The roots of foot reflexology trace back thousands of years to ancient China, with references appearing as early as the reign of Emperor Wendi and reaching a peak during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 A.D.). The practice later spread to Japan and other parts of Asia.

Although much of the traditional knowledge was passed down orally and some techniques were lost over time, reflexology was reintroduced to the West in the early 20th century. In 1913, American ear, nose, and throat specialist Dr. William Fitzgerald developed the concept of zone therapy, mapping ten longitudinal zones in the body that end in the fingers and toes. He found that applying pressure to one part of a zone could influence other areas within the same zone.

Later, physiotherapist Eunice Ingham expanded on this work by creating detailed foot reflex charts that are still widely used today. The term “reflexology” was coined by Russian physiologist V.M. Bechterev.