Zone Therapy
The theoretical foundation of modern reflexology, first described by Dr. William H. Fitzgerald in 1913 and refined by Eunice Ingham in the 1930s.
The 10 Longitudinal Zones
Dr. William Fitzgerald, an American ear, nose, and throat specialist, proposed in 1913 that the body can be divided into 10 vertical zones: five on each side of the body, numbered from the midline outward.
Each zone runs from the top of the head down through the torso and into the corresponding toe and finger. Zone 1 runs through the thumb and big toe (midline); Zone 5 runs through the little finger and little toe (lateral edge).
Fitzgerald's key insight was that pressure applied anywhere within a zone can influence the entire zone. This explains the core reflexology principle: pressing a point on the foot can affect an organ in the same longitudinal zone, even though they are anatomically distant.
His colleague Dr. Edwin Bowers helped publish these ideas in the 1917 book Zone Therapy, which became the founding text of the field.
The 10 longitudinal zones, numbered from midline (1) to lateral edge (5)
Ingham's Transverse Lines
In the 1930s, physiotherapist Eunice Ingham mapped Fitzgerald's zones specifically onto the feet, creating the first detailed foot reflexology charts. Her book Stories The Feet Can Tell (1938) established foot reflexology as a distinct practice.
Ingham added three horizontal “transverse” lines that divide the foot into four regions, each corresponding to a band of the body:
- Shoulder line: at the base of the toes (metatarsal heads). Above this: head and neck reflexes.
- Diaphragm line: where the ball of the foot meets the arch. Between shoulder and diaphragm: chest, lungs, shoulders, upper back.
- Pelvic line: where the arch meets the heel. Between diaphragm and pelvic: abdominal organs (stomach, liver, kidneys, intestines). Below: pelvis, lower back, reproductive organs.
Together, the 10 longitudinal zones and 3 transverse lines create a coordinate grid on the foot, allowing practitioners to precisely locate any reflex point by its zone number and transverse region.
Plantar (sole) view showing Ingham's 3 transverse lines
How Zone Theory Connects to Reflexology Practice
Modern reflexology uses the zone-and-line grid as a locating system. When a reflexologist wants to work the liver reflex, they know the liver sits in zones 1–3 on the right side of the body, between the diaphragm and pelvic transverse lines, so the liver reflex point falls on the right foot's arch, medial to lateral, in that vertical band.
This same logic extends to the hands (zones run through the fingers, transverse lines map similarly) and the ears (Paul Nogier's auriculotherapy model uses the inverted-fetus metaphor, but the zone concept carries through). The maps differ in scale and detail, but the anatomical mapping principle is consistent.
Explore the interactive maps to see zone theory in action:
Sources & Further Reading
- Fitzgerald, W. H. & Bowers, E. F. (1917). Zone Therapy; or, Relieving Pain at Home. Columbus Press.
- Ingham, E. D. (1938). Stories The Feet Can Tell Thru Reflexology. Ingham Publishing.
- Byers, D. C. (2001). Better Health with Foot Reflexology. Ingham Publishing. (Dwight Byers was Ingham's nephew and continued her work.)
- Norman, L. & Cowan, T. (1988). Feet First: A Guide to Foot Reflexology. Simon & Schuster.
Zone therapy is a traditional framework, not a validated medical model. Reflexology is a complementary therapy. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical concerns.