History shows us that tactile manipulation or touch has been used in one form or another as a way of healing in every part of the world, since long before the birth of modern medicine. The evidence can be found in numerous, early medical texts from all over the globe, As information is gathered it seems that variations of the modern practice of reflexology existed in all of the ancient healing cultures, but I have only listed the most commonly accepted.

The Far East Connection
The most common theory is that the earliest form of reflexology originates in China and goes back as far as 5000 years. Many health skills in China originate from the early Taoists. There are several classic Chinese medical texts originating from this time, which note the effects of pressure point techniques.
The theory is that the discovery of pressure points took place on the battlefield. Pressure points were being used for the healing arts but were also used as a part of self-defence. Various forms of martial arts are still using these pressure points to disarm or disable their opponent. In fact, it is thought that the individual pressure points were mapped out by inflicting small stab wounds on convicted prisoners in a combination of specific points, which normally should not have been fatal. Historically, many thousands of prisoners are known to have been killed, as part of these early medical experiments.
These were based on the observations of wounded soldiers, who baffled the ancient Chinese physicians by claiming that symptoms of disease suddenly vanished after being hit by arrows or stones.
The Chinese among other Asian peoples learned by trial and error that by applying pressure to certain points on the body, pain was alleviated and on other locations also influenced the function of certain organs.
The application of pressure has become the mother of many modern therapies. Pressure points are used in acupuncture, Shiatsu and play a major part in reflexology.

Egypt
Though the most concrete evidence of the practice of reflexology in ancient culture was the discovery of the wall painting depicting the practice of hand and foot reflexology in the tomb of Ankhmahor (highest official after the Pharaoh) at Saqqara, which is also known as the physicians tomb. This Egyptian wall painting is dated at the 6th dynasty, about 2330 B.C.

Native America
Native North American Indian medicine men are believed to manipulate and stimulate the feet as a part of their healing practice. The Cherokee tribes have been practising a form of reflexology that has been passed on from generation to generation and is still being practised today.

Zone Therapy and Reflexology
Zone therapy is based the theory that the body is divided into invisible energetic channels. By stimulating the flow of energy through these channels, organs and body parts connected to these zones can be effected.
Like pressure point techniques, 'Zone therapy', has been researched and practised in various countries.

Central Europe
The earliest known book about "Zone Therapy" was published in Europe in 1582 by two eminent physicians, Dr. Adamus and Dr.A'tatis. Another book on the subject by a Dr. Bell was published shortly after this in Leipzig.

Russia
The Russians have researched Zone Therapy from a psychological background since 1870. Various Russian psychologists have conducted researches, among them Ivan Pavlov and the founder of the Russian Brain Institute, Vladimir Bektev.

London
In London, around 1890, Sir Henry Head researched from a neurological perspective.
By applying pressure, certain areas of the skin became hypersensitive. He discovered that these areas were connected through nerves to a diseased organ.
He published in 1893 his discoveries about the correspondence between spinal segments, skin sensitivity and internal organs. "The bladder", he wrote, "can be exited into action by stimulating the soles of the feet".

Germany
A technique had been developed in the early 1900s called "reflex massage". Dr. Alfons Cornelius has developed this technique by trying to cure his own disease. He discovered that by applying more pressure on the sensitive areas of his body that his health improved and that existing pain became less and eventually disappeared.

America
Dr. Fitzgerald studied at the University of Vermont and graduated in 1895. For two and a half years he practised medicine in Boston City Hospital before transferring to the Central London Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, England. He also practised under the famous Professors Politzer and Chiari at an ear, nose and throat clinic in Vienna.
How Dr. Fitzgerald originated his research in this area remains a mystery. Conjecture has been made that he discovered his ideas in Europe and brought them to North America. It is thought that Dr. Fitzgerald was influenced by his trips abroad and by the Cherokee tribes of his native New England.
It is suggested that, in his desire to develop a method of anaesthesia and analgesia for minor surgery, he noted the instinctive tight gripping of a chair arm by patients in their response to pain, and began to explore that phenomenon. In 1913 he brought his initial findings to the attention of the medical profession while he was head of the Nose and Throat Department of St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut. He had discovered that pressure, when applied to certain points on the body could relieve pain and improve the functions of certain organs of the body. In his research Dr. Fitzgerald developed a new system of ten zones running from the top of the head to the tips of the toes and hands.
He discovered as early as 1917 that pressure on the hands and / or feet produced pain relief in distant parts of the body and the condition causing the pain was also relieved., if indeed any pain.
Dr. Fitzgerald went on to confirm that the parts of the body, which has such reflex relationships, lay within longitudinal zones or channels. He traced ten of these zone lines through the body starting from the fingers and toes.
Dr. Edwin Bowers, was a medical critic and writer, and he originally investigated Dr. Fitzgerald's claims. Dr. Bowers discovered, (and frequently demonstrated) how he could apply pressure to a point on the hand or foot to the area corresponding to the face and stick a pin in the face without causing intolerable pain. This appeased his scepticism, and Dr. Fitzgerald continued to develop this therapy with the aid of his Dr. Edwin Bowers. Together they published in 1917 the book "Zone Therapy", the name by which reflexology was known until the early 1960's as, in 1961 the profession of physiotherapists objected to the word "Therapy" in the name "Zone Therapy".
Hence, the name 'reflexology' was adopted. Other names adopted by other people for the practices of foot reflexology are:
Pressure Point Massage, Compression Massage, Pointed Pressure Massage and Vita-Flex.
In Europe and some other parts of the world the names Zone Therapy, Reflex Zone Therapy, Reflexotherapy and other variations of these are used. . How it all came together as modern reflexology
America is recognised as being the birth place of modern reflexology, which is a combination of pressure points traditionally used for healing by ancient medical practitioners from all over the globe, in combination with the 'Zone therapy' that was taken and developed into the practice we use today.
Various peoples began combining massage techniques, pressure points and the various forms of Zone Therapy. Some of them discovered that the feet were the most responsive to treatment and concentrated research in treating this part of the body only.
Dr. William H. Fitzgerald is credited with advancing and developing the initial popular practice of reflexology in our contemporary Western society.
It is known that Mrs Mildred Carter studied with Dr Fitzgerald and practised as a therapist since the 50s. Mrs Carter continued to develop her technique and exchanged information with Dr. Joseph Shelby Riley, who had also taken up Dr. Fitzgerald's technique for further research.
Mildred Carter travelled the world to lecture reflexology and published three books on the subject. Many of her books used quotes from the medical writer and critic Dr Bowers.
Dr J. Riley also taught the reflex technique to his wife Elizabeth and a young massage therapist Eunice Ingham.
Elizabeth Riley and Eunice Ingham both perfected Dr. Riley's technique to their own liking. Both women were still working on the ancient pressure points, just the method of deliverance of the treatment differed. Elizabeth Riley practised a slightly different routine. She added rotary pressure and twists to her routine.
Elizabeth Riley remained working in her husband's practise developing her form of treatment.
Eunice Ingham though, took her form of the therapy to the non-medical public across the length and breath of the USA. Eunice Ingham is generally recognised for her untiring devotion to and promotion of reflexology. She toured North American cities annually giving seminars, and often faced harassment from the medical profession
She published charts and her two books: "Stories The Feet Can Tell" (1938) and "Stories The Feet Have Told" (1951), and established the "National Institute of Reflexology".
Most authors of books and teachers of foot reflexology have acquired their basic knowledge directly or indirectly from Eunice Ingham's teaching.
Early in the 1960's, Ed Johnstone, Ena Campbell and Laura Kennedy (plus a few others) attended Eunice Ingham's seminar in Seattle, and took the practice of foot reflexology to Vancouver and British Columbia.
In 1968, at the age of 80 years, she was charged for practising medicine without a licence.
She faced a possible court case in New York. The charges against this frail elderly lady were dropped before final court action. It is generally believed that her advancing years had a bearing on the charges being dropped.
Eunice later retired completely from treating and teaching the public self help reflexology. She died in 1974.
Eunice Ingham's nephew, Dwight Byers and his family have continued where Eunice Ingham left off with her death in 1974. In 1976 Dwight Byers who inherited his Aunt Eunice Ingham's organisation established the International Institute of Reflexology with Head quarters in the USA.
Further he set up training centres all over Europe with similar standards as the Bayly school.

REFLEXOLOGY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
In 1966 / 1967 Doreen Bayly brought the Eunice Ingham Method to the UK.
Although Doreen Bayly exchanged information with Gladys Evans and Renée Tanner, she maintained the theory that heavy pressure would do more good believing in the age-old adage "No pain, No gain".
Doreen Bayly opened a school teaching the Eunice Ingham method.
The reflexology course was originally one weekend of practical training, and each participant was issued a certificate. This later progressed to two identical weekends of training. The idea was to allow the student time to practise between visits to the school. All students were given a certificate without an assessment or examination.
Doreen Bayly died in 1976.
The Bayly school was taken over by Nicola Hall who continued training the students along similar lines as Doreen Bayly.
In the UK retired Nurse Gladys Evans also worked on the feet with a combination of zone therapy and pressure points since the 1960s. Gladys Evans practised from her London home. Contradicting to the Eunice Ingham method, Gladys Evans was of the opinion that the pressure used for reflexology should be firm enough not to tickle the client but not too heavy as to cause pain or discomfort. Too much pressure will tense the muscles in the client's body, which impedes the free blood supply and leads to a build up of toxins. The infliction of pain would lead to further stress instead of the much-required relaxation that promotes healing.
Like Edith Holmes, Gladys Evans exchanged her knowledge with various interested clients, friends and other practitioners of various reflexology methods. Among these practitioners were a former student from Eunice Ingham - Doreen Bayly and Renée Tanner.
Today several versions of reflexology technique exist, including the original Ingham method, the Bayly method, and the Tanner method, as well as more modern versions such as Vertical reflex therapy.