History of Reflexology

Reflexology dates back to over 5000 years ago where it was practiced in India, China and Egypt. It is thought to have migrated to Europe in the late 10th century.

In 1913 Dr. William Fitzgerald, known as the father of reflexology, discovered that pressure on specific parts of the body could have a numbing effect on a related area. His research led him to divide the body into ten equal vertical zones, ending in the fingers and toes. He concluded that pressure applied with implements on one part of a zone could affect everything else within that zone. This was known as ‘Zone Therapy’.

In the 1930's, Eunice Ingham, a therapist, developed and refined Fitzgerald’s ‘Zone Therapy’ to work just on the feet using only the hands to create the pressure. She noted the congestion or tension in any part of the foot mirrored congestion or tension in a corresponding part of the body, for example when you treat the big toes there is an effect on the head. She called her work reflexology.