Ailments Reflexology Helps Treat
Reflexology, the study of reflexes, is a form of bodywork that originated in ancient China around 4000 B.C. and was also practiced in ancient Egypt. The practice involves the application of pressure to the hands, ears, face, spine, and feet. The premise of reflexology is certain reflexes in the body sync with glands, organs, and soft tissues, and the application of pressure to specific reflexes can benefit health and relieve pain. Today, reflexology is used as part of holistic and complementary medicine, and it was first used for medical purposes in the early 1900s in Russia. While massage and other forms of alternative medicine rely on manipulating bones, muscles, and soft tissues and can be painful, reflexology allows practitioners to indirectly work on the problematic body area without causing pain. Patients do not have to undress at all for a reflexology session, and the treatment is entirely non-invasive. Studies have shown reflexology may have a number of health benefits, including those outlined below.