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Zone therapy came about in the early twentieth century where the body was divided into 10 vertical zones, 5 on the left and 5 on the right with these zones relating to all parts of the body within each zone. Reflexology as a term came about in the 1930's with a lady called Eunice Ingram who, using zone therapy on patients, felt the feet to be the most sensitive and responsive area to access the rest of the body. She then went on to map the entire body onto the feet and discovered that using different pressures on various points had specific therapeutic effects, especially with pain reduction. By working on the feet the many different nerve endings that connect with organs and glands can be reached. It is in this way that the benefits of reflexology can felt.

Within the foot there are 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 tendons and ligaments and muscles, along with a few thousand nerve endings; so having a treatment is also working directly upon them and can have a deeply relaxing effect. This can be beneficial just in itself, by reducing stress and giving you a grounded feeling, but it can help revitalize your energy as well. It can also stimulate circulation, with the feet being the farthest point from the heart, and encourage blood flow. By working on the reflex points reflexology can be helpful with many different things, for example the toes correspond to the head and neck so by working on them it can help to relieve headaches and migraines. The balls of the feet correspond to the chest and lungs so can help with respiratory problems and asthma.

When having a treatment, the client is lying on a couch or chair with their socks off and their feet being worked upon.

Treatment will begin with an initial consultation where the reflexologist will ask about your lifestyle and health. This will help determine whether treatment is suitable and if so, what kind. This will be followed by light massage of the feet and sometimes the hands. The initial consultation is likely to last an hour and each subsequent session is likely to last 45 to 60 minutes.

Reflexology is currently unregulated. This means there are no laws which stipulate what, if any, qualifications and experience are required. Practitioners can join a professional association and they do require members to provide proof of qualifications, as well as adhering to a Code of Ethics and Conduct. Reflexology professional associations include:

• Association of Reflexologists (AoR)
• International Federation of Reflexologists (IFR)
• The British Reflexology Association (BRA)

All reflexologists have indicated they are members of a professional body, however it advised you also make the necessary checks.

Our Reflexology description was kindly supplied by Louise Powell.