Here's the description of an item that we have for sale.
Zone Therapy is another name for reflexology - and in this context it highlights the work of Dr. Edwin Bowers and Dr. William Fitzgerald who did their work in the earlier part of the 20th Century. Zone Therapy operates on the assumption that the feet are sensitive to manipulation and that they are divided into discrete areas. And that, as in accupuncture, pressure on one part of the body, in this case the foot, results in a corresponding effect on another part of the body, i.e. the liver or kidneys. In fact the authors make a reference to Chi energy, the ethereal current that flows through organisms as a kind of all pervading life-force. The authors refer to the then current notions of Soviet researchers who were involved with Kirilian photography using high-voltage discharges paired with high-frequency to prevent injury in different living systems and the organisms photographed as a kind of Russian parallel to the Chinese meridian points used to insert needles in accupuncture. The classic Kirilian photo was the "ghost" of a part of a leaf that had been cut off, but that still appeared intact in the specially made photos.
The idea being propagated here is that through manipulation of specific areas of the feet, called "zones", a remedial treatment of some discomfort, chronic condition, or other ailment could be accomplished. In examining some external sources, it appears that this approach is far from mainstream, and in fact, we have not heard the term in years, which is why we snapped it up for sale here. It is harmless enough as a recreation, if it is not seen as a replacement for medical treatment., and if you are someone who is preoccupied with the foot, it might provide an acceptable outlet for you. Penn and Teller gave it a less than stellar review of the practice of reflexology in their cable TV program which casts doubt on all things alternative, and undoubtedly heaped their own version of scorn and ridicule, though I cannot remember seeing that episode. A good foot massage is always welcome, and if it has extra benefits, who are we to complain?
Otherwise, treat it as another artifact from the 70's when China was still mysterious, the Soviet Union had its own brand of medicine, and Americans were fascinated by anything that smacked even slightly of the exotic, the unusual, or the newly coined word "alternative", which originally meant something about the music offered on FM radio as we remember.
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