Modern reflexology is based on the work of American therapist, E. Ingham, who mapped the reflex points on the feet and hands that relate to all of the organs, glands and areas of the body, but evidence of reflexology has been discovered dating back thousands of years.
5000 BC
Medicinal writings in Asia reference to pressure point techniques.
2330 BC
Evidence of foot and hand therapy being practiced in China, including dividing the body into longitudinal meridians. Wall paintings showing people receiving treatments on their hands and feet were found in the tomb of Ankmahor in Egypt.
1500 AD
James Abram Garfield, an American president, relieved pain by applying pressure to his feet.
1500 – 1571
Cellini, a sculptor, applied pressure to hands and feet to reduce pain.
1582
Dr Adamus and Dr A’tatis published a book based on zone therapy, suggesting that it was practiced in central Europe.
1771
A German physiologist first used the word ‘reflex’ in a book on motor reactions in the body.
1890
Sir Henry Head, an English neurologist, studied the relationship between the skin, the nervous system and the internal organs, while his colleague, Sir Charles Sherrington, looked into the nervous system and the body’s reflexes.
1915 – 1917
Dr William Fitzgerald came up with the term ‘Zone Therapy’ after discovering that stimulating one part of a zone affected the whole of the zone. He shared his knowledge in a book.
1930 – 1974
E. Ingham discovered that the reflexes in the feet were the most responsive and developed maps of these. She wrote three books on reflexology and shared her knowledge widely.
1984
The Association of Reflexologists (AOR) was established.
2022
Hollie Frazer trains in reflexology and starts Holistics with Hollie, offering treatments for feet, hands, and faces across Suffolk. If you are interested in a session with Hollie, click here to get in touch.