Reflexology
By stimulating certain points on the soles and palms, it is believed that it would have very good positive effect on some other organ or system of the body. It also shoots up the good health within us. Usually the reflexology deals with foot/sole only.
The history –
There are some evidences at the physician’s tomb showing hieroglyphics of the healer applying pressure with his hands to the patient’s soles in Egypt. This goes back 2500 to 3000 BC…!
By l00 A.D. Buddhism had spread to China, and so did reflexology through monks. Reflexology is practiced in China 4000 years ago as part of acupuncture The Examining Foot Method is described in the Chinese medical text, the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine. A Japanese monk studying in China is given credit for introducing reflexology to Japan upon his return home way back.
There is a passage in the bible in Corinthians that gives a brief of the knowledge that the early Christians knew about reflexology. It was indeed the tradition of washing the feet and anointing them with medicated oil carried significance positive results, in addition to the traditional teachings by sages cum physicians.
Alexander the Great stored every papyrus created on the reflexology, and the lending of these books to other cities is believed to have helped spreading the science to Greece, Arabia and eventually Europe.
The other concept shows that the zone therapy was developed by United States some century ago by Dr. Fitzgerald.
The standard chart showing different location for different system or organ are shown as below.
The sole/foot –
Courtesy - http://www.reflexologyinstitute.com/reflex_chart.php
The palm/hand –
Courtesy - www.peacefulsoles.com/palm_hand.JPG
Procedure –
Whichever the system or whatever the organ is affected, the concerned point is being massaged. The massage does include pressing, rotating and circular motion for couple of times with gentle pressure on it.
Points to be kept in mind –
However these are the safest therapies, certain conditions are to be kept in mind to avoid unwanted results…
- This treatment is canceled or postponed for at least two hours if the person has undergone any kind of medication.
- It is practiced neither with full stomach nor with empty. So wait for minimum two hours.
- This is fully avoided if the person is under stress or anxiety.
- Usually pregnant woman is kept away from this procedure.
- After a hot water bath, this is avoided at least for 30 minutes.
- This is strictly prohibited on fractures, cuts and wounds.
- This is not a whole treatment so not used as first line of treatment to any of the disease.
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