Reflexology Chart

Reflexology Chart: The Ultimate aid in the Science of Reflexology

Reflexology also known as zone therapy is the practice of using pressure points in strategic areas of the body namely, hands, ears, and feet to aid in the maintenance of general well being. Practitioners usually map out the various reflex or pressure points necessary to the body’s well being with the aid of a reflexology chart. A reflexology chart is a quick reference to the various pressure points found in the body. By using a reflexology chart the practitioner is sure to locate the appropriate pressure point for the corresponding organ or system in the body that is needed to be stimulated or messaged back to health.

A reflexology chart can be very colorful bringing the eye immediately to the areas of the body that correspond to the pressure, message, or squeezing done by the practitioner. The use of a reflexology chart as a visual aid can be more accurate than just written instructions. Seeing the picture of where to apply pressure, leaves less room for error than trying to figure it out from a written set of instructions. Each area of the body would be color coded in a reflexology chart. Not only does this quick visual aid help the practitioner in locating the exact spot to apply pressure on the foot, hand or ear, it can be extremely helpful for the layperson who wishes to practice reflexology for reasons of self improvement.

For the student of reflexology, a color coded reflexology chart is particularly useful for the visual learner since each area of the body is mapped out and coded in a different color. For example, the heart is represented in red, the eyes in light blue, the lung and breast in green, the bladder in yellow and so on. Different shades of the same color may represent different organs or systems in the body. It is well understood that charts make wonderful visual aids for students to get a different perspective or understanding on the material that must be learned. Not only are these reflexology charts available in the classroom setting, but they are widely available for the layperson in books, videos, or dvds. Furthermore a Google search will bring you to various articles displaying reflexology charts as well.

Reflexology offers aid in reducing stress, eliminating pain, ridding the body of toxins, unblocking tension and blocked energy and revitalizing the body. For the layperson who wishes to try this procedure without the expense of a qualified reflexologist, investing in a book with a reflexology chart can help cut down on expenses, but of course does not replace the expertise of a professional.

Reflexology Foot Chart

Reflexology Foot Chart: What to do about Tender Tootsies

Forms of reflexology have been practiced for centuries in the east, dating back to ancient China, where the peoples of the past upheld the significance of applying pressure to various zones or areas in the feet. The ancients who cultivated a therapy called acupressure (later to advance to acupuncture in China) realized early on that putting pressure on the feet released “the life force”, chi, or energy which was blocked within the human body. They also saw how different body organs and systems benefited from massaging these pressure points. Much of their focus was on the foot, where they believed massage could benefit the rest of the body.

Some modern day historians maintain that it was the ancient pharaohs of Egypt circa 2300 BC who actually practiced hand and foot massage. A diagram of the earliest rudimentary reflexology foot chart has been located on the tomb of Ankhmahor the “overseer of the great house”, vizier, and physician to the Pharaoh. There are several expert opinions of what these ancient carvings actually  represented. Much attention was paid to the foot during this time in Egyptian  history.

To the modern day reflexologist though the Pharaoh and other dignitaries of the society may have been transported about, the common slave or laborer walked far and wide and was constantly on his feet. These poor tender feet needed care. The tired sojourner or visitor to the society may very well have sought help from the country’s physicians. Therefore it is conceivable to say that physicians of the time were interested in foot therapy. Since hieroglyphics was the language of communication at the time, it makes sense that findings of the physicians on basic foot care would be represented in a reflexology foot chart. Some Egyptologists confirm that these ancient drawings do depict a reflexology foot chart of sorts. They have seen from the Egyptian court culture the drawings of servants massaging the legs of their Pharaohs on Ptah-hotep’s tomb. There are also carvings of foot soldiers having their feet attended to during the time of Ramesses II.

We find evidence of the use of a reflexology foot chart in modern day North American culture dating back to 1913, when an ears, nose and throat physician and surgeon by the name of Dr. Fitzgerald, noticed that when he applied pressure to certain areas on the feet, different parts of the body seemed to response well to the touch. These findings lead him to develop the concept of zone therapy now known as reflexology and to develop a reflexology foot chart to aid in the explanation and teaching of this new founded discipline. The first reflexology foot chart that the good doctor designed was divided into 10 vertical areas which he called zones, each zone corresponded to a different area of the body which he had observed through his practice.

Since then reflexology foot charts have been in wide use as training tools for practitioners and laypeople alike.

Reflexology Foot Map: Types and Sites to Choose From

When we review foot reflexology, we no doubt will come across the areas of the foot that have been mapped out for us; to give us a quick reference to the various organs and systems of the body that can benefit from the healing offered through reflexology. It is important to consult a reflexology foot map to know that we are massaging the proper area to correct a problem that we have been having.

A reflexology foot map is a wonderful tool to guide us along the road of good health care. A reflexology foot map is also known as a reflexology foot chart and there are numerous reflexology foot maps to choose from. Relexologists; both practitioners and teachers alike, use the reflexology foot map in their private practice and in the classroom setting.

A foot reflexology map can be as large as a wall chart for classroom purposes or as small as a thumbnail drawing within a text book. For the layperson who just wishes to relieve stress or sooth tired burning feet at home, there are reflexology maps that illustrate the reflex points within the foot. They provide effective instruction on how to massage the areas of the foot to hit your target goal. Whether it be stimulating the thyroid gland, or massaging the heart, a foot reflexology map will pinpoint you to exact area on the foot to utilize.

The development of reflexology socks is an interesting concept to provide easy instruction coupled with a practical use. Reflexology socks allow an individual to have a foot massage just about anywhere without having to carry extra baggage around with them. Simply sit down, relax, kick off your shoes and commence. You can do this individually or joyously with a partner.

A basic internet search will bring you to various sites that will sell a reflexology foot map for your personal convenience. There are many sites to choose from.

If you live in the UK or US, the site http://www.dorlingkindersley-uk.co.uk/static/cs/uk/11/features/reflexology/footchart.html provides information and maps of the foot. The areas that they have mapped on the foot correspond to several body organs and areas including: Adrenal Gland, lower back, liver, arm, elbow, eye, face, groin, bladder, gall bladder, sciatic nerve, brain, head, breast, heart, chest, fallopian tubes, colon, pancreas, diaphragm, elbow, lung, ear, lower back, upper back, spine, tailbone, eye, ileocaecal valve, solar plexus, gums, shoulder, tops of shoulders, jaw, teeth, stomach, kidney, sinus, neck, brain stem, liver, spleen, spine, knee, leg, lymph glands, parathyroid gland, thyroid gland, pituitary gland, thymus, small intestine.

For more information and a vmore interactive group setting, you can visit Kevin Kunz’s reflexology group on www.facebook.com.

You can go to various sites such as amazon.com, bizrate.com and smarter.com to find the right reflexology foot map (reflexology foot chart) for your personal use.

Reflexology Map

The origin of the Reflexology Map and its Usage

The reflexology map is another way of saying a reflexology chart. As with the reflexology chart, the reflexology map is a map of the pressure zones or points in various parts of the body which correspond to other organs and body systems. The pioneers of zone therapy which latter became known as reflexology was a team of doctors working at the Riley School of Chiropractic. Dr. Fitzgerald, Bowen and Starr White founded the theory of Zone Therapy, while Dr. Riley continued the work and was largely responsible for the propagation of the discipline. In his life time, Dr. Riley wrote several books. The last book dating back to 1942, called Zones Therapy has become a classic in modern reflexology courses today. Dr. Riley lectured all over the country, he was known in some circles as the greatest healer of all time.

Both Dr. Fitzgerald and Dr. Riley were instrumental in the innovation of the reflexology map. Dr. Riley put a lot of emphasis on charts and diagrams of various reflex zones in the human body. His reflexology map of the ten different zones may not have been colorful like the ones we have today, but they were invaluable tools to both the practitioners back then and the practitioners of today as well.

Dr. Riley’s hand reflexology map was extremely detailed leaving no area of the hand, fingers, and wrists unaccounted for. The ear reflexology map or chart that was first developed by Dr. Riley is still available for sale at the Modern Institute of Reflexology. Dr. Riley even created a reflex zone drawing or reflexology map for the face.

Dr. Riley was not alone in his development of reflexology maps, several of the doctors did work in this area. The chart or reflexology map of one side of the human body was created by Dr. Fitzgerald. He clearly marked meridian points by numbers, for example zone 3 and 4 represented the Eustachian tube and middle ear combined, while zone 4 was just the middle ear alone. According to his research there was twelve meridian points in all and they could all be accessed through manipulating and stimulating the feet. Dr. Fitzgerald was also noted for applying pressure by squeezing the fingers and fingertips to reduce pain in various areas of the body.

Dr. Eunice Stopfel created reflexology maps of the feet and was renowned for her writings about extracting crystals in the human body hovering around nerve endings. This work however has never been authenticated, though the Modern Institute of Reflexology claims they were able to extract a crystal from a human body and examine it.

Modern reflexologists have advanced the work of these great pioneers and have created some new reflexology maps. Still, the old standards continue to play a key role in the art of reflexology.

Reflexology Points of Interest

Reflexology is a healing art that has been practiced since ancient times. Specific areas on the hands and feet correspond to nerve endings that supply neuronal pathways to the various organ systems of the body. There are many reflexology points of interest; just like our ears and eyes perceive the world around us, the skin on the hands and feet are much more than sense organs. Information can be sent to the specific organs through the nerve pathways when specific areas of the hands or feet are touched, massaged and manipulated.

One of the fascinating reflexology points of interest is that you can relieve a sinus headache by applying pressure to the ends of your toes. Your second, third, fourth and little toe on both feet are connected to the nerves in your head and sinuses. The next time you have a bad sinus headache, before you reach for a pain reliever try gently squeezing the end of your toes for a few minutes. It only takes a few minutes, try it for 15 minutes. Better yet, if you have a partner, ask him/her to do this for you. It always feels good to get your feet rubbed, and during the foot massage ask to have special attention applied to the ends of your toes. It always feels better when someone else does it, but you can do it yourself also.

There are many reflexology points of interest; the crease next to the last two toes and the sole of the foot is the neuronal route to the ears. So if you have an earache, rub this area. Apply some gentle pressure to this area on both feet. Each foot represents half of the body, when you have an earache in your left ear; rub the area adjacent to your 4th and pinky toes and the sole on your left foot. Take your time massaging that area and feel the pain start to fade away.

One of the many other reflexology points of interest, the area adjacent to the 2nd and 3rd toe and the sole of the foot, is the neuronal route to the eyes. If you have eye strain, gently rub with kneading pressure in this area. If you have someone to do this for you, just close your eyes and relax and enjoy this for a few minutes.

On the hands, reflexology points of interest, is the area between the index finger and middle finger on both hands. This area corresponds with the eyes also; therefore if you don’t have a partner to massage and apply pressure to your feet, and you don’t want to do it yourself, you can relieve your eye strain by massaging this area with gentle pressure. Just close your eyes and massage this area on the anterior side of your hand between the first and second fingers and the palm of your hand. To relieve eye strain on both eyes remember to massage this area on both hands. This technique is especially helpful for people who work in front of a computer screen for hours at a time. It really does relax the eyes and makes you feel fresh, like you have had a nap.

If you would like to learn more about reflexology points of interest there are many books out on the subject. The book, Complete Reflexology for Life, written by Barbara Kunz is reviewed as being very easy to understand; the directions of how to administer the healing techniques are easy to follow. There are many sources of education to learn about this healing art. There are DVD’s on the market and there are many videos on Youtube that you can watch to learn more about this form of holistic healing.

All about Reflexology Careers

Reflexology is an ancient field that has become a growing field of study for holistic health careers. There is a high demand for reflexologists because individuals are searching for a more non-invasive type of health care. The growing trend now is toward holistic healing in the form of reflexology. Those interested in this field can learn all about reflexology careers by going online and finding accredited schools and colleges that teach it.

Those interested in learning all about reflexology careers will learn that going into the field of reflexology isn’t just a job, but it is a calling. It takes a special kind of person to be a reflexologist. Someone with a heart for people and dedication to helping them are the people that make the best reflexologists. The rewards from working as a reflexologist are watching your clients begin to change in front of your eyes. After the first treatment most people feel much better than they did before. Word of mouth is the best advertisement, so not only do you help people as a reflexologist, but they help you by telling people how you helped them to feel better.

Anyone interested in finding an accredited school to learn all about reflexology careers should go online to a site like Holistic Junction and locate a school near them. There are many holistic health care offices that hire newly licensed reflexologists on staff. Many reflexologists go into business for themselves after several years of experience, and build practices that compliment the medical field. It is quite common for a physician to refer a patient to a reflexologist when the patient does not want to comply with a difficult medical regime.

When one learns all about reflexology careers one learns that there is a mind/body connection. The mind, body and spirit are one. People go to reflexologists for many reasons; some may go to relieve tension and pain. Others may visit a practitioner to learn how to connect with their spiritual side. Healing starts from within; taking pills and paying doctors does not promote healing. It is the peace within that begins the healing process. Many patients are tired of being patients and want to take an active role in their health care. Reflexologists see people heal themselves. They teach their clients how to continue on with therapeutic touch through techniques they can do at home.

When learning all about reflexology careers, one learns they are not only therapists, but they are also teachers. They administer the art of healing touch and teach the client how to better take care of themselves. Just like in medicine, becoming a nurse or a doctor is considered a calling; the same is true for professionals in the area of alternative health care. If you are interested in learning all about reflexology careers you might want to visit the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at http://nccam.nih.gov for more information on the subject.

What is Reflexology and why should I learn about it?

What is reflexology (simple reflexology) is a question that is commonly asked and the answer is simply a system that applies pressure to various designated areas of the body such as ear, hand, and foot without the using any other sources such as instruments, materials, lotions, oils and creams. Okay, you might say, “I get it so far but what is reflexology, why are you applying pressure?” To answer the question what is reflexology and how it is applied it is best to start with the philosophy and work our way through.

Reflexology, also known as touch therapy, has it roots in ancient china where it was considered that pressure or massage stimulation applied to the feet could treat or reduce diseases of certain organs.  Certain pressure points were said to stimulate certain organs in ancient Taoist belief. The ancient Chinese derived acupressure and then acupuncture from this starting point and today it is very much a part of modern Chinese medicine.

When trying to answer the question what is reflexology? We must look at its progression from its origin in China to its inception in the west. This eastern view of “pressure points”, “life force or chi”, in Taoist belief could be likened to the Hindu charkas points located in the human body. Again, stimulating such places, or pressure points, such the heart charka is said to provide health benefits.  More to the point, ancient pictures have been discovered in India with medical pictures demonstrating various pressure points marked off on the soles of the feet of the Buddha.  Similar archeological findings in Egypt show evidence of touch therapy in hieroglyphics on the tomb of Ankhmahor dating back to 2000 BC.

The concept spread to the western around the 14th century and today it is used as an alternative medicine form for relieving stress. It was said that Cellini, the Florentine Italian sculptor (1500 – 1533) practiced pain relief therapy by using finger pressure techniques. By 1582, doctors in Europe were already beginning to write about zone therapy (pressure point therapy of today). 

On this side of the Atlantic we know that South American Incas practiced a foot message which is still widely in use by the North American Cherokee. By the turn of the 20th century books on the subject were sprouting out all over the place as the medical community began to take notice of this eastern form of medicine.

Finally when addressing the question what is reflexology bear in mind the appeal of reflexology and eastern medicine is largely due to its holistic approach to medicine. The belief behind holistic medicine is centered upon the ability of the body to heal itself.  With reflexology there is no need for drugs. The simple massaging of key reflex points in the hands and feet releases the energy block within the human body, stimulates the immune system, dislodges toxins so that the body can eliminate them naturally and is considered preventative care against illness.

Learning Simple Reflexology Techniques

Did you know that you can promote well being and healing within your own body with a few simple reflexology techniques? It’s really not difficult at all. You can easily administer simple reflexology techniques to your hands before rising in the morning and after you go to bed at night. Make it a habit and you will find that you feel better. Many people suffering from anxiety report that applying pressure to the specific zones in the hands and feet can promote relaxation that is cumulative. The more you practice these techniques the more the bad energy leaves the body and is replaced by calm energy.

Anyone interested in learning simple reflexology techniques should click on to Youtube.com and watch a reflexologist demonstrate the procedure. The therapist explains everything as he/she works, and it is very easy to understand. You see how the therapist uses his/her hands to apply pressure to certain areas. Reflexology treatments are good for everyone. You can learn how to apply the techniques to your infants and children, as well as your partner. It was reported that a wife used simple reflexology techniques on her comatose husband and he responded. Over time the person said that her husband woke up out of his coma and spoke to her. It is amazing what touch can do.

Many people learn the techniques by first being treated by licensed reflexologists. Their doctors may have referred them to a reflexology clinic because the patient didn’t want to take prescribed medications for their pain and discomfort. By learning the simple reflexology techniques you can promote relaxation and healing every day of the week. Administering the techniques yourself may not replace seeing a reflexologist, but it does provide continuity in your own level of health care.

By applying simple reflexology techniques to your fingers, hands and wrists you can promote health and healing to every area of your body. By applying firm, but gentle pressure and massage to the fingers of both hands, starting at the ends of your fingers, you can promote health and wellbeing to your ears, eyes, brain and hair follicles on both sides of your body. Each hand represents one-half of the body. By massaging your thumbs with gentle pressure, not enough to hurt, you can affect the thyroid gland, sinuses and your spinal column.

Did you know that simple reflexology techniques applied to the fleshy part of your thumbs can help relieve the pain of a sore throat? These techniques, when done on a regular basis, will help to promote healing and wellness throughout the body. A combination of movements, pinching, rubbing and pulling on specific areas of the fingers and hands can affect the whole body.

Did you know that applying pressure in the center of the anterior wrist can help relieve back pain? Move your pressure upwards a little bit and you can relieve nausea. If you would like to learn more about simple reflexology techniques you may want to contact a reflexology professional, or you may want to purchase a book written specifically as a guide to learning the techniques.

 

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