News

‘Yu Fu’ – Traditional Reflexology in China

Jean Gibson has studied and practised foot and hand reflexology for almost two decades, operating a thriving private therapy practice and holistic training school in the counties of Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex, UK.

In Dec 1999 Jean was invited to visit Beijing in China and work with Professor Hang Xiongwen to become one of the first practitioners in England to be trained in traditional Chinese reflexology. The invitation came from Dr. Isobel Cowan a practitioner from Ireland who has studied with Professor Xiongwen for several years.

The training – a once in a lifetime opportunity - centred on the use of ‘Yu Fu’ in diagnosis and treatment and is aimed at encouraging the use of traditional Chinese Reflexology techniques in UK. In this article, Jean details her visit to China and outlines the techniques and philosophy of Chinese Reflexology.

Says Jean: “To understand Reflexology in China today, one needs to look back to its roots and relationship within traditional Chinese medicine. Foot massage therapy has for centuries been an integral part of traditional healing and features heavily in many historic records and journals.”

The medical records of a well-known 2nd Century doctor, Sima Qian, reveal how he healed patients with 'Yu Fu' using neither medicine (herbs) or acupuncture.  Translated into English 'Yu Fu' means Foot Massage. To explain the workings of the body the 'Internal Classic of the Yellow Emperor' 2698-2589BC highlights 14 acupuncture meridians and more than 600 acupuncture points, of which 6 meridians were running through the feet and 60 points located on the feet.

In the 6th century AD a monk of the Tang Dynasty in China brought back from India a picture of the footprint of Buddha.  It had been left behind in the 4th century BC and was discovered in a stone carving in a Buddhist temple near Xian in China.

The text 'Prescription worth a thousand pieces of Gold' by Sun Simiao (581-681) during the Yang Dynasty, first recorded Lao-Zi massage.  Lao-Zi, an acclaimed philosopher, listed 10 out of 49 points related to the feet. The term Reflexology was adopted much later and first used by a German, Johann August Unzer in 1771, in relation to the motor reactions of the body.

“Traditional Chinese Medicine is rich in the experience of thousands of years. It has its own philosophy, theories and Yu Fu, or foot massage, is an integral part of both diagnosis and treatment. 

"I witnessed this first hand during my visit when a doctor from Taiwan used body diagnosis on a client, then confirmed the diagnosis using the foot reflexes.

"From its earliest introduction, Yu Fu rapidly became part of the holistic approach of Traditional Chinese Medicine and continues to be used today, with the role of Reflexology now officially recognised by authorities as aiding the prevention and curing of disease and preserving health.

The China Association of Reflexology was formed in 1991 and now all Chinese Reflexologists are trained by the Association.
 

Back to Main News Page

Back to Chinese Reflexology Main Page