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Foot Reflexology
Winai Keawmuneewong, Siriporn Poempoon
Bureau of Alternative Medicine, Department for the Development of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine,
Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000
Reflexology is an alternative medicine that has long been developed and used as a means of health care;
currently it has become popular and commonly used in Europe and Asia. It is a therapeutic technique and
method of health promotion that is considered as both an art and science of the holistic approach to health
care. Foot reflexology is the most popular technique because it is convenient, non-invasive, and easily per-
formed. Reflex zones of the foot reflect different organs of the body; this technique can therefore provide
initial diagnosis of human health. There are both scientific-based theories and a history of traditional use of
foot reflexology that can be regarded as evidence to support its use. This article is aimed at presenting the
history, meaning, and related theories of foot reflexology, namely, zone theory and meridian theory, including
reflex zones that reflect different organs, where pressure can be applied for therapeutic purposes and health
promotion.
Key word: foot reflexology