Alternative Medicine Repertory

[Florida, USA] Old established school with international connections

Reflexology, or zone therapy, is the practice of massaging, squeezing, or pushing on parts of the feet, or sometimes the hands and ears, with the goal of encouraging a beneficial effect on other parts of the body, or to improve general health. There is no consensus on how reflexology does or could work in practice; a unifying theme is the idea that areas on the foot correspond to areas of the body, and that by manipulating these one can improve health through one's qi.[1] Concerns have been raised by medical professionals that treating potentially serious illnesses with reflexology, which has no proven efficacy, could delay the seeking of help from proven conventional medicine.[2] However, registered reflexologists operate according to a code of conduct and would not diagnose a serious medical condition or treat one without medical consent.

Early in 1984 ten Reflexologists met to form an organisation. Their aims were: to create an independent, fully democratic association of qualified practitioners to set up a network of professional Reflexologists, providing them with support and ongoing education through seminars and workshops to produce a regular Newsletter to keep members in touch and provide a forum for the exchange of news and ideas. Further aims were added as the Association grew including the development of: a Register of Qualified Practitioners insurance cover for members regional groups for local support promotional material for distribution to the general public and the media. From those first 10 Reflexologists the AoR has now grown into one of the largest Reflexology organisations in the world, and continues to grow with upwards of 7,500 members.

Early in 1984 ten Reflexologists met to form an organisation. Their aims were: to create an independent, fully democratic association of qualified practitioners to set up a network of professional Reflexologists, providing them with support and ongoing education through seminars and workshops to produce a regular Newsletter to keep members in touch and provide a forum for the exchange of news and ideas. Further aims were added as the Association grew including the development of: a Register of Qualified Practitioners insurance cover for members regional groups for local support promotional material for distribution to the general public and the media. From those first 10 Reflexologists the AoR has now grown into one of the largest Reflexology organisations in the world, and continues to grow with upwards of 7,500 members.