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This ancient healing art, known as reflexology, was studied by myself at Morley College in London B52 - Wade Crawley is back with a great B52 concert review! If you remember, Wade wrote for us Punk music in the late seventies. Now read his new exclusive article for ManuelMarino.com! The B52’s, London Roundhouse It was on a hot and very sweaty summer night in London’s trendy Camden and a packed audience of all… over 9 years ago, and what I observed was extraordinary.
The concept of mirroring the body on the soles of the feet and the rediscovery of this ancient art and zone theory can be attributed to Dr. William Fitzgerald in the early 20th century. He noticed that applying pressure to a specific area of the body could have a direct anesthetic effect on a corresponding area. This observation was the first step in developing the zone theory. Later, Dr. Fitzgerald began collaborating with Dr. Edwin Bowers, and together they convinced their colleagues with their findings.
To validate reflexology, Dr. Bowers conducted several experiments. In doing so, he made an interesting discovery. By applying pressure to a specific area of the hand and then sticking a pin in the corresponding zone pathway of the body, he found that the subject experienced no pain. In fact, there was a significant anesthetic effect.
When Bowers and Fitzgerald introduced their discovery, witnesses were astounded by the results. This led to the emergence of various proponents, one of whom was Joseph Selbey Riley. He went on to write a book about zone theory. However, it was one of his therapy assistants, Eunice Ingham, who discovered that reflexology worked just as effectively on the feet. Ingham became known as the founder of foot reflexology.
Eunice Ingham developed a mapping system of the feet, charting the feet along the zone pathways of the body. She also noticed that by alternating the pressure, significant healing effects could be achieved.
The alternating pressure theory is the fundamental premise of reflexology. By understanding how each part of the body is directly connected along the zonal pathways to specific areas of the feet, reflexologists can observe and treat imbalances in the body.
Research is still being conducted to understand why reflexology works, but what we do know is that there are ten zones or pathways in the body that run from the top of the head to the soles of the feet. Blockages in these zones are often the result of high levels of stress, which can cause various issues. During periods of high stress, the hormone adrenaline is released, leading to increased blood pressure and the release of glucose or blood sugar. Over time, deposits of glucose or blood sugar may form in the feet, known as crystals, which can feel like tiny, hard stones.
When exploring this fascinating aspect, you will soon discover that any disorder in the body’s balance may manifest as a raised area or a hard crystal in the corresponding area of the foot. It’s important to note that calluses and other hardened areas of the foot caused by footwear should not be considered in the same way.
The goal of reflexology is not to diagnose but to observe and treat by reversing the effects of stress and returning the body to its balanced state, known as homeostasis. By locating crystal deposits and working on the feet, this can be achieved. (The techniques for working on the foot are discussed in part 2 of the article).
I have two real-life examples of the mysterious nature of reflexology:
In my first case study during my university course, I encountered a very skeptical elderly woman who lived across the street from me at the time. During my session with her, I asked her not to disclose any of her ailments to me, as I wanted to pinpoint them myself. She responded with a look of skepticism and lay down on her sofa, ready for the session.
In preparation for the reflexology session, I began with a massage on both of her feet. During this time, I noticed small raised lumps on the instep of the soles of her feet, both left and right. As this area corresponded to the pathway of the gall bladder region, I had little doubt that she was possibly suffering from gallstones. In fact, I would have been quite surprised if she wasn’t.
“Do you have gallstones by any chance?” I asked her.
The woman sat up abruptly. “Yes, I do. How on earth…”
I continued in a nonchalant manner and worked on this blockage. To say I did this with a tinge of excitement at this discovery was an understatement.
In my second case study, I was with one of my parents’ neighbors. We conducted the session in his conservatory, where he lay down on a sun lounger. I began with the usual warm-up massage on both feet. This time, I noticed deep puffiness in the area above the arch of his feet and before the toes began. This region corresponded to the chest area of the body.
Deciphering this was a bit more challenging as it could have been related to various issues. Considering that this individual lived a healthy lifestyle, I leaned away from the heart being the cause and more towards a less severe condition, such as asthma. I had to keep in mind that I wasn’t there to diagnose, but to present my results and suggest seeking medical diagnosis.
I asked him if he had any issues with his chest. “No, there is nothing wrong with me in that area, not even a cough. It’s actually my boots that cause it.”
“Okay, but it wouldn’t hurt to get this checked out by a doctor,” I advised.
He simply nodded and moved into the lounge, seemingly taken aback by my statement.
I felt somewhat concerned that I might have upset him. There is a rule when performing reflexology: never worry the client, and I clearly broke that rule.
I started researching why there might be puffiness in that region of John’s foot, but couldn’t come up with any explanation other than the fact that swollen areas are a definite sign of blockage. I felt quite worried about John, but I knew there was little I could do.
It wasn’t until about six months later that the situation was resolved. I received a phone call from my mom. “John’s in the hospital; he’s had a massive heart attack.”
I wasn’t surprised at all, especially considering the deep swelling in the regions of his feet that I mentioned earlier. However, John went on to make a full recovery, but he never acknowledged that the results of reflexology might have prevented this if he had sought medical diagnosis after the reflexology session.
Reflexology is a mystery; why it works, nobody truly knows for sure. All I can tell you is… it does work. Try it out for yourself and decide why this ancient healing art is now recognized in the UK NHS.
How to Work the Feet
Before attempting reflexology, it’s important to understand that the key to reflexology is observation combined with the zone theory.
Warm-Up Massage
Before you begin thumb walking, gently massage both feet. You can use oil if you prefer.
To perform the warm-up massage, hold one foot with both hands. Your fingers should be on top of the foot, while your thumbs should be placed on the soles of the feet. Gently slide both thumbs from the heel, gradually but firmly moving up towards the toes. As you reach the toes, fan your thumbs out across them, with one thumb moving to the left and the other to the right. Remember to maintain contact with the feet at all times. Repeat the same process for the other foot.
In order to effectively thumb walk, it is important to remove any oil from the feet.
To begin thumb walking, hold the toes of the subject in one hand and gently bend them back slightly. With your other hand, place your thumb on the center of the sole, while the rest of your fingers support the top of the foot. Now, start walking your thumb forward in a motion similar to that of a caterpillar. Keep your thumb in constant contact with the foot, applying firm and steady pressure without digging it in too deeply at any point.
As you thumb walk along the sole of the foot, be attentive and look for any raised areas or difficult crystal deposits. If you come across any, gently work on them with your thumb.
While thumb walking the feet, remember to periodically check the subject’s face for signs of pain. If you notice any discomfort, it indicates that you are applying too much pressure, so release the pressure and continue thumb walking until both you and the subject are comfortable.
Manuel Marino is a seasoned Senior Producer, Music Composer, and Artist with over a decade of experience. He specializes in branded entertainment across various mediums, including video games, films, and advertising campaigns. With 20+ years as a game music composer, Manuel has worked on numerous platforms, creating diverse orchestral soundtracks. HIRE ME
