• Over many years of practising, listening carefully to client's complaints and examining similar case histories, it became clear to Inge Dougans that there existed a connection between the meridians described in Chinese acupuncture and reflexology. The nexus was the concept of energy channels that is pivotal to the practises of reflexology and acupuncture. Both act on the premise that this vital energy, considered the foundation of health, traverses the body in exact and orderly patterns. Both practises assert that disease is caused by blockages within these energy channels, which are called meridians in Chinese medicine.

• In acupuncture, points along the meridians, situated all over the body, are either stimulated or sedated with needles in order to restore harmony to the body. Reflexology concentrates on those sections of the meridians found in the feet, and these are worked on through the application of specific finger techniques. This philosophy has added a powerful dimension to the disease pathway by way of a complex "assessment" tool that opens the door to a world of clues and answers previously missing through reflexology alone.

• Reflexology is a safe, natural aid to restoring the body's own healing potential. The effects produced by massaging the feet are attributed, in part, to massaging the reflexes which represent a perfect microcosm of the body on the feet, as well as the result of stimulating the six meridians on the feet. These meridians penetrate the major organs of the body. Consequently, massaging these areas facilitates clearing blockages along meridians and encourages the vital body energy to flow unimpeded.

• A typical example is illustrated where many women today suffer from painful, heavy and irregular menstrual cycles. This is often coupled with an inability to lose weight, constant thirst, knee operations, bunions, etc. By looking at the principals of the Chinese Meridians and the Five Elements, all these symptoms can be traced back to the Spleen-Pancreas Meridian, indicating a possible imbalance with one's blood sugar level. This can further be re-enforced with readings of the face, hands and feet. By incorporating this knowledge into the practice of reflexology, one is able to correct this imbalance through regular therapeutic reflexology treatments and advice on correct change of lifestyle to prevent these imbalances from recurring.

Meridian Theory as Part of the IARAMT Curriculum

Knowledge of meridians can help Reflexologists to more comprehensively understand the disease pathway, and this can be of enormous benefit in pinpointing problems areas, as well as understanding a wide range of conditions that affect the body. For this reason, IARAMT has included this vital subject as a topic to be covered under the major subject of Theoretical Therapeutic Reflexology in the course.

This fascinating subject will teach prospective therapeutic Reflexologists how to read the face, feet and hands, and how to incorporate the information gained into a therapeutic reflexology treatment. Amongst many other signs and symptoms, the therapeutic Reflexologist will find out what bunions tell us, why ridges develop on the nails of hands, and what fissures and calluses in the outer heel area indicate.

The Importance of Toes in a Reflexology Treatment

In our profession we will often be presented with clients having bunions, corns, hammertoes, callous and nail disorders.

The medical profession, in treating and understanding these feet conditions, often blame the shape of our shoes.

Reflexology maps the feet including the toes, as a mirror concept of our body organs, and within that science have no answer to many of the above structural malfunctions.

In mapping the toes, most charts will indicate our sense organs of the eyes and ears to cover the main parts of second to fifth toes. The tip of all toes will show the sinus cavities. The main aspect of our big toe will relate to brain matter, nose, hormonal glands, mastoid etc.

As a general understanding, the science of our profession states that where there is sensitivity in a reflex area that would be an indication of stress or weakness in the corresponding organ or body part.

However, often when stimulating the toes they seem to be far more sensitive than any conditions the client may present in connections to the eyes, ears, and sinus or brain matter!

Some clients have shown hammertoes and corns on second and third toes, but have never had any eye weakness nor even wear glasses, but their toe reflexes are extremely sensitive to touch.

And so it goes with fourth and fifth toes representing the ears. The toe may be extremely sore, deformed and have corns, expecting there to be conditions relating to the physiology of the ears – but rarely confirmed.

For the science of Reflexology and the Medical perception of foot conditions to merge and make sense, the science of the Chinese Meridian philosophy will need to be added.

The Meridians are today a science well developed and researched, and more evidence of its existence will continue to follow into the future, whereas we are still sitting without any proof of the Zones, and no research are being done in this respect!

The Meridians are like electrical pathways covering the body, which can be used by the Reflexologist as an assessment tool, by warning us that there is insufficient energy running through them.

The electrical energy, which is known as Chi’, is derived from the food we eat, the breath we take as well as our thought processes.

Lack of good quality food, like many of the man made foodstuffs that are normal household items today, lack any Chi’ as well as many other nutrients!

The Meridians are running on a low current and the evidence will be felt in form of congestions along the pathways. These congestions are many of the diagnostic conditions that most people suffer from and bring to us in hope of a ‘cure’.

Congestions such as: Sinus problems, Tennis elbow, Breast lumps, Headaches and Knee pains are in fact one and the same problem. They are nothing but toxic molecules sticking together obstructing the energy flow along Meridians.

‘The acupuncturists see meridian dysfunction as a precursor of organ pathology. The meridian circuit abnormality reflects an imbalance in the polar energies of the forces of yin and yang. Neither force exists alone, but in relation to the total energetic needs of the organism.’
Richard Gerber, Vibrational Medicine

It is at this level that we need to consider the impact of reflexology treatments on the human system. The stimulation of reflexes and meridians we practice generates Vibrational waves which, on reaching a target organ or congestion, trigger a chemical reaction in the body; our body reacts to two fundamental stimuli – contraction and expansion – which we can translate into heat-cold stimuli, or yin and yang.