Dr. William Fitzgerald
Dr. William Fitzgerald graduated in 1895 from the University of Vermont. He went on to successfully work in an ear, nose, and throat hospital in England. Here he researched and developed as a professional becoming the head of the nose and throat department at St. Francis in Hartford, Connecticut.
The stepping stones on the path to holding the title of "father of reflexology" only came about in 1913. It was then he first brought his initial findings to the attention of other professionals in his field.
He promulgated the "Zone Theory". He discovered that pressure, when applied to certain points on the body could provide numbness and relieve pain and improve the functions of certain organs of the body.
It was his continued research which led him to formulate the division of the body into 10 equal longitudinal energy zones: five relating to the right half of the body and the five to the left half. These ten energy zones terminate on the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands. He along with Dr. Edwin Bowers authored the book, 'Zone Therapy'. Hence, until the early 1960's reflexology was known by the name "Zone Therapy".
