Reflexology – how does it work?

How does reflexology work?

Early Egyptian, Chinese and Indian civilisations identified the hands and feet as a way to treat conditions around the body. As research into the theories of the treatment gained momentum over the centuries, pioneering physicians and therapists developed the therapy we know today as reflexology.

By mapping areas of the feet and hands that link to other areas of the body, reflexologists were able to help treat specific conditions not associated with our extremities. So how does reflexology work?

Blocked channels of energy flowing around the body, stress and poor circulation are all attributed to causing pain, discomfort and disease. Modern reflexology techniques look to place the human body back into a state of well-being and aid the systems that keep our body healthy. Knowing what pressure applied to where on our body can help us understand how a reflexologist works.

Reflex points on the feet – what links where?

The right side of our body is linked to the right foot and the left side to the left foot. On a foot, there are 72,000 nerve endings and some 72 reflex areas to concentrate on. Each area can link to one or more parts of the body so what links where?

The end of the toe links to the brain and head and reflexology can help with headaches. Working down, the first small joint of the toe links to the sinuses and face and can help with colds. The next joint is for the jaw, teeth and gums and is worked on for dental problems. Neck and brain conditions are linked to the base of the toe and the main joint of the toe links to the top of our shoulders.

The main part of our foot is divided into four areas, working down there are links to: the breast, chest and lung, the upper and lower back, and nearest the ankle for fallopian tubes, groin and lymph glands. On the inner side of the foot, there are reflex points that link to the stomach, thymus, bladder and spine. On the outside of the foot, two points link to the arm, knee and leg.

On the sole of the foot there are further reflex points. On the pad of the big toe is an area that links to the pituitary gland and under the joint reflex points that link to the parathyroid gland and thyroid gland. At the base of the toes, there are two areas that link to the eye and ear. The ball of the big toe joint links to the heart and across the sole there are various points that link to our internal organs including: liver, kidney, spleen, colon, pancreas and small intestine. Reflex points at the heel of the foot link to our lower back, sciatic nerve and tailbone.

Reflex points on the hands – what links where?

Across the hands there are over 30 reflex points that link to the same areas as the feet. The fingertips for instance link to the head and sinuses with the rest of the finger linking to the neck. Shoulders link to the knuckles on the hand and the top of the hand has two main areas that link to the upper and lower back.

Across the palm of the hand, reflex points link to the main internal organs and at the base of the little finger are two points that link to the arm and shoulders.

Visit a trained reflexologist

Reflexology has proven to be an effective treatment in helping the body overcome a number of conditions and is used worldwide. Contact your local practitioner to see what impact reflexology can have on your life.

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One Response to “Reflexology – how does it work?”

Taylor Walsh Says:
January 28th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
Good: This is about as well written a general explanation of a non-Western treatment modality as I have seen lately. So congratulations for making this subject comprehensible.

Less Good: We need some statements as to how we know that nerve endings in the pad of the big toe (or anywhere else) lead anywhere. How do we know this? A statement such as: “These connections are known from the experience of practitioners over [ many? how many? ] years. There has been [ no? little? not much? ] scientific research into the workings of reflexology, although clinical trials have been organized…[ whatever the situation is ].”

Can we see evidence of the affect of these techniques in brain scans? Has that even been attempted? Outcomes will become increasingly important in defining the evidence for the efficacy of a more inclusive set of healing therapies in the years ahead. The good outcomes from this practice will need an accompanying science basis of some kind, at least of broad acceptance is sought by its practitioners.