WORLDWIDE REFLEXOLOGY HISTORY

1915 - 1949

Dr. Joe Shelby Riley Eunice Ingham Elisabeth Dicke Benedict Lust Vladimir Bekhtereva

In 1917, in the U.S.A., Dr. William Fitzgerald and Dr. Edwin Bowers co-authored their book “Zone Therapy” or “Relieving Pain in the Home” which shows the body divided into ten zones.

In 1919, in the U.S.A. Dr. William Fitzgerald and Dr. Edwin Bowers enlarged this book, publishing it as “Zone Therapy or Curing Pain and Disease.”

In 1919, in the U.S.A. Dr. Joe Shelby Riley published in the U.S.A., his book “Zone Therapy Simplified” in which he added eight horizontal zones to the ten longitudinal zones of Dr. Fitzgerald and Dr. Bowers.

In 1919, in the U.S.A., Eunice Ingham commenced her studies at the National University of Therapeutics in Washington, D.C. U.S.A. where she first met Dr. Joe Shelby Riley, the president of the university.

In 1924, in the U.S.A. Dr. Joe Shelby Riley published his book “Zone Reflex”.

In 1928, in the U.S.A. Eunice Ingham received her diploma in physiotherapy from the Columbia Institute of Physiotherapy in the U.S.A.

In 1928, in the U.S.A. Benedict Lust published his book “Zone Therapy”.

In 1929 physical therapist, Elisabeth Dicke developed in Germany, Connective Tissue Massage (Bindegewebsmassage) which was based on the concept of reflex zone massage and the application of massage techniques to connective tissue within the segmental zones that were established by Sir Henry Head.

In 1932, Dr. Vladimir Bekhtereva’s 1907 Russian work “Objective Psychology” was revised and translated into English with the revised title “General Principles of Human Reflexology.”

In the U.S.A., during the early 1930’s Eunice Ingham worked for Dr. Joe Shelby Riley as a therapist in Florida while also working in the realm of property management. During this time, Dr. Riley was very supportive of Eunice and her research of Dr. Fitzgerald’s zone therapy to develop her theories of working with the feet.

In 1938, in the U.S.A. Eunice Ingham published her first book “Stories the Feet Can Tell” and commenced her lecturing career that continued for 40 years. Eunice became very well known, and travelled the world attending health seminars where she spoke with medical practitioners about her therapy.

In 1942, in the U.S.A. Dr. Joe Shelby Riley published his book “Zone Reflex: All Its Applications Made Plain and Simple for Use By Any One.”

In 1945, in the U.S.A. Eunice Ingham publishes her second book “Zone Therapy and Gland Reflexes” which was revised in 1951 and published as “Stories the Feet Have Told”.