Eunice Ingham

The “Grandmother” of Reflexology

By Amy Kreydin, ARCB Certified Reflexologist, DONA trained Birth Doula

 “Well-behaved women rarely make history” – Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

Born in 1889, Eunice Ingham was a physical therapist by profession. She grew very interested in the work that her colleague Dr. Riley and another doctor, Dr. W.M. Fitzgerald, were working on: Zone Therapy. The doctors had discovered the correlation between stimulating distant parts of the body and seeing a response in another part of the body within the same zone. This theory was developed and the body was divided into 10 zones running from the head to the toes.

Ms. Ingham had her own theory to add to this discovery: the feet contained an exact mirror image of the body and the organs, glands and body parts responded when the corresponding area of the foot was stimulated with pressure. She applied her theory to hundreds of people and developed a manual therapy: Reflexology. 

In 1938 Eunice Ingham published her theory and work in a book titled “Stories the Feet Can Tell.” Her book contained multiple case studies and examples of the practical application of pressure to these reflex points found in the feet. After publication Eunice traveled around the United States offering this therapy at workshops and to groups. This started a grassroots following that has grown and spread throughout the world.

Ms. Ingham continued her work well into the late 60’s before “retiring” at the age of 80. Her pioneering work in Reflexology has earned her the affectionate term of “grandmother” in the field. Eunice died in 1974 at the age of 85.

It is for her lifelong contribution to the field of Reflexology that earns Eunice Ingham a place in Women’s History in my mind.