Reflexology Traditions Compared

There isn't one reflexology map. There are several, developed in different countries over the last century. They mostly agree, but a chart is only “correct” relative to its tradition, and some organ reflexes sit in genuinely different places from one tradition to the next. Here's who made each map, where, and which tradition ours follow.

Which traditions ReflexologyZone follows

Foot & hand maps: the Ingham Method (Western reflexology, United States), the North American standard.
Ear map: Nogier auriculotherapy (France), WHO-standardized.
Face map: Dien Chan (Vietnam).

We label the tradition on every map so you always know which chart you're looking at.

The major reflexology traditions

Tradition	Origin	Founder	Era	Basis	Applies to
Zone Therapy	United States	Dr. William Fitzgerald	c. 1913	10 longitudinal zones running head-to-toe; pressure anywhere in a zone influences the whole zone.	The foundational theory beneath Western reflexology
Ingham Method (Western)Our map	United States	Eunice Ingham	1930s	Detailed foot & hand charts built on zone theory; gentle, relaxation-focused thumb-walking.	The dominant Western foot/hand chart (what our foot & hand maps follow)
Rwo Shur Method	Taiwan	Fr. Josef Eugster (Swiss priest)	1970s–80s	Firm, stimulating pressure with a knuckle or tool, more intense than the Ingham style.	Widely practiced across East & Southeast Asia
Chinese Reflexology	China	Traditional Chinese Medicine lineage	ancient roots; modern revival, 20th c.	Organized around meridians and energy (qi); vigorous pressure. Places several organ reflexes differently from the Western chart.	A distinct foot tradition; point locations differ from Ingham
Auriculotherapy (Nogier / WHO)Our map	France	Dr. Paul Nogier	1957 (WHO-standardized 1990)	An inverted-fetus map of the body on the ear; the most research-backed reflexology tradition.	What our ear map follows
Dien ChanOur map	Vietnam	Prof. Bùi Quôc Châu	1980	Maps the body onto the face using 257 fixed points across 20+ overlay diagrams.	What our face map follows

Why the same organ can sit in different spots

The clearest differences are between the Western (Ingham) foot chart and the Chinese foot chart. They agree on the broad layout (toes map to the head, the arch to the internal organs, the heel to the lower body), but a number of specific reflexes are located differently between the two traditions, including:

HeartThyroidSolar plexusStomachPancreasLiverAdrenal glandsSciatic nerve

This is why two reflexology charts can both be “right” and still disagree: they're faithfully representing different traditions. Our foot and hand maps follow the Ingham/Western placements; if you trained in a Chinese or Rwo Shur lineage, expect some points to sit elsewhere.

Explore the maps

Foot Hand Ear Face Zone Therapy All maps

Sources & further reading

Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a substitute for medical care. The traditional mappings described here reflect reflexology tradition and history, not a medical treatment plan. See our disclaimer.