HISTORY OF REFLEXOLOGY

The most concrete evidence of the practice of reflexology in ancient culture was the discovery of this wall painting depicting the practice of hand and foot reflexology in the tomb of Ankhmahor (highest official after the Pharaoh) at Saqqara, which is also known as the physician's tomb. This Egyptian wall painting is dated to the 6th dynasty, about 2330 B.C. Prior to this discovery, it was widely believed that reflexology had ancient origins and frequent conjecture was made about its relationship to and development alongside the ancient Oriental practices of shiatsu and acupuncture. Some historians believe that Oriental medicine evolved from Ayurvedic medicine practiced in India. Similarly, North and South American Indian medicine men are believed to manipulate and stimulate the feet as a part of their healing practice. 

Eunice Ingham, who initially worked with Dr. Fitzgerald as a physical therapist, gave Dr. Joe S. Riley, one of a number of doctors and dentists who practiced Zone Therapy and helped develop it, credit for teaching her. Eunice Ingham is generally recognized for her untiring devotion to and promotion of Zone Therapy. She toured North American cities annually giving Zone Therapy seminars, published charts and her two books: "Stories The Feet Can Tell" (1938) and "Stories The Feet Have Told" (1951), and established the "National Institute of Reflexology". Most authors of books and teachers of foot reflexology have acquired their basic knowledge directly or indirectly from Eunice Ingham's teaching. Eunice Ingham's nephew, Dwight Byers, and his family have continued where Eunice Ingham left off with her death in 1974.

In 1990 Christine Issel from California drew up the charter for the International Council of Reflexologists (I.C.R.), was instrumental in its creation, and served as its founding president. This international organization has supported the exchange of knowledge of all aspects of the practice of reflexology around the world. Every two years I.C.R. holds a conference featuring speakers from every corner of the globe. In London in 1998 over 300 participants at the conference represented the practice of reflexology over six continents and thirty-three countries. The next conference will be held in Berlin and online, September 2021. For more information, you can contact I.C.R. by email: membership@icr-reflexology.org.

If you would like a more complete presentation of the history of reflexology go here.