What is it?
Reflexology is an holistic treatment which takes the view that the feet and hands provide a map of the body, giving a comprehensive picture of the recipient's health.
Practitioners divide the feet into zones that run from the toes to the brain through the different parts of the body. There are 10 vertical zones or "lines of energy" that course through the body. As pressure is applied to specific parts of the feet, these lines are stimulated so that the energy can, according to reflexologists, flow freely through the whole body.
Using this information, practitioners work on the feet to ease inflammation or tension in affected areas, which they say encourages the body to heal itself. Their aim is to detoxify the body, thus easing discomfort, decreasing stress levels and providing a sense of rebalance as their client reaches a deep state of relaxation.
Is there any evidence?
Some clinical trials have been conducted, reporting both negative and positive results. But the trials did not focus on any one condition, which renders them unreliable. So far, there is little evidence to suggest reflexology is any more effective than a straightforward massage. Furthermore, there is no reliable evidence to support the foot map. Indeed, the idea that our body is mapped out on the soles of our feet does not fit with our modern understanding of how the body works.
However, practitioner Jennifer Wayte says: "With or without documented case studies, if I as a reflexologist can diminish stress and induce a sense of calm in my patients individually; then my reasoning is that the treatment will serve to reduce a vast amount of distress, disorder and disease."
Where does it come from?
The first pictorial evidence of energy treatments being carried out on the foot was found within the tomb of Egyptian physician Ankhmahor, dating back to 2330BC. Therapists also believe that Native Americans practiced an early form of reflexology.
It is also documented that Florentine sculptor Benvenuto Cellini applied reflex pressure to his own feet to relieve discomfort and rebalance his body. But it is Dr William Fitzgerald, an American ear, nose and throat specialist, who is revered as the forefather of modern reflexology. He developed zone therapy in the early 20th century, and soon reported that he could produce a natural anaesthesia by clamping his patients' fingers. In the 1920s, the physiotherapist Eunice Ingham determined that the reflexes on the feet were an exact mirror image of the organs and structure of the whole body. Practitioners now combine the Fitzgerald and Ingham methods for an holistic treatment.
Who can do it?
People of all ages, and it has been reported to be helpful for people suffering from back pain, stress-related conditions, hormone imbalances and sleeping disorders. Maternity reflexology is also increasingly common, though all treatments should be approached with caution when pregnant.
What results can you expect?
Most people will feel relaxed, pampered and cared for following treatment. You may also feel lethargic or spaced-out for up to a day. Drink plenty of water after treatment, especially if you develop a headache.
Contra-indications
A practitioner will not treat you if you have athlete's foot or any infectious or fungal foot conditions, and they're unlikely to treat you if you're feeling feverish. If you are currently undergoing treatment or are on any medication, you should consult your GP before treatment.
How was it for you?
Craig Wills (size nine and stress-free)
Only recently have I officially outed my addiction to reflexology - and proudly. So much so that my last session resembled some sort of reflexology menage à trois. The back bedroom at home was prepared with towels and candles, reflexologist Susie worked her magic on me first, followed by my girlfriend Jane, who then tag-teamed her sister into the final 45-minute session.
Reflexology, admittedly for me, has always delivered total relaxation - a feeling of not just physical wellbeing but also physical understanding. When put to the test, the somewhat mythical idea that your feet are inextricably linked to your organs and glands (not randomly, but in a very orderly and precise fashion) proved true for me, and mildly addictive.
Lying down, breathing deeply, with your most neglected features washed and resting upon a fluffy towel, a light foot massage eases you into a state of calm. Each toe, the ball, the heel, is then investigated, sometimes resulting in a twinge in a remote part of the body, sometimes forcing deeper relaxation. Unlike massage this is very intense, yet almost delivered remotely - a practitioner feeling their way, reading and soothing your body through your feet.
At the end you feel lighter, more aware and, if your practitioner is really good, their diagnosis can be enlightening. A teenage arm injury, the harbouring of stress in the neck, a recent knee pain - nothing the human eye could detect by looking at my feet. Only someone with great understanding of the human body could detect all this through my bare size nines ...
· For more details, visit susieray.com
