Key elements in a reflexology hand chart:
about reflexology zones, meridians & dermatomes!
The general purpose of 'reflex zone therapy' (a.k.a. reflexology) is to 'balance' the nervous system. Reflexologists usually use an approach where the body is divided into ten equal vertical zones: five zones on the right side of the body + five zones on the left side of the body. This vertical approach goes parallel to Chinese philosophy of the meridians & the medical so-called 'dermatomes' (= areas of skin that are mainly supplied by a single spinal nerve); However, there is no direct connection between the 10 vertical reflex zones and 12 meridians, nor do these concepts directly relate to the physical nerve system.
The word reflexology is derived from the so-called 'reflex arc', which refers to a neural pathway that controls an action reflex. Formally, there are two types of reflex arc: 'autonomic reflex arc' (affecting inner organs) and 'somatic reflex arc' (affecting muscles); reflexology can be associated with the first type. This implicates that (hand) reflexology should not be associated with casual uses of the terms: 'reflex', 'hand reflex' and 'primitive reflexes'.
Unfortunately, there is no consensus among hand reflexologists about how reflexology exactly is supposed to work. For example: in many hand reflexology charts the heart is located at the radial side of the hand (sometimes it gets associated with the 2nd phalange of the thumb) - which sort of represents the opposite of the principle described by the meridian philosophy.
Some reflexologists even claim that the zones in reflexology maps represent only approximates and may vary from person to person. Hand reflexology experts generally work with charts that propose sort of a likewise model for various internal organs & body parts. However, most individual reflexology hand charts do show some significant differences compared to other charts.
Many reflexology hand charts are available on the internet; charts are being presented in various formats, and many printable reflexology hand charts are available. However, for people who are not familiar with the basics of hand reflexology might get confused by the fact that many maps display unique characteristics - which often reflect the personal view of the map designer. Authors dispute the representative locations in the hand that may get associated with the eyes and the heart, so these aspects belong to the key-elements of disagreement in hand reflexology.
In general, in most charts the eyes get associated with one or more sections of the index finger and/or middle finger. In some Western hand reflexology charts the eyes are associated with the 2nd phalange of the index finger (see chart 1) or the middle finger (see chart 2). But in the Korean 'Koryo hand therapy' charts the eyes are placed on the tip of the middle finger (see chart 3). The fundamentals of hand reflexology are described & discussed inside the section hand reflexology.
NOTICE: likewise principles (+ disputes) are found for the feet in foot reflexology, and for the ears in ear reflexology!