. We have used reflexology for relief from gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD)-- instant relief when pharma drugs and OTC meds were not sufficient. The therapy also relieves the breathing distress of asthma brought on by GERD. WMB