The healing art of reflexology dates back to Ancient Egypt, India and China. It wasn't until 1913 that Dr William Fitzgerald introduced this therapy to the west as "zone therapy".  He noted that reflex areas on the hands and feet were linked to areas and organs of the body within the same zone. This was further developed by Eunice Ingram in 1930 into what is known today as Reflexology.

So how can reflexology help you?
Reflexology is a complementary therapy, which works on the hands or feet to help heal the whole person, not just the prevailing symptoms.

Reflexology can be used to help restore and maintain the body's natural equilibrium. This gentle therapy encourages the body to work naturally to restore its own healthy balance.

Reflexology has been shown to be effective for:

• Back pain
• Migraine
• Infertility
• Arthritis
• Sleep disorders
• Sports injuries
• Hormonal imbalances
• Digestive disorders
• Stress-related conditions

While many people use reflexology as a way of relaxing the mind, body and counteracting stress, at the same time many doctors, consultants and other health care professionals recognise reflexology as a well established, respected and effective therapy.

With ever increasing levels of stress, it is important people take more responsibility for their own health care needs. Reflexology helps us to cope on a physical, mental and emotional level thereby encouraging us to heal and maintain health in all areas of our lives.

Please note that reflexology is a complementary therapy and reflexologists do not claim to cure, diagnose or prescribe. Your GP will advise you on all aspects of your health care and must be consulted if you have any concerns about your health.

Vertical Reflex Therapy (VRT) is a unique Reflexology technique that Lynne Booth discovered and has developed since the early 1990s.

A five-minute VRT treatment on the weight-bearing hand or foot dorsal reflexes can accelerate the healing response of the body. This treatment can be given in its own right, as first-aid, or as a brief part of a conventional Reflexology session and has now become part of mainstream Reflexology.

VRT is also very useful as a preventative treatment, and many people report that they have had a lessening or cessation of repeated aches or pains following a few minutes of daily self-help.

Vertical Reflex Therapy can take the Reflexology process one step further when the feet (or hands) are in a weight-bearing position. Some deeper reflexes can only be located when a person is standing. With VRT, all reflexes, including those on the plantar, can be accessed three-dimensionally through the dorsum as well.

There are 7000 nerves in the feet, and a plausible and anatomical explanation for VRT’s efficacy is that the nerves on the passive hands and feet are naturally desensitized, but as soon as a hand or foot becomes weight-bearing, then the nerves become sensitized. As the reflexes used in Reflexology must work on some nerve impulse between the foot and, for example, a particular organ, it must follow that the sensitized reflexes must be capable of sending a stronger impulse to an organ, gland, muscle or vertebra.

Marian has been trained by Lynne Booth in the advance techniques of VRT and incorporates this powerful addition to traditional Reflexology into her treatments.