A Short History of Reflexology

It is generally accepted that reflexology has its origins in the ancient civilisations of China and Egypt.

Modern day reflexology has been developed from a method known as zone therapy, which was first described in the early part of the twentieth century by an American ear, nose and throat consultant called William Fitzgerald.  He discovered that if pressure was applied to certain parts of the body, painful sensations in other areas could be diminished or eradicated.

This theory was studied further by Eunice Ingham in the 1930s.  She developed a technique known as ‘the Ingham method of compression massage’, and she referred to it as ‘reflexology’.