Reflexology practitioners use charts to map how reflex points on the hands, feet, and ears map to other parts of the body, such as appendages, glands, and internal organs. By stimulating these pressure points, practitioners seek to improve the flow of blood and energy to corresponding parts of the body in a non-invasive, non-drug complementary therapy.
On the foot, these points are on the sole, medial, and lateral sides.
At Sacred Waves, we’ve put together everything you need to know about the foot reflexology chart. You can start by downloading the full foot reflexology chart here.
Below is the full list of the parts of the human body that correspond to points on the foot. These apply to both the left foot and right foot.
On the sole or bottom of the foot:
On the medial side of the foot:
On the lateral side of the foot:
Here are answers to common questions about the foot reflexology chart. If we don’t answer all of your questions here, please contact us.
If a client experiences tenderness or pain at a reflex point, it may indicate tension or congestion in the corresponding area of the body. A practitioner will stimulate the reflex point through reflexology massage or by applying pressure with the goal of helping the body return to homeostasis.
A reflexology practitioner, or in some cases a massage therapist, will suspect that certain areas of the body are tense or imbalanced based if the client experiences tenderness or sensitivity when pressure is applied to specific points on the feet. For example, tenderness on the tip of a toe may be interpreted to correlate to sinus tension or headache.
However, a reflexologist’s role is to promote relaxation and well-being, not diagnose or treat medical conditions. If a reflex point on the foot suggests an imbalance somewhere else in the body, a reflexologist will use this indication to guide their relaxation session.
While the body of scientific evidence behind reflexology isn’t conclusive, many people report the benefits as an alternative medicine. Widely practiced in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the concepts of reflexology date back thousands of years to the ancient Chinese, Egyptians, and Indians.
However, the form of reflexology practiced today is relatively modern. Also called “zone therapy,” it was developed in the United States in the early 20th century by Dr. William Fitzgerald. The modern foot and hand reflexology charts were developed by Eunice Ingham, a physiotherapist, in the 1930s.
Similar to targeting acupoints in acupuncture, and meridian points in acupressure, stimulating the reflex points on the reflexology foot chart is intended to promote balance and overall health. However, a foot reflexology chart and theories surrounding it differ from these practices—as well as a foot chakra chart, tuning forks, or singing bowls—as reflexology is based more in anatomy rather than qi energy, chakras, or sound waves.
Today, reflexology’s non-invasive, drug-free nature and generally few side effects makes it an attractive complementary therapy used in conjunction with osteopathy, physiotherapy, massage therapy, chiropody, and naturopathy.
As with virtually any therapy, there is some risk of side effects from reflexology treatments, such as pain or minor bruising. Risks vary depending on the amount of pressure the practitioner places on reflex points and the recipient’s sensitivity to touch. Due to this, beginners should take extra care and monitor their comfort level, whether they are the practitioner or the recipient.
Additionally, recipients with certain conditions should avoid reflexology sessions. These include individuals experiencing the following:
While more large-scale clinical studies would be required for mainstream healthcare providers to fully embrace reflexology, research shows that stress is a major contributor to the development of illnesses.
Through promoting relaxation, reflexology works to release endorphins, which is a natural pain reliever. As pain anywhere in the body can cause stress throughout the nervous system, reflexology is often used as a supportive therapy.
Reflexology is frequently used as a complementary therapy for individuals experiencing the following:
Further, one study showed that foot massage, including reflexology, can relieve constipation.
However, it’s important to remember that reflexology is not intended to diagnose or treat illnesses, but instead reflexology helps promote relaxation and general well-being.