A brief history of reflexology
Although there is no exact historical record, the earliest evidence of reflexology dates back to early Egypt in the form of a pictograph in the tomb of a medical doctor, second to the king, around 5,00o years ago. From here the knowledge of reflexology traveled to Greece, Arabia and Europe through the Roman Empire. In the east the history can be traced from India to China and then onto Japan.
In 1917 William H. Fitzgerald M.D. an ear, nose and throat specialist in the United States developed vertical zone theory of the human body and proved that applying pressure on a specific area on one part of the feet or hands had an anesthetic effect on another area in the body. In 1924 Joe Shelby Riley MD further developed this theory by dividing the vertical zones into horizontal zones, his work also included the ear.
Foot and Hand Reflexology was further developed by Eunice D. Ingham, a nurse and physiotherapist who worked with Joe Shelby Riley, in the 1930s and 1940s. Ingham claimed that the feet and hands were especially sensitive, and then mapped the entire body into "reflexes" on the feet. It was at this time that "zone therapy" was renamed reflexology.
Although some reflex points on the outer ear were known in Ancient China, Ancient Mediterranean countries as well as in the Dark and Middle Ages of Europe it was not until 1957 that a map representing the human body was discovered in the outer ear by another MD - Dr Paul Nogier in France . This map was generally verified in China in 1959 - discovering some differences but may similarities and has been used for Acupuncture and Acupressure since this time. In the early 1980's the American Academy of Reflexology
http://www.americanacademyofreflexology.com/
discovered that the map could be used effectively for Ear Reflexology using specific touch techniques gaining astounding results when worked with the other two reflexology systems - hands and feet.