Ancient

Reflexology can be traced back to many indigenous civilisations thousands of years ago as an early form of natural health care.

2500 BC Ancient China and Egypt There is evidence of an early form of treatment in the tomb of Ankhm’ahor in Egypt ( see illustration ).

Reflexology developed in China alongside Acupuncture, working on the same principles of Meridian lines running throughout the body.

Evidence can be also found in India practiced in the form of acupressure on the feet.

The North American Indians also used some form of pressure on the feet as a means of health care.

Modern

1582 Dr’s Asamus and A’tatis published The First Book of ZONE THERAPY in Europe.

1890′s Britain. Sir Henry Head, Neurologist, published research on the direct relationship between pressure applied on the skin and its effect on internal organs.

1900′s Vienna. Dr William Fitzgerald, E.N.T Surgeon, devleoped ZONE THERAPY.
Pressure on certain bony prominences had a reflex response on another part of the body. These reflex responses lay within longitudinal zones of the body. Working within a zone affected everything in that zone.

1906 Sir Charles Sherrington, Physiologist, provided evidence the whole nervous system responded to stimuli form proprioceptors, specialised sensory nerve endings that monitored internal changes in the body. He received the Noble Peace Prize for his work in 1932

1930′s Eunice Ingham pioneered the use of Reflex techniques on the hands and the feet, mapping out areas of the feet that had a beneficial effect on organs and systems of the body. Became what is now known as REFLEXOLOGY.

1960’s Dorren Bayley, a British Nurse studied with Eunice Ingham and brought Reflexology back to the U.K and set up the Bayly school of Reflexology.

1984 Jane Holt learned Reflexology at the Bayly School of Reflexology

2004 Sarah Jane Holt learned Reflexology under her Mother’s tuition at the South Devon School of Reflexology and continues the lineage of learning to date with her teaching at the Devon School of Reflexology and online at Home | Sarah Jane Holt Reflexology | Devon