Reflexology Treatments

Reflexology is an ancient form of foot therapy which can be dated back through the centuries. It is a completely safe, natural and non-intrusive therapy where reflex areas in the feet are worked using a unique method of thumbs and fingers over the reflex areas. A symptom of any kind indicates an imbalance within the body and by working the reflexes in the feet you encourage the body to heal and regain own natural balance.

Can I benefit from Reflexology?

Reflexology may be used for various conditions, illnesses and disorders and has become increasingly recognised by Health Professionals as a complementary therapy for patients. This can be an extremely beneficial accompaniment to their medical treatment. Reflexology may be effective for stress and related conditions, hormone imbalances, digestive complaints and more.

What can I expect during and after a treatment?

Reflexology is a non invasive treatment and you will only be asked to remove your shoes and socks. You will be seated in a reclining chair or a portable La Fuma chair which is commonly used for this type of therapy. The room will be quiet with relaxing music being played in the background. The practitioner will ask you a series of questions relating to your general health, lifestyle and medical history. *All information given is treated as strictly confidential and all data protection procedures are adhered to.

Although the practitioner will clean your feet, you must ensure that prior to the session your feet are clean and free from any fungal infections such as Athlete’s Foot. The practitioner reserves the right to decline from treating clients with infectious conditions.

Your treatment does not have a definite duration but typically a session would last approximately 45-60 minutes, your first session would be longer due to the consultation.

During the session there will be various techniques used including “relaxers” which help relax you and your feet. Depending on your specific condition or illness certain areas of your foot may be tender/sensitive and the practitioner will be assessing these areas throughout the treatment adjusting the pressure being used accordingly.

Upon completion of should be feeling very relaxed, calm and will hopefully enjoy a good night’s sleep too. A small number of people may experience some form of reaction/response to the treatment. If you experience any form of reaction after your treatment, please do not worry about this as it will generally only last for 24hrs and it is considered a positive response to the treatment.

Your practitioner will ask you to advise them of any reaction you may experience, good or bad, as it is useful for them to assess how your body’s responding to the treatment.

A helpful way to counteract any reaction is to drink plenty of water immediately after the treatment and over the next couple of days. As with massage and other therapies it is recommended not to consume alcohol or stimulants or to undertake any excessive strenuous exercise immediately after the treatment.

History of Reflexology

Although Eunice Ingham devised this method of Reflexology, the history of the therapy dates back to ancient Egypt to approximately 2330bc in Saqqara where a painting was found on one of the tomb walls who highly respected in line to the king. The hieroglyphics can be translated into phrases such as “do not hurt me” “I do as you praise me” and the drawings represent people working on the feet and the hands as is done through Reflexology treatments today.

Evidence has also shown variations of foot Reflexology in China and India around the same era.

Eunice Ingham developed the Ingham method of Reflexology whilst she was working as a Physiotherapist in St Petersburg, Florida for Dr Joe Shelby Riley. Dr Riley had been taught the theory of “Zone Therapy” by Dr William Fitzgerald, who was the co-author of the book ” Zone Therapy or Relieving Pain in the Home” with Dr Edwin Bowers in 1917. They also published later entitled “Zone Therapy or Curing Pain and Disease”.

Dr Riley published his first book entitled “Zone Therapy Simplified” in 1919 due to Dr Fitzgerald’s teachings and continued to use and develop this theory over a number of years.

During her time working in Dr Rileys’ office Eunice Ingham became a pioneer in the development of the therapy and although she used the Zone Therapy theory as the basis her research, she decided to name her work compression massage until it became her decision to rename her work as Reflexology.

She published her first book “The Stories Feet Can Tell” in 1938 and had a further number of books published over the years.

Today, her book “The Stories the Feet can tell” / “The Stories the Feet have told” is available to buy having had some revisions by Eunice’s nephew Dwight Byers who is a tireless supporter of his aunt’s work and holds seminars worldwide to promote the Original Ingham Method of Reflexology.

There are many variations of Reflexology but this method is specifically designed to help those who suffer from medical conditions or illnesses, but as Reflexology is a complementary therapy it does not replace your medical care.

There may be circumstances where Reflexology treatments are not recommended either by your medical caregiver or myself and any decision made will always be based on your wellbeing.