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Foot massage or foot reflexology has a Chinese origin. Foot massage Chinese medicine dates back to more than 3,000 years ago and is used in the prevention and cure of many health ailments.

Some in fact say, foot massage dates back to ancient Egyptian times due to archaeological findings in cave drawings in Egypt.

The principle of foot massage rests in the premise that the meridian network connects all tissues, organs and cells in our body. Each organ in the body is connected to a specific reflex point on the foot through the intermediary of 300 nerves. A trained foot reflexologist can put pressure on different meridians or energy lines on the sole and side of the feet to determine the cause of illness.

By using pressure to these the reflex points, the foot massage is good for stimulating the activity internal organs, and to improve blood and lymph circulation. Thus, the top to bottom well being of a person can be made through the foot.

The principles of foot massage is not in congruence with western allopathic medicine. Western medicine merely sees the foot as a body part comprising of bones, ligaments and joints.

However, foot massage is fast gaining much popularity and acceptance as an alternative health treatment. Fans of foot massage believe it can cure not only colds and minor ailments, but more serious ailments as well. These ailments include liver dysfunction, high blood pressure, constipation problems, chronic headaches, skin allergies, depression, etc.

Like most Oriental medical techniques, foot reflexology is a “holistic” treatment. It concentrates on treating the whole person rather than just the symptoms of one particular ailment.

While Western medicine promises speedy recovery of all unpleasant symptoms, foot massage therapy can be slow and gradual. A series of visits is necessary to strengthen the body and to bring the body back to balance.

A session of foot reflexology in San Francisco, can set you back as much as $40.00 to $100.00. Thus, foot massages over a period of time, can add up in terms of costs.

However, for practitioners and believers of foot massage, the cost for good health is well worth it. The alternative would have been money spent in clinics and western hospitals for prescription drugs and perhaps, invasive surgery.

Here are the steps on how to give a Chinese foot massage therapy at home:

• Make the person who needs a foot massage sit on a comfortable chair or sofa.
• Place a bucket of warm water near the person’s feet and dip their feet in the bucket.
• Add appropriate herbs along with tea powder into the water.
• Allow the feet to soak in this water for 8 to 10 minutes.
• As the feet are getting soaked in water, slowly massage and knead the person’s back, shoulders and neck.
• Once done, remove the feet from the water and dry them with a clean towel.
• To give a Chinese foot massage, ask the person to lie down comfortably and start applying a massage cream or oil on one foot. Apply pressure on the pressure points and also knead and massage the foot to provide complete relief.
• After you give Chinese foot massage to one foot, work on the other foot in the same manner.
• Once the foot massage is over, also massage the lower legs and thighs for thorough relaxation.

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