Orpington Chiropractic Clinic - Quality Complementary Health Care in Kent

"Tell me more about what happens to me as a reflexology patient..."

What Is Reflexology?
A Brief History of Reflexology
How can Reflexology help me?
What happens when I come for treatment?
Taster Sessions!

What Is Reflexology?:-

Reflexology is a gentle, relaxing complementary health therapy which recognises and stimulates the body's own natural ability to heal itself.

The therapy is based on the principle that all parts of the body are mirrored in reflex zones on the feet. The practitioner uses their hands to apply special massage and pressure techniques to all parts of the feet (or, less commonly, the hands). In this way the trained Reflexologist can detect areas of tension or congestion and work to release these "blockages" to the normal healthy flow of energy throughout the body. Hence Reflexology helps restore and maintain the body's natural balance and promote healing.

Reflexology is holistic (Greek "holos" = "whole"). This means that it recognises the need to treat the whole person, not simply the symptoms of a particular disease, in order to help maintain the balance at all levels: physical, mental and emotional.


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History of Reflexology :-

The ancient healing art of reflexology was first practised by the early Indians, Chinese and Egyptians: the earliest known pictorial evidence, in an Egyptian tomb, dates back to around 2330 B.C. Dr. William Fitzgerald, an American ear, nose and throat specialist, first introduced the therapy to the West in 1913 as "zone therapy". In the 1930's Eunice Ingham, a therapist, further developed the zone therapy into what is now known as Reflexology.

Many doctors, consultants and other health care professionals recognise Reflexology as an established and effective therapy.

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How can Reflexology help me?:-

Reflexology is tailored to your individual needs. Whether you have specific health problems or simply want to help maintain a state of health and wellbeing with regular sessions, Reflexology can assist.


By releasing tension, stimulating circulation and improving blood and nerve supply to all parts of the body, Reflexology can encourage an enhanced feeling of wellbeing and a strengthening of the immune system.

Because it is so gentle and adaptable, Reflexology is suitable for all age groups - from young children to the elderly - and even for those whose feet are normally ticklish or sensitive.

For a list of some of the many conditions that can be helped by Reflexology, see our "Conditions" page.


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What happens when I come for treatment?:-

The First Consultation

Lasts about 1¼ hours. All information is treated in confidence. We start by discussing your current health, medical history, lifestyle and your expectations of treatment. This enables me to obtain an understanding of your individual health situation and to plan treatment according to your specific needs.

Treatment involves removing all footwear and reclining comfortably, with your feet raised, while pressure and massage is applied to your feet. The treatment is generally very relaxing but there may be some fleeting tenderness in parts of the feet: this is normal and helps highlight areas of imbalance. Afterwards we will discuss these and talk about any future treatments. I may also make some recommendations for you, to help the progress of treatment.

Subsequent Consultations

Usually one hour. We first review how you have been since the last session. After one or two treatments your body may respond in a very definite way: most people note a sense of wellbeing and relaxation; some may report other responses, such as feeling lethargic or tearful, but this is transitory and a part of the healing process. This all reflects the way in which your body is responding and is important feedback for me in planning your treatment.


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Taster Sessions!:-

A number of people hesitate to book a Reflexology session because they have ticklish feet or normally "cannot bear" having their feet touched. A 15-20 minute taster session is an excellent way to overcome these concerns and costs just £5.


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