The feet tell a story. “You’re very tired,” says Alex Ngan of the Sai Kung Reflexology Centre, looking at the feet before starting. The client nods, knowing that the tension is about to drain away as she sits comfortably, her feet in the capable hands of the reflexologist. He starts the treatment, spending time identifying areas that need attention and then tells the client that her digestive system is not working well. She realizes just how true this is.
“The feet are the ‘root’ of the body,” says Alex, “and so, ‘watering’ the feet helps the rest of the body.” Put the two feet together and you get a microcosm of the whole body with, for example, the spleen and heart on the left side and the liver and gall bladder on the right. A current “foot map” shows 64 reflex zones that can be stimulated to elicit a response, although this has changed over time and may vary in different countries. Foot reflexology therefore produces a holistic response.
There is a common belief that reflexology originated in China but in fact Egyptian slaves had been treating the feet of their princes over 4,000 years ago. Depictions of reflexology popped up in India some 3,000 years ago, and in illustrations of acupoints in Chinese medicine texts in China about 2,700 years ago.
Despite people having felt the benefits of reflexology over several millennia, it was only in the 1920s that a U.S. doctor explained the nerve system’s relationship with the feet and thus the reasons underlying its effectiveness. In the 1970s, a Chinese professor found evidence of the connection of the nerves, at a cellular level, with parts of the body such as the feet, hands and ears.
A reflexology session starts with the practitioner checking the client’s heart by using different amounts of pressure on the heart reflex zone. This is to determine the session’s length of time and the appropriate pressure, both of which can be adjusted to the individual.
The use of the correct pressure is important. A sharp pain indicates the area where the problem is, but reflexology should never feel like torture. The concept of “more pain, more gain” is an outdated belief, says Alex. While reflexology cannot identify the underlying cause of a stomach problem, the practitioner has a full understanding of the body organs, their functions and symptoms arising from various conditions. His or her rapport with the person being treated can help flesh out the possibilities. For stomach trouble, it may be stress, digestive system problems or eating habits. Pain in the big toe, which relates to the top of the head, or the brain, may indicate that the quality of sleep is not good, which may in turn result from poor sleep habits or frequent arguing.
A reflexology treatment always starts with the left foot first. “There are several reasons for this,” says Alex. “Firstly, the heart is on the left, and starting there strengthens it. Also, in the Chinese medicine theory of yin and yang, yang – the positive aspect – is on the left and this inputs chi, or energy, into the body.” Another reason comes from research done by a Taiwanese professor, who found that the energy flow runs from left to right.
A session should not last for more than an hour because the brain needs time to manage the reflex responses. “It’s something like a computer keyboard. Time is needed to get the message from the keyboard to the screen, and with too much “data” (that is, too long a time), the brain just can’t cope,” explains Alex.
In general, everyone can be treated with reflexology, even newborn babies. It helps calm babies, as well as improve their respiratory and digestive systems. There are exceptions, and early pregnancy is one of them. During the first two months of pregnancy, reflexology is not advisable, but after that gentle treatment is not a problem as long as the practitioner knows and certain points are avoided. Anyone who has a heart condition, wears a pacemaker, has a chronic illness such as diabetes, or has had major surgery, particularly in the last six months, should inform the reflexologist beforehand. It doesn’t mean that you cannot have reflexology, but it helps the practitioner better deal with the client to obtain a better result. Lastly, if you have just had a very big meal, are very, very tired or been on an alcoholic binge, it would be best to reschedule your appointment to get the most benefit out of the treatment.
Alex Ngan is a member of the Hong Kong Institute of International Reflexology and the RWO-SHR Health Institute International.
Sai Kung Reflexology Centre
1/F, 14 Wan King Path, Sai Kung
Tel. 2791 2743
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