This is the practice of using thumbs and fingers to stimulate points on the feet, hands, or ears, in the belief it will have a beneficial effect on some other parts of the body, or will improve general health. The most common form is foot reflexology. Practitioners believe the foot to the be divided into a number of reflex zones with 7,200 nerve endings in each foot corresponding to all parts of the body, and that applying pressure to tight or “gritty” areas of a person’s foot will stimulate the corresponding body part and cause it to begin healing itself. Reflexology includes, but is not limited to relieving stress and tension;
improving blood supply and promoting the unblocking of nerve endings and helping nature achieve balance within the body.