-History-
(of Reflexology)
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Treatment using pressure points was known in India
and China some 5000 years ago, the roots of which lie in the knowledge
of reflex zones and the relationship between them.
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Ear and Hand reflexology first used in China.
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The oldest documentation of reflexology was discovered
in Egypt in a pictograph dating around 2330-2500 BC.
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In AD 1017, Dr Wang Wei (Chinese) had a human figure
cast of bronze with the points of the body important to acupuncture.
Dr Wei said the most sensitive part of the body were the feet, which also
contained great energizing areas.
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Reflexology possibly passed down to American Indians
by the Incas. The Cherokee Indians of North Carolina can attest their
acknowledgment of the importance of feet in maintaining physical, spiritual,
and mental balance.
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Germans began to look at physiological reflex action
in the late 1890's and early 1900's.
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Dr Alfons Cornelius was probably the first to apply
massage to 'reflex zones' and published his manuscript Druckpunkte
or Pressure Points in the early 1902.
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Dr William Fitzgerald is credited for creating the
basis of modern reflexology with his 'discovery' of zones and his techniques
known as 'zone therapy'. Fitzgerald was born in Connecticut in 1972.
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The book Zone Therapy was published in 1917,
a combined work of Fitzgerald and Dr Edwin Bowers.
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The "mother of modern reflexology" Eunice Ingham's
research and dedication allowed reflexology to come into its own.
She worked on the relation the feet had to the zones and their effects
on the rest of the body, until she had evolved the feet themselves into
a map of the entire body. She wrote two books: Stories The
Feet Can Tell (1938) and Stories The Feet Have Told (1951)
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In 1967, Dr. Nogier of France discovered a similarity
between the shape of the fetus and the shape of the outer ear, and the
corresponding location of reflexes.
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As a result, the Chinese have consider Nogier the
father of auricular (ear) reflexology, which has been extensively researched
now by the French and Chinese
(of Massage Therapy)
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One of the earliest forms of healing- mentioned in
Chinese medical texts 4,000 years ago
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Once Greek physician Hippocrates, in the fourth century
B.C. referred to a technique called rubbing, and recommended it to ease
stiffness and pain in joints.
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Julius Caesar is said to have had himself pinched
all over every day to treat his neuralgia.
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Sports Medicine: One of the leading exponents
is Marquetta K. Hungerford, PhD., who has taught and practiced massage
therapy throughout the United States. She was a director of education
of the American Massage Therapy Association and is the founder of the American
Massage Therapy Institute, Costa Mesa, California.
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Shiatsu: originated in Japan and has been recognized
worldwide for 70 years. It is based on Chinese medical theories introduced
to Japan about 1000 years ago.
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Swedish Massage: Peter Hendrik Ling of Sweden
(1776-1839) is credited with the creation of the system of modern Swedish
Massage system. He was a Swedish gymnast .
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French system improved upon Ling's using soothing
manipulations, especially of the neck, face, head, and arms to promote
smooth and youthful skin.
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German system also incorporated the Swedish approach
with use of hydrotherapy.
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English system expanded it into what it is today,
known as physiotherapy.
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Introduced to US in late 1800's. Used in WWI
and WWII to treat injured and hospitalized.
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Myotherapy: developed in 1976 by Bonnie Prudden.
In 1978 she founded the Institute for Physical Fitness and Myotherapy.
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Hydrotherapy: goes back to ancient times and
used by almost all cultures to maintain health and treat disease.
Modern technique pioneered by John Harvey Kellogg. Dr. Kellogg was
the leading proponent of hydrotherapy up to World War II. Leader
in the field today is Richard A. Hansen, M.D., and wrote the popular encyclopedia
of home health care Get Well at Home.
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Esthetic Massage: Used for centuries as a way
of promoting facial beauty. Women bathed in the Nile or the Euphrates,
later adding natural plants and herbs to their quest.
-What it is-
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Massage Therapy is the kneading, manipulation, or
application of methodical pressure and friction to the body
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Reflexology: holistic healing technique which
aims to treat the individual as a whole, in order to induce a state of
balance and harmony in body, mind, and spirit. The manipulation of
specific areas of the feet (and sometimes hands or limbs) with the goal
of bringing the body balance.
-General Purposes-
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To reduce tension, improve circulation, aid in the
healing of soft-tissue injuries, control pain, and promote overall well-being
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to help lower blood pressure and heart rate, and
improve respiration
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Can gently stretch tissue, increase range of motion,
and reduce some types of edema (swelling).
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Researchers believe massage helps the brain produce
endorphins, which act as natural pain killers. This could explain
why people feel better and more tranquil after a massage.
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Cross fiber massage effectively reduces adhesions
and varying degrees of scar tissue formation in the scar tissues.
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Stimulates bowel movement
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Removes toxins from the body
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Improves nutrition
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Success is claimed for treating: anxiety; arthritis;
asthma; back pain; catarrh; circulation problems; constipation; cramps;
depression; digestion problems; exhaustion; fibrosis; fluid retention;
foot problems; gout; grief; headaches; hip disorders; hyperactivity; insomnia;
jet lag; joint problems; lumbago; menopausal problems; migraines; mood
swings; neck pain; nervous disorders; neuralgia; pain; palpitations; panic
attacks; postnatal depression; premenstrual tension; rheumatism; schizophrenia;
sciatica; shock; sinus problems; sleep disorders; sports injuries; stress;
teeth grinding; tennis elbow; and tiredness
-Techniques-
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There are about 100 techniques of massage, about
80 developed in the revival period since the mid-1970's. The methods
can be classified into four groups: traditional European methods,
contemporary Western methods, energetic manual techniques, and Oriental
manual techniques.
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traditional European methods are based on Western
concepts of anatomy and physiology.
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They use five types of soft-tissue manipulation
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effleurage- a slow, rhythmic, gliding stroke performed
with the fingertips, palms, thumbs, knuckles, or whole hand. Generally
moves from extremities to heart
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petrissage- works specific muscle groups, usually
where tissue can be easily grasped. Can be performed deeply or superficially
and helps promote circulation and can counteract degeneration or muscle
tightness.
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friction- often used in areas around joints.
You move muscle away from joints but the fingers or thumbs move over the
underlying structures without sliding on the surface of the skin where
the fingers or thumbs touch
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percussion- (also called tapotement) alternate
drumming hand movements performed on broad areas across body, particularly
the back. Increases surface blood circulation, helps to loosen phlegm
and makes it easier to expectorate it from the lungs
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vibration and jostling- either stimulate or
relax body tissue. Strokes especially effective on the limbs and
fleshy areas. Vibration has no general direction while jostling works
up and down a muscle.
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Contemporary Western methods add to the traditional
methods with more recent information on the effects of massage on the nervous
system, movement, posture, and emotion. Methods such as Alexander
and Feldenkrais are included under this heading
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Energetic and Oriental manual techniques use manipulation
and pressure in order to access, evaluate, and balance the energy system
it is supposed to surround and infuse the human body. Two examples
of energetic techniques are polarity therapy and therapeutic touch.
Two methods of oriental massage are Shiatsu and acupressure.
-Reflexology-
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This is a system of applying massage to major reflex
areas on the feet. These areas are said to mirror other portions
of the body, such as the sinus and head, neck, and kidneys. The right
foot is said to be connected to the right side of the body and vice versa.
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Many times the Morrell method (the pads of the thumb
and fingers are used) is used.
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Body usually divided into 10 longitudinal zones from
the soles of the feet to the head. By working a certain zone on the
foot, it is also working the corresponding zone in the upper body.
