History

Egyptian Pictograph

 Various forms of reflexology have been practiced in many cultures for centuries. The oldest known physical evidence, however, is an Egyptian pictograph dated 2500-2330 BC. It depicts the practice of foot & hand reflexology. It was found in a physician's tomb at Ankmahor at Saqquara, Egypt. 

Fitzgerald's Zone Therapy 1900's

 Dr William Fitzgerald brought to light the practice of zone therapy. He studied it in Europe & was working in the U.S., and began to show people that using pressure on the different parts of the fingers, (usually with some device such as a clip pr elastic band), would reduce pain or numb a predictable body part. He even used this as an anesthetic during small procedures. His findings were presented in a book titled " Zone Therapy, or relieving Pain at Home"

Zone Therapy, divides the body into ten longitudinal zones. Stimulating one area in any particular zone would have an effect on other body parts within that same zone. 

Modern Foot Reflexology

Eunice Ingham is known as the mother of modern foot reflexology and she was intrigued by Dr W Fitzgerald's work on zone therapy. 

She had determined that since the feet were particularly sensitive, there must be something special about them. She proceeded, through experimentation with thumb pressure on tender spots of the foot, to " map" all the body parts into the zones of the foot. Present-day reflexology was born.

In 1938 she wrote "Stories the Feet Can Tell", which is still in print today.

Eunice's nephew, Dwight Ingham, founded the International Institute of Reflexology

Many others have carried on in the discovery of the wonders of reflexology. It is an ever-growing and effective form of natural/ complementary health care.