NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICAN ANCIENT HISTORY

The Land of the Incas Cherokee Indians Franz Wagner

The Incas (1438 – 1533) and most American Indian tribes did not have a  method of writing. Knowledge passed from generation to generation by story telling. Consequently, there are no records to examine. It is known that medicine men were primarily spiritual leaders who also healed. The earth was highly revered and mans’ connection with the earth was primarily through their feet, so their feet were viewed as important in restoring their balance with nature – the health of their body.

Jenny Wallace, a full blooded Cherokee Indian from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, says that in the tribe of her father (Bear Clan) feet are important: “In my tribe, working with the feet is a very important healing art and is a part of sacred ceremony that you don’t have to be ill to take part in…… First, I will bathe the feet and then push any negative energy out of the body through the feet. Sometimes I work with the thumb bent and other times with it straight. In my culture, there is no set routine so I work according to the needs of the body I am working on.”

“Coon Dog” Henderson taught reflexology to his great grandson, Jim Rolls, a ninth generation Cherokee. “The practice of reflexology has been passed on through an apprenticeship in our family since the 1690’s.” says Jim. “My technique is different than what is generally taught because I apply firm straight strokes using the side of my thumb and oil, instead of the thumb walking technique employed by most reflexologists today.”

Franz Wagner writes in his book “Reflex Zone Massage.” that “The practice of massaging the reflex zones of the feet comes from ancient folk medicine. It is known to have been employed by Red Indian tribes and was probably passed down to us by the Incas, who greatly refined the old Indian techniques.” He does not cite any sources for his statement.

These statements from practitioners of Indian traditional healing methods support footwork as an archetypal form of therapy that has a strong tradition among American Indian tribes.