Reflexology, also known as Zone therapy is an alternative medical practice involving the application of pressure to specific point on the feet, ear, and hands. This is done using thumb, finger and hands. This is done using thumb, finger, and hand massage techniques without the use of oil or lotion. It is based on a pseudoscientific.

 System of zones and reflex areas that purportedly reflect an image of the body on the feet and hands, with the premise that such work on the feet and hands causes a physical change to the supposedly related area of the body.

There is no convincing scientific evidence that reflexology is effective for any medical condition. In a Cochrane collaboration review, reflexology is gentle manipulation or produces an effect elsewhere in the body. The Australian government’s department of health defines reflexology as a system of applying pressure, usually to the feet, which practitioners believe stimulates energy and releases blockages in specific areas that cause pain or illness.

Practices resembling reflexology may have existed in previous historical periods. Similar practices have been documented in the histories of India, china and Egypt. Reflexology was introduced to the united state in 1913 by William H. Fitzgerald, MD (1872-1942), an ear, nose and throat specialist, and Edwin F. Bowers. Fitzgerald claimed that applying pressure had an anesthetic effect on other areas of the body. It was modified in the 1930s and 1940s by Eunice D. Ingham (1889-1974), a nurse and physiotherapist. Ingham claims that the feet and hands were especially sensitive and mapped the entire body into reflexes on the feet, renaming zone therapy as reflexology. Many of the modern reflexologist use Ingham’s methods or similar techniques of reflexologists Laura Norman

In 2015, the Australian government’s department of health published the result of a review of alternative therapies that sought to determine if the any were suitable for being covered by health insurance. Reflexology was one of the 17 therapies evaluated for which no clear evidence of effectiveness was found. Accordingly, 2017, the Australian government named reflexology as a practices that would not qualify for insurance subsidy.

 In 2022, Nyarkotey University of Holistic Medicine. Ashiaman, Tema. Conducted training on reflexology or zone therapy by Dr. Madeleine Tucson-Turner ND.aka Abena from United State of America which toke some days to train practitioners whom are on alternative medicine or naturopathy practitioners

There is a consensus among reflexologists on how reflexology is supposed to work; a unifying theme is the idea on that area on the foot correspond to area of the body and that by manipulating these one can improve health through ones QI “Energy balance”. Reflexologists divided the body into ten equal vertical zones, five on the right and five on the left. Concerns have been raised by medical professionals that treating potentially serious illness with reflexology, which no has proven efficacy, could delay the seeking of appropriate medical treatment.

Reflexology or Zone Therapy has something in common with Dermatome. A Dermatome is the area of the skin of the human anatomy that is mainly supplies by branches of a single spinal sensory nerve root. These spinal sensory nerves enter the nerve root at the spinal cord, and their branches reach to the outside areas of the body. The sensory nerves in the area are a type of nerves that transmits signal from sensations (for example, pain symptoms, touch, temperature) to the spinal cord from specific area of our body

Reflexologists posit that the blockage of an energy field, invisible life force or QI, can prevent healing. Another tenet of reflexology is the belief that practitioners can relieve stress and pain in other part of the body through the manipulation of the feet. One claimed in the feet may send signals that balance the nervous system or release chemical such as endorphins that reduce stress and pain. These hypotheses are rejected by the medical community who cite a lack of scientific evidence and the well tested. Reflexology’s claim to manipulate energy (QI) is unsupported by science, there is no scientific evidence for the existence of life energy (QI) “energy balance”, crystalline structure or pathways in the body.

Story by: Mustapha Bature Sallama