History of Reflexology

The earliest recorded reference to Reflexology is in 2330BC which depicts a wall painting in the tomb of Ankmahor, an Egyptian physician to the pharaoh. The inscription in the tomb reads (in hieroglyphics) "Don't hurt me" to which is replied "I will act so you will praise me".

reflexology history image

In 1017 Dr. Wang Wei, one of the founders of acupuncture, recommended massage to the soles of the feet to stimulate the flow of energy in the body.

In the 16th century, Benvenuto Cellini the famous Florentine sculptor was treated with pressure on the feet and hands to relieve pain.

In the 19th century, US President Garfield was also treated with similar pressure treatments to relieve the effects of an assassination attempt.

In the 20th century Dr W Fitzgerald founded Zone Therapy which divided the body into 10 zones. If pressure was applied anywhere in the zone all the organs in that zone are affected.

Eunice D Ingham (1889-1974)
A physiotherapist developed the Zone Theory further and later went on to develop the "Ingham Compression Method" which is the basis of modern Reflexology.
She realised that longer term effects than just anaesthesia could be produced; that an alternating pressure was more powerful than a continuous one and found that the greatest impact could be produced by pressure on the hands and feet (especially the feet) and through research with hundreds of patients 'mapped the feet'.
Eunice Ingham used to treat her nephew Dwight Byers for asthma and he joined her to spread the word about the benefits of Reflexology. Dwight went on to found the International Institute of Reflexology when his Aunt died in 1974 at the age of 85 and is still an active advocate for the Original Ingham Method (™) of Reflexology.

A Brief History of Reflexology

Nicola Tomkins MAR MIIR (Reg) - Reflexology Practitioner Dorset