Reflexology: A Practical Introduction

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Summary: Reflexology: A Practical Introduction By Inge Dougans
Review: Inge has done some fascinating work on combining the ancient art of the Chinese Meridians with reflexology. She is a pioneer in her field being the first reflexolgist to see that there was more than just the reflexes in the feet. She takes the reader on a journey on how to interpret imbalances in the body by "reading" the feet based upon Chinese Meridians and the Five Elements.

The first half of her book is how to perform a reflexology treatment. Her reflexology method differs than most books, as she believes in treating the reflexes for an organ one at a time instead of each foot at a time. By treating one foot completely before the other, you work on half of the body. By alternating the feet through out the session, you work the reflexes to each organ before moving onto the next.

The second half of the book is about how to read the feet and the body based upon the meridians and the five elements. The book is excellent in explaining on how to incoperate the two ancients arts of Chinese Medicine and reflexology. If you can only get one book on reflexology, this is the book I'd get. It gives great information that you can not find anywhere else.

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Summary: Tying meridians into reflexology
Review: With this book, Inge Dougans ties the theory behind acupuncture, namely that there are meridians that run through the whole body and that any congestion along one of these meridians will cause problems throughout the whole meridian, and ties it together with the theory of reflexes that is behind reflexology. Traditional reflexology states that there are 10 distinct reflexes in the body which run straight up and down the body - from the big toe to the centre of the head, for example - while the 12 meridians are less 'straight' and can run to different areas of the body.

Most books of reflexology are almost completely interchangable in the information they provide, although obviously some are better written than others. Inge Dougan's book is a little short on detail of the basic practise of reflexology. It seems she assumes the reader already has a good basic technique, and I feel that it would be better if she left out the parts describing this as a consequence - they seem almost like an afterthought. The meridian theory is hard to get a grip on as it is subtlely different from the theory I have learned. However, it is explained as clearly as possible and gives the reflexologist another 'tool' to use while treating clients. Not perfect, and not aimed at the general public, but a good read for the reflexologist.