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Japanese massage based on TCM meridian principles.
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Manipulating the muscles in order to reduce stress and tension.
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TCM practice of applying pressure to specific meridian points.
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Foot massage has been practiced for centuries, but reflexologists believe that it can do more than simply aid relaxation. According to reflexologists, the feet and hands are a mirror of the body, and pressure placed on specific reflex points on them can be used to affect the corresponding areas of the body in order to stimulate natural healing powers and promote well-being. All parts of the foot (or, less commonly, the hand or ear) are massaged, so that the body as a whole benefits. The therapy has become popular around the world, and is often used in conjunction with aromatherapy or naturopathy.


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HISTORY

Foot massage is an ancient technique, said to have originated in China over 5,000 years ago. It was also practiced in ancient Egypt; tomb paintings show men manipulating the feet and hands of others.  

In 1915 Dr. William H. Fitzgerald, an American ear, nose, and throat specialist, introduced the concept of "zone therapy," claiming to alleviate certain symptoms and induce numbness by applying pressure to the hands, mouth, and feet.  
 
American physiotherapist Eunice Ingham took this concept further in the 1930s, developing the Ingham Reflex Method of Compression Massage, which held that all parts of the body could be helped by pressing relevant areas of the feet. Ingham mapped out the reflex points and developed techniques for stimulation.
 
One of her students, Doreen Bayley, introduced reflexology to the UK in the 1960s. Its popularity has since soared, not only in the UK but in Australia and New Zealand. It is used in pain clinics, cancer centers, and medical facilities for babies. In the US, its use in institutions is limited, but it has aided in the recovery of cardiac patients and brain-injured people. 
 
KEY PRINCIPLES
 
Dr. Fitzgerald's theory of zone therapy maintained that zones on the left side of the body corresponded to reflex points on the left foot and hand, those on the right side to the right foot and hand. Eunice Ingham developed his concept into what is now known as reflexology, using a "map" of the feet and hands to show the appropriate pressure points that correspond to parts of the body.  
 
Reflexologists believe that granular accumulations of waste matter concentrate around reflex points, in the form of uric acid and calcium crystals. The reflexologist will try to break these down in order to free "energy flow" along the zones, open blocked nerve pathways, and improve the blood supply to flush away toxins.  
 
Although this theory of energy zones and points seems similar to the meridians of Chinese medicine, most reflexology practitioners maintain that it is a separate system. In modern practice, various slightly different maps have been developed, though all are based on the same fundamental principles.  
 
In addition to body organs, states of mind are said to be represented by certain areas of the feet, so that emotional problems are thought to respond well to this therapy. Reflexology is said to work best for disorders of the internal organs and for stress-related disorders, such as headaches, constipation, and tension.
 
EVIDENCE & RESEARCH
 
It is claimed that more than 100 ailments benefit from reflexology, though few clinical trials have been carried out, and there is almost no corroborating scientific evidence. An American study in 1991 at the University of California in Los Angeles indicated that women receiving weekly reflexology massage for premenstrual syndrome benefited from a 62% reduction in their symptoms.
 
MEDICAL OPINION

The theory of zones and energy channels is unsubstantiated by current scientific knowledge, but there is evidence that massage is relaxing. There are 7,200 nerve endings in each foot, and pressure on these may encourage the feelings of deep relaxation induced by reflexology. Massaging tense foot muscles may allow blood to circulate more freely, distributing nutrients and oxygen throughout the body, and removing waste products. Provided any symptoms of illness are reported to a doctor, reflexology is harmless. Moreover, the sense of relaxation that results after treatment is probably beneficial in itself.

CONSULTING A PRACTITIONER
 
The practitioner will initially ask you about your past and present health and lifestyle. Most practitioners prefer to work on the foot, but the hand may be used if it is more suitable for the patient. If massaging the feet, the practitioner will ask you to take off your footwear and relax in a reclining chair or on a couch with your feet raised, while she examines your feet for indications of existing or potential health problems, possibly even suggesting that you see your doctor for a medical checkup.  
 
After relaxing the feet, the practitioner massages all areas of each foot with her hands and thumbs to stimulate the reflex points. Several techniques are used, particularly thumb walking, which allows gentle movement from one reflex point to another. The pad of the thumb moves over the skin, applying and releasing pressure before creeping along slightly and repeating the action. Also common is web pressing, in which pressure is applied to the web of skin between the toes.  
 
She will stimulate the reflex points all over your foot, watching for any reaction of pain or tenderness. This is thought to indicate crystalline deposits beneath the skin, evidence to the practitioner of an imbalance in the corresponding area of the body; the greater the tenderness is, the greater the imbalance. Extra massage is given to tender areas to break down these deposits and free energy flow. 
 
PRECAUTIONS
 
•    Check with your doctor before treatment if you suffer from a thyroid disorder, diabetes, or any other long-term health problem.

•   Avoid reflexology in the first three months of pregnancy.

•  Tell your practitioner if you are taking medication, since reflexology is thought to increase excretions from the body and may interfere with the action of medication. For the same reason, you should tell your practitioner if you are also consulting an herbalist, homeopath, or aromatherapist.

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