Reflexology Massage

Written by: Jesse Ling / MassageGirls Staff Writer
Added on: Tue Sep 22 2009

Reflexology can be termed as a form of alternative method of applying medicine that involves the use of the massage technique and compressing on the various areas of your feet, hands or ears.

The goal of the reflexology massage is to have a relieving effect on other areas of your body and also to make your health improve. The practicing reflexologists across the world are not in agreement on exactly how it works but they all agree that each part of your foot matches to a certain area of your body therefore when it is manipulated, you can get an improvement in your health.

The practice of reflexology is believed to have begun in Egypt where an illustration on one of the tombs was found. Among the continents that have practiced reflexology over the years are Africa, Asia, North America and Europe.

There has not been any connection with the kind of reflexology that goes on presently and the kind that the Egyptians had because there are different ways in which the feet are manipulated.

In the United States, the practice began in 1913 thanks to a doctor by the name William H. Fitzgerald who was an ear, nose and throat expert. He was assisted by another doctor named Edwin Bowers. According to Doctor Fitzgerald, the pressure that was applied to the feet took could take away sensation from various parts of the body.

There was further advancement in this field when a physiotherapist by the name Eunice D. Ingham made a claim that the feet and hands were highly sensitive and connected to other parts of your body. This is when the practice gained the name reflexology from its previous name zone therapy.

There are some people who have some apprehension about using reflexology to treat people who have life threatening diseases. This is because there are no studies done on just how effective the method is and the belief that this may make some patients delay seeking the proper medical care as they try this method out.

There is lack of medical evidence on the benefits of reflexology and this has kept many people away from the practice. Those who practice reflexology do not undergo any sort of training and this is a concern for most individuals.

The reflexologists aim to maneuver the energy they refer to as Qi. This is where many medical practitioners defer with reflexologists because they claim that there is no scientific research done to show that this energy exists in the human body.

According to reflexologists the body's energy field can be blocked and this may prevent you from achieving the kind of health that you desire. They also believe that that the stress and pressure that you experience in any other part of your body can be relieved by applying pressure to your feet.

Those who want to get into the practice can get a diploma in the field for about six months and this can be done from home.

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