What is Reflexology?

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Last updated on January 17th, 2023 at 01:25 pm

Reflexology dates back up to 6000 years ago, with evidence of the healing practice being used in Egypt and China. It is based on the principal that everything in the body is connected by nerves. The hands and bottoms of the feet contain nerve endings that connect to every organ and body system. Another principal of reflexology is vitalism, a concept which explains our bodies as being governed by an innate intelligence that monitors and promotes self-healing. The stimulation to these reflex areas during a reflexology session help stimulate the rest of the body in a way which promotes healing and balance. There are many research studies across the globe that agree that reflexology is effective at helping prevent and treat a plethora of health conditions (one of the most significant studies was published in the Journal of Multiple Sclerosis and found that “specific reflexology treatment was of benefit in alleviating motor, sensory, and urinary symptoms in MS patients.”) there is some disagreement on how reflexology works. There are four primary theories that best describe how it works:

1. Central Nervous System Adaption Theory

This theory is based on the late 19^th century discovery by Englishmen Sir Henry Head and Sir Charles Sherrington that uncovered a relationship between our skin and organs, in which external stimuli (i.e., application of pressure on the hands or feed) causes the nervous system to trigger a desired healing effect.

2. Gate Control Theory

The gate control theory refers to pain being an experience subjectively created by the brain, hence the pain-relieving characteristic of reflexology occurs because massage improves mood and stress.

3. Vital Energy Theory

Bordering on the ancient concept of yin and yang, this theory claims that

stress impedes the flow of the “vital energy” that exists in each human body —  reflexology helps keep the flow of this energy uninhibited.

4. Zone Theory

Based on the principle that our hands and feet can be charted into “reflex zones” that correspond to  organs and other parts of the body.