To understand what reflexology foot charts are, we probably should take a look at what reflexology is.
Reflexology is not a new science, it actually dates back to ancient Egypt. Archaeologists have found pictographs in tombs all around the world. These pictographs were of people undergoing reflexology treatments. It was not called reflexology back then, and we have no way of determining exactly what the treatments were. However writing found inside the tombs gives a clear indication that the pictographs were of a therapeutic type treatment while working with the feet.
In 1913, Dr. William Fitzgerald pioneered zone therapy. Dr. Fitzgerald made the first reflexology foot chart. The first reflexology foot chart had only 10 zones. Interestingly enough, most modern day reflexology foot charts are still based on the body having 10 zones. The word reflexology was first coined in 1917, by a Russian neurologist and psychiatrist, Vladimir Bekterev.
Modern reflexology, and reflexology foot charts, have grown out of the research, and studies of these men.
Reflexology is based on the presumption that every area on your foot, mirrors a specific part of your body. And reflexology foot charts show these different areas, like a map. In fact, reflexology foot charts are also known as reflexology foot maps. The reflexology foot chart shows an outline of your feet. And mapped within the outline of the reflexology foot chart, is a corresponding area to every part of the body.
For example, according to a reflexology foot chart, the tips of your toes mirror your sinuses. A reflexologist reading the reflexology foot chart will massage your feet concentrating on areas where you are having problems or weakness. They work, or massage, the pressure points, or therapy points, that are shown on the reflexology foot chart. This is done to relieve any pressure in the area, and stimulate healing.
For instance, if you are having a hard time sleeping, the reflexologist would consult reflexology foot charts, and then probably massage the heals of your feet. According to the reflexology foot charts, they would concentrate very near where the arch and the heel meet. This would stimulate that area and allow your body to heal any injuries, or deal with any localized problems. That in a nutshell, is reflexology. Foot charts are the roadmap that reflexologists use to navigate the zones of the feet to provide relief.
So a reflexologist learns how to properly read and interpret a reflexology foot chart. They also learn how to stimulate the different parts of the body using the techniques of reflexology. Foot charts are used as a guide to tell the reflexologist exactly where to concentrate their efforts. One great thing about reflexology is that by using reflexology foot charts, you can learn to help your friends.
It is interesting to note that by using a reflexology foot chart, any normal person can work on their own problems, or the problems of a loved one. This is because nothing ever breaks the skin or actually enters the body. This means that there are no needles, drugs, or knives. Just by purchasing a simple reflexology foot chart, you may be able to relieve some of your pain, or help a friend that is in pain.
So now that we know what reflexology is, that helps us to better understand how beneficial reflexology foot charts can be.
