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Foot massage or foot reflexology has a Chinese origin.
It dates back to more than 3,000 years ago and is used in the prevention
and cure of many health ailments. Some say foot massage dates back
to ancient Eygyptian times due to archaeological findings in cave
drawings in Egypt.
The principle of foot massage rests in the premise
that the meridian network connects all tissues, organs and cells
in our body. Each organ in the body is connected to a specific reflex
point on the foot through the intermediary of 300 nerves.
A trained foot reflexologist can put pressure on
different meridians or energy lines on the sole and side of the feet
to determine the cause of illness. By using pressure to these the
reflex points, a foot massage is good for stimulating the activity
of internal organs, and improving blood and lymph circulation. The
top to bottom well being of a person can be made through the foot.
The principles of foot massage are not in congruence
with western allopathic medicine. Western medicine sees the foot
as a body part comprising of bones, ligaments and joints. However,
foot massage is fast gaining much popularity and acceptance as an
alternative health treatment.
Fans of foot massage believe it can cure not only
colds and minor ailments, but more serious ailments as well. These
ailments include liver dysfunction, constipation problems, chronic
headaches, skin allergies, etc.
Like most Oriental medical techniques, foot reflexology
is a holistic treatment. It concentrates on treating the whole person
rather than just the symptoms of one particular ailment.
While Western medicine promises speedy recovery
of all unpleasant symptoms, foot massage therapy can be slow and
gradual. A series of visits is necessary to strengthen the body and
to bring the body back to balance.
A session of foot reflexology in San Francisco,
can set you back as much as US$40-100. Thus, foot massages over a
period of time can add up in terms of costs. However, for practitioners
and believers of foot massage, the cost for good health is well worth
it. The alternative would have been money spent in clinics and western
hospitals for prescription drugs and perhaps, invasive surgery.
Caroline Colby is a publisher of information
on Massage Therapy. She highly promotes Massage Therapy as a
safe, holistic and effective alternative health therapy.
For free articles, tips and news updates, please
visit her site at http://www.massage-therapy-central.com.
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