What is Reflexology Massage Therapy?

Reflexology Massage Therapy — also called Reflex Zone Therapy or Zone Therapy — works with certain pressure points, areas, or zones on our body, such as points or zones on our ears, abdomen, feet, and hands. It’s thought that by manipulating those points or locations with pressure and acupressure one can stimulate or promote the healthy functioning of connected, related, or corresponding organs or other parts and systems of our body and mind.

These therapeutic pressure zones (also called reflex zones) and pressure points (the latter commonly called acupressure points, acupoints, or reflex points) can be found all across the body, scattered here and there, or in specifically defined areas, not only on the feet, hands, or abdomen, but also on the back, in the groin, on the head, in the face, and so on.

Nevertheless, within the domain of Reflexology Massage Therapy you’ll find that most applications are geared towards the feet, hands, and ears, which has given rise to treatment modalities like Foot Reflexology, Hand Reflexology, and Ear Reflexology. The premise is that the acupoints and/or zones on the feet, hands, and ears each represent “a map” of the entire body (and mind), and therefore one can manipulate all organs and other body system “remotely,” simply by working with acupressure and pressure on the feet, hands, or ears.

Apart from the just mentioned reflexology treatment modalities, you can also find Facial Reflexology, Finger Reflexology, and Abdominal Reflexology. In addition, a distinction is also made according to function and hence you’ll also find labels such as Pregnancy Reflexology or Fertility Reflexology, and so on, although these modalities typically work by giving acupressure on the feet, hand, ears, or abdomen.

Reflexology massages have been in use for centuries, if not millennia, in a range of ancient civilizations, such as in China, Japan, Greece, India and Egypt. However, when it comes to “reflexology maps” or “zone maps” that describe the relation or connection between pressure points or zones on the feet, hands, and ears on one side and the targeted organs or body systems on the other side, you will find a broad variety of maps and charts that often seem to contradict each other.

For example, zone or reflexology maps with designated reflexology points can come from China, Thailand, the United States, the United Kingdom, India or Egypt, to name a few countries, and each map or chart can assign different functions to points in the same location, or the same function to different acupressure or reflex points.

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How Does the Mechanism of Reflexology Work?

Of course, an interesting question is how exactly reflexology works. Unfortunately, there is no definite answer to give here, because there are a few different opinions and ideas about it in the field of reflexology.

One of the theories is that Life Force Energy flows in our body through Life Energy Pathways or Life Energy Channels, and that certain reflex points can be found on or along these Energy Channels. By means of giving pressure on these reflex points (i.e. acupressure points), blockages in our Life Energy flow can be removed, which typically results in alleviating or curing a whole range of health complaints.

Another theory claims that the pressure given on specific reflex points sends electromagnetic signals via our nervous system, which subsequently positively manipulate certain body systems or organs.

Then there’s also a camp of practitioners that believe that the pressure given on the acupoints or zones releases certain chemicals in the body, such as endorphins, which subsequently alleviate or heal certain discomforts or illnesses.

And finally, you’ll find practitioners who claim that one actually works on so-called trigger points that manipulate the body’s myofascial network. As the myofascial network is an interconnected connective tissue web throughout the entire body, the manipulation i.e. release of trigger points in one area may resolve pains or other health issues in a completely other part of the body.

In any case, a reflexology treatment is performed by applying acupressure techniques on the reflex points and reflex zones of the feet, hands, ears, and so on of the receiver, mainly through the use of the fingers and thumbs, but sometimes also by using tools and devices, such as small wooden sticks or gemstones.

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