The modern world was introduced to Foot Zoning or Foot Zone Therapy in 1979 when Ed and Ellen Case of Los Angeles brought back an ancient Egyptian papyrus scene depicting medical practitioners treating the hands and feet of the patients.
They found six pictographs of childbirth, dentistry, embalming, pharmacology, and reflexology in the tomb of Ankhmahor (the highest official after the king) at Saqqara (the physician’s tomb) near Cairo. These pictographs and papyrus scenes dated back to 2500 BC.
Traditional East Asian foot reflexology is called Zoku Shin Do. The foundation of this foot portion of the Japanese massage technique goes back to ancient China and is over 5000 years old.
Foot Zone Therapy was used as a healing method in India and China and is documented in Inca ruins from the early 6th Dynasty, about 2330 BC. Energy work through the feet also has roots in ancient East Indian, Arabic, Grecian, Russian, and European sources. Primitive African and Native American Indian cultures have also developed their own modality of healing through the feet.
The Cherokee tribes of North America practice a form of Foot Zone Therapy. In the 1690s, Jim Rolls, a Cherokee Indian, said pressure therapy on the feet to restore and balance the body has been passed down through the generations. Jenny Wallace, a Cherokee Indian from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina says the clan of her father (Bear Clan) believes that feet are important.
“Your feet walk upon the earth and through this, your spirit is connected to the universe. Our feet are our contact with the Earth and the energies that flow through it.”
Many people and cultures deserve the credit for the development of Foot Zone Therapy. However, the rediscovery of foot zoning in America began in the early 1900s when Dr. William H. FitzGerald theorized that the human body was divided into ten zones, connected together by the nerves that carry the impulses. He devised the system of mapping the body into five zones on each side of a median line. These zones run the length of the body from the head to the feet. He called these zones the “ten invisible currents of energy” through the body, and demonstrated the correlation between the reflex points on the feet and areas in distant parts of the body.
Dr. FitzGerald showed how the pressure of between 2 and 10 pounds on a given finger or toe could alleviate pain anywhere in the corresponding zone in the body.
Dr. FitzGerald was the senior nose and throat surgeon of St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut. While working in Vienna, Dr. FitzGerald came in contact with Dr. H. Bressler who was investigating the possibility of treating organs with pressure points. At this time, Dr. Alfons Cornelius published his book Pressure Points, their Origin and Significance.
Replacing Painkillers with Zone Therapy
When Dr. Fitzgerald returned to America, he used Zone Therapy to deaden pain, replacing drugs in minor operations. He treated lumps in the breast, uterine fibroids, respiratory problems, and eye conditions. Through his studies, Dr. FitzGerald was able to map the ten zones of the body.
He called his work Zone Analgesia where pressure was applied to the zones corresponding to the location of the injury. He also used pressure points on the tongue, palate and the back of the pharynx wall in order to achieve the desired result of pain relief or analgesia.
Dr. FitzGerald discovered a very interesting fact, that the application of pressure on the zones not only relieved pain but in the majority of cases also relieved the underlying cause as well.
One of his students, Dr. Edwin F. Bowers, a dentist, persuaded the editor of the Associated Sunday Magazines to publish a series of articles demonstrating the technique and outlining the successes. Accompanying the introductory article was this comment by the editor, Mr. Bruce Barton:
“For almost a year Dr. Bowers has been urging me to publish this article on Dr. FitzGerald’s remarkable system of healing, known as Zone Therapy. Frankly, I could not believe what was claimed for Zone Therapy, nor did I think that we could get magazine readers to believe it.
Finally, a few months ago, I went to Hartford unannounced and spent a day in Dr. FitzGerald’s offices. I saw patients who had been cured of goiter; I saw throat and ear troubles immediately relieved by Zone Therapy; I saw a nasal operation performed without any anesthetic whatever; and – in a dentist’s office – teeth extracted without any anesthetic except the analgesic influence of Zone Therapy.
Afterward I wrote to about fifty practicing physicians in various parts of the country who have heard of Zone Therapy and are using it for the relief of all kinds of cases, even to allay the pains of childbirth. Their letters are on file in my office.
This first article will be followed by a number of others in which Dr. Bowers will explain the application of Zone Therapy in the various common ailments. I anticipate criticism regarding these articles from two sources: first, from a small percentage of physicians; second, from people who will attempt to use Zone Therapy without success. We have considered this criticism in advance, and are prepared to disregard it.
If the articles serve to reduce the sufferings of people in dentists’ chairs even ten percent if they will help in even the slightest way to relieve the common pains of every-day life, they will be amply justified.
We do not know the full explanation of Zone Therapy; but we do know that a great many people have been helped by it, and that nobody can possibly be harmed.”
These articles were later published (1917) in the book Zone Therapy: Or Relieving Pain at Home.
Relieving a Headache with Zone Therapy
In Chapter II of Zone Therapy: Or Relieving Pain at Home, the following technique is outlined for relieving a headache.
“The next time you have a headache, instead of attempting to paralyze the nerves of sensation with an opiate, or a coal tar “pain-deadener,” push the headache out through the top of the head. It’s surprisingly easy.
It merely requires that you press your thumb – or, better still, some smooth, broad metal surface, such as the end of a knife-handle firmly against the roof of the mouth, as nearly as possible under the battleground and hold it there for from three to five minutes by the watch. It may be necessary, if the ache is extensive, to shift the position of the thumb or metal “applicator” so as to “cover” completely the area that aches.
Headaches and neuralgias, of purely nervous origin, not due to poison from toxic absorption from the bowels, or to constipation, or alcoholism, tumors, eye-strain, or some specific organic cause, usually subside under this pressure within a few minutes.”
From 1913 to about 1920, Dr. FitzGerald was lecturing students at The Riley School of Chiropractic in Washington DC. Dr. Joseph Shelby Riley was one of Dr. FitzGerald’s students. Dr. Riley was a well-known doctor of Chiropractic. He was also a teacher and administrator at The Riley School of Chiropractic previously known as the Washington School of Chiropractic before being purchased by Dr. Riley. Through his studies, Dr. Riley added zones across the hands and feet. He also developed the “hooking” technique, recorded reflex points of the ear, face, and hands, and detailed the first diagrams of reflex points found on the feet. In 1918, Dr. Joseph Riley and his wife, Dr. Elizabeth Riley, published “Zone Therapy Simplified” in which they charted the first reflex zone map of the feet. In 1942, the 12th edition of “Zone Therapy Simplified” was published.
In the 1930s Eunice Ingham worked with Dr. Riley in St. Petersburg, Florida. She was a chiropractor and physiotherapist. As she mapped the reflex points on the feet, Dr. Ingham found that the “reflexes on the feet were an exact mirror image of the organs of the body.” She continued to chart the feet and developed it into Reflexology. In 1938, she wrote, “Zone Therapy and Gland Reflexes” and “Stories the Feet Can Tell” which documented her cases and mapped out the reflexes on the feet. After the books were published she toured America conducting workshops teaching how people can help themselves, family, and friends using her technique. In 1951, she published “Stories the Feet Have Told.”
Interestingly, at this same time in England, physiologist Sir Charles Sherrington was studying the spinal cord and later studied problems with spinal reflexes. He won a Nobel prize for proving that the whole nervous system and body adjust to a stimulus then it is applied to any part of the body. He shared the Nobel Prize with Dr. Edgar Adrian a British electrophysiologist, who studied the mechanism of nervous action; electrical studies of the neuron.
Read part 2 of this article here
Katherine is a Foot Zone Instructor and the Davis County Utah Chapter Leader for the Weston A. Price Foundation. She also teaches classes on nutrition & cooking and herbs.
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wow, what a great post! very helpful! thank you!
Years ago my friend and i did what was then called Foot Reflexology. Now it seems it’s Foot Zoneology. But I think it’s one and the same. I’m very interested in this as is my son. He has been seeing a zoneologist and is amazed. She will soon be moving close to where he lives so that will be wonderful . He has Lymes and feels this will really help him. I truly belive in this ! So exciting! I wish I knew more ….. Maybe I will learn from the young lady that is moving near by. Thanks once again, Sarah!
I should write a testimonial post sometime about my amazing and positive experience with foot zone therapy some years ago. It is truly a helpful modality and can be of great assistance in improving overall health.
Yes! Please do that Sarah! I still don’t see the difference between reflexology and foot zone therapy though .
Hi Linda,
I’m sorry, but this article is not complete and Sarah’s editing leaves the wrong impression. I’ve contacted her to make the necessary changes.
What Sarah included in this article is information on the meridians which Dr. Fitzgerald called Zone Therapy. This was the precursor to Reflexology as Dr. Riley and Dr. Ingam began mapping the meridians to the feet and later the reflex points.
This is different than Foot Zone therapy which was developed in the 1900’s after Charles Ersdal was healed of paralasis by reflexology and began an deep study into it. In his studies he discovered that reflexology worked on some people but not on others and he wanted to know why. You can find “the rest of the story” here: http://mindbodyandsoleonline.com/foot-zoning/the-history-of-foot-zoning-in-america/
Thanks, and sorry for the confusion! 🙂
Ah yes, 🙂 Problem solved! There was a technical error with the transfer of information, but it’s been corrected. Thank you Sarah! 🙂
We do reflexology in our practice as well and it really is amazing! I have been doing it since 1999, after it helped me so much with my own health challenges. It continues to amaze me all the time- seeing results with people and all sorts of conditions. The body is absolutely amazing! Good luck to your son on his healing journey!
What is the difference between the two ?
Reflexology works on reflexes, foot zone therapy works on a signal system. The foot zone treatment works the body in it’s entirety – every body system, organ, and part – during every sesssion. Foot zone therapy brings the body into balance physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. It’s very indepth.
When I had reflexology done she worked on ‘zones’ too . She worked the whole foot and on different areas of the foot for different organs and nerves. I still do not understand the difference between the two.
Also my aromotherapy massage person works on zones on my feet also .
Let me see if I can clarify it Linda. I’ve never had a reflexology treatment, so all I can tell you is what other reflexologists have told me and what I have read.
The confusion comes because the word “zone” is used interchangably by the various modalities. Fitzgerald used the word “zone” to describe the meridians. Reflexologists and Foot Zone Therapists also use the word “zone” to refer to diferent areas of the foot, but the “zone” that the reflexologist uses for the heart reflex is different than the heart treatment that you will receive from a foot zone therapist, etc.
In talking to reflexologists, the foot zone session is much more indepth than a reflexology treatment. Ersdal’s map of the foot is more detailed than Ingham’s map, and the entire body signal system (correlating to every body system, organ, and part) is worked in every session. Also, foot zone treatments will typically include energy correction and balancing as well as chakra balancing.
Perhaps an easier way to understand the difference is to compare two guides. If you’re on a vacation and you hire a guide with a limited map of the places to visit and places to eat or to get fuel then you’ll get that kind of a vacation and maybe because there are road closures that this guide isn’t aware of, you may not get to your destination (this is what Ersdal discovered in his study of reflexology – it worked for some but not for others). However, if you have a guide with a very detailed map and instructions on the best places to visit, the best restaurants to eat at, the best places to stop for fuel, and up to the minute road closures, your experience will be much more compelte and much more enjoyable and you’ll get where you want to go every time.
Both guides are doing the best they have with the information available to them, and both clients will have benefits and gain positive results, but the client with the second guide will have a better experience and better, more consistant results.
I hope that sheds a little more light on the subject for you. 🙂
Just this morning, I developed a massive migraine… similar to the ones I had quite often before I cleaned up my eating (I eat mostly Paleo now), lost weight, and started exercising. I hadn’t had one this bad in years, but have had more sugar/junk lately plus lots of stress, not enough sleep, and a touch of what I think might be adrenal fatigue from over-training/under-recovering. Anyway, I’ll try it!
I’ve found cayenne pepper on the tip of the tongue for 45 seconds to be a real effective treatment for a headache. My best explanation to why it works is diverting the blood away from the head towards the tongue.
@Mariah Let us all know how it helped. If it relieves the pain completely or just reduces the severity.
a pinch of Himalayan Sea Salt under the tongue followed by water is supposed to be a great headache reliever as well.
What part of the roof of your mouth is “the battleground”?
Pressing the roof of your mouth as close as possible to the “battleground” means underneath the area of the head that hurts (as much as possible). Remember that his discovery was the meridian lines (zones) that run up and down the body and that pressure applied anywhere along that meridian would relieve pain anywhere else along that same meridian. So what you’re trying to do by pressing the roof of the mouth under the area of pain is apply pressure to that meridian.
Thanks Nicole – I didn’t know what the “battleground” referred to either and was going to ask – you beat me to it. Thanks Katherine, for the explanation and interesting article.
The modern world was introduced to reflexology about 40 something years before the 1979 mentioned. The real history comes through Eunice Ingham and has since become the International Institute of Reflexology. http://www.reflexology-usa.net/history.htm Whatever, the source, reflexology is truly beneficial to the entire body and not just pain relief but helping the source of ill health internally. I know that’s a big claim (and trust me, they can’t really make it or the AMA would have a holy fit) but it really does work!! I have noticed that the ones who show the most appreciation for reflexology in our chiropractic office (and it’s effects on their blood sugar) is diabetics. Many a patients have claimed it will even out their blood sugar better than just about anything. In fact, my own brother who is diabetic, has to adjust his regular meds accordingly so he doesn’t over do it. That’s how fast it and how well reflexology works. Detoxing shouldn’t be overlooked either as it helps the body drive out toxins. It helped normalize my period when I did it for one day a week for 4 weeks. Also, I will often feel my GI tract get moving after a session of reflexology. Amazing stuff. The thing is, it doesn’t do anything but HELP homeostasis in the body. There is absolutely no counter indications. Amazing!! Wish more people would could see the power of the body to heal itself. And it has a track record through history!
Hi Shelby,
I’m sorry, this edited version of my article is not complete and only covers 1/3 of the history of foot zoning. Eunice Ingam is the second third and the final chapter is Charles Ersdal. I have contacted Sarah about the mistake. Please find the complete story here: http://mindbodyandsoleonline.com/foot-zoning/the-history-of-foot-zoning-in-america/
Thank you! 🙂
By the way Shelby, I totally agree about the wonderful benefits of reflexology and foot zoning. One of my clients normalized her periods after ONE session!! Check my website for a list of foot zone practitioners near you: http://mindbodyandsoleonline.com/foot-zoning/find-a-foot-zone-therapist-near-you/.
Interesting read. Found the book on Google Books: http://books.google.com/books?id=oZAbIkYkYQQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Zone+Therapy&hl=en&src=bmrr&sa=X&ei=qZ3gT-uoLOSU2AXPv53XDQ&ved=0CDcQ6wEwAA#v=onepage&q=Zone%20Therapy&f=false
This technique helped alot for a headache and jaw pain I am suffering after having a root canal yesterday. Besides applying the pressure inside the roof of my mouth, I also relaxed and dropped my lower jaw during the 3 minutes. I’m not pain free yet but this took the edge off.
this works I did it many times. I have been pain free for a very long time.
My question too: what is the battleground?
Pressing the roof of your mouth as close as possible to the “battleground” means underneath the area of the head that hurts (as much as possible). Remember that his discovery was the meridian lines (zones) that run up and down the body and that pressure applied anywhere along that meridian would relieve pain anywhere else along that same meridian. So what you’re trying to do by pressing the roof of the mouth under the area of pain is apply pressure to that meridian.
I would love to know more about using this during childbirth! Anyone have any recommendations?
Hi Monica, 🙂
I’ve had many clients who get regular foot zones before and during pregnancy and report WONDERFUL results during delivery.
Monica,
Here is a link to a post I wrote about my own experience of zoning and pregnancy.
http://intrinsicallyawaken.blogspot.com/2012/04/zone-and-pregnancy-by-jada.html
Sounds pretty helpful. Its always good to know drug-free ways to relive pain due to how common this ailment is in our modern world. I have some pains in my neck sometimes that I use to take magnesium for, but I should look into foot zone therapy.
By locating sore spots on the sole of the foot (ever wonder why sole rhymes with soul?), you can alleviate other areas of pain. I like pulling my toes, personally. Sometimes I get an ahhh after they pop.
I wanted to send this information to my son, who is having some terrible low back pain issues which developed while they were in the process of moving furniture into a new home. However, this article is so poorly constructed I hesitate to send it. One thing which is NOT clear is whether or not the “corrections” to the article are complete? I mean, in two difference places in the comments section Katherine has referred to mistakes in the article. Would I be better off just sending him the information directly from Katherine’s web page?
Hi D., 🙂
The problems with the article have been corrected. There was a problem when Sarah tried to import my article to WordPress which resulted in only a portion of the article being printed. The entire post is on the History of Foot Zone Therapy which begins with Fitzgerald (at least in “modern” times) and his discovery of the meridiains which he called “zones.” He discovered that by applying pressure to any point along a particular meridian, he could eliminate pain at any other point in that meridian – hense the title of “pain relief”.
The part that didn’t come through for Sarah took Fitzgerald’s discovery of meridians to Dr. Shelby and Dr. Eunice Ingham who discovered that the meridians continued to the bottom of the feet. Shelby developed the hooking technique used my many reflexologists and foot zone theripists and Ingham mapped out parts of the body on the foot.
Following Dr. Shelby and Eunice Ingham, Charles Ersdal developed VERY detailed maps of the feet and developed a very complete, exact, and detailed treatment which he called the foot zone.
The entire article is quite lengthy, so Sarah will provide the second half on Friday. You are welcome to send him to my site for the entire article or wait until Friday for the remainder to be posted on this site.
Foot zone therapy is quite helpful for many issues and I have had many clients who report elimination of back problems after sessions. You can find a listing of foot zone therapists on my website to help you locate a foot zoner near you (or near your son as the case may be), and there’s also testimonials from clients to give you an idea of how the foot zone might be of benefit. 🙂
I’m so sorry for the confusion! Sometimes there are glitches in our “modern technology” which cannot be avoided. 🙂
I hope you use the article for what it was intended, information on the history of foot zone therapy, and begin seeking out foot zone therapists in your area to discover what benefits the zone may bring to you. 🙂
Thank you!
~ Kathy
I would love to hear testimonials of women who have used foot zoning to relieve pain in childbirth.
Hi Celestia, 🙂
The benefits of foot zone therapy go far beyond pain relief to include pain prevention. Foot zone therapy is about bringing the body back into, and keeping it in, balance. Clients who receive regular foot zone treatments before and during pregnancy report easier, less painful child birth and faster recovery time.
Meridian therapy (which Dr. Fitzgerald called zone therapy) deals more with pain relief and was a precursor to reflexology and then ultimately foot zone therapy.
The remainder of the article, to be published on Friday, will delve into foot zone therapy, but on my website you can find testimonials from clients. http://mindbodyandsoleonline.com/welcome/testimonials/
Thank you for your interest! 🙂
~ Kathy
Celestia,
Here is a link to article I wrote about my personal experience with the zone, pregnancy, labor, and delivery. I hope this helps 🙂
Jada
http://intrinsicallyawaken.blogspot.com/2012/04/zone-and-pregnancy-by-jada.html
If you want to talk to someone about for zoning and child birth there is only one professional I would recommend. She lives in Clifton, ID her name is Laree Westover. She has been a foot zone therapist for 38 years and a midwife for 42 years. You can contact her by calling butterfly express. The number is everywhere on the internet.
Katherine, I too have Lyme and could use this therapy to help with pain. There are no therapists in my state, so I wondered if the book you mentioned would help me do the foot zone on myself?
No, the book mentioned deals only with meridian therapy which Dr. Fitzgerald called zone therapy.
A foot zone therapist will help with much more than the pain and will help bring all your body systems into balance. If you can’t find a foot zone therapist in your state, the next best thing would be a reflexologist although the results may not be as effective.
The listing on my site privides contact information on foot zoners who are graduates of We Do Feet. The article tomorrow will provide information on the other schools who certify students in the foot zone technique and you may be able to find information on their graduates from their website.
Although widely practiced in Europe, the foot zone technique is in its infantcy in the US, having been taught here only since the late 1980’s (isn’t it interesting how we seem to be behind the curve when it comes to holistic medicine – but that’s a different topic), however, interest is growing as more people realize the benefits of this wonderful modality. 🙂 As interest in the treatment grows, interest in learning the modality grows as well.
What state do you live in and maybe I can help locate someone who can help?
I live in Winfield, Kansas. I’m am almost on the Oklahoma border and Central in the state, just South of Wichita. Thanks for your help. Do you know of a reflexology book that I can do myself? Doctor bills and medications for Lyme are astronomical and I don’t think I can afford another office visit.
Actually, I can do one better. 🙂 One of our instructors, Stephanie Marcum, just moved to Hawaii and she’s publishing a book and an iPad ap that shows and demonstrates the foot zone technique so you can learn it yourself! You can find her contact information on my website at: http://mindbodyandsoleonline.com/foot-zoning/find-a-foot-zone-therapist-near-you/.
I’ll also check to see if anyone knows of a foot zoner in your area. 🙂
~ Kathy
Thank you so much!
We just got the first book up. It will only give you the first area. Book 2, 3, and 4 will be finished in the next couple months. It is a starting point for those that don’t live near a footzoner and would like to learn how to do it themselves. I had my 11 year old daughter test it out for me and she picked up how to do it quickly. Hope this helps.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/foothold-book-1/id535768260?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Sorry here is the link.
That’s great Stephanie! I’m so excited that it’s finally out! I’m not surprised that your daughter picked up on it so quickly, if I remember correctly she is quite the exceptional girl. 🙂
Such a great post Kathy! I am looking forward to the rest of your article 🙂
I am a zoner and have been getting “zoned” for nearly 6 years now. I personally have experienced so many miracles from the zone–from a boost in fertility to complete spinal alignment and great pain relief [all through my feet!]–that I just had to learn this amazing skill to share with others. Foot Zone Therapy has brought me on a journey to health and healing on so many levels. I hope everyone takes this information and really soaks in all of the possibilities of Foot Zoning–it is truly an amazing healing modality!