Edwin Bowers
Edwin Bowers was an American medical critic and writer active in the early 20th century, recognized for his contributions to zone therapy, a precursor to reflexology. In collaboration with William H. Fitzgerald, Bowers co-authored the seminal book "Zone Therapy" in 1917, which presented strategies for alleviating various ailments through pressure application to specific body zones. Their work posited that the human body could be segmented into zones that correspond to different organs, a foundational concept for later developments in reflexology. Bowers initially expressed skepticism about Fitzgerald's claims but eventually supported the therapy after his own research. He first introduced zone therapy to a broader audience through a 1915 article titled "To Stop That Toothache, Squeeze Your Toe," published in Everybody's Magazine. Though reflexology has faced criticism from conventional medical professionals, Bowers' early methods have influenced various alternative therapies, contributing to the evolving practices within chiropractic care and massage. The legacy of Bowers and Fitzgerald remains significant in the field of complementary medicine, despite ongoing debate regarding the efficacy of their approaches.
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Edwin Bowers
American medical critic and writer who was an early contributor to zone therapy, a precursor to the practice of reflexology
Flourished: Early twentieth century
Overview
American medical critic and writer who was an early contributor to zone therapy, a precursor to the practice of reflexology. Edwin Bowers, born in the 1870s, was an American medical critic and writer who, with William H. Fitzgerald in 1913, introduced zone therapy, an early form of the modern field of reflexology. Their book, Zone Therapy (1917), outlined treatments for a number of existing ailments and examines other clinical issues, including relieving pain by applying various forms of pressure to overcome hay fever, asthma, upset stomach, and pain associated with childbirth.
Reflexology was called zone therapy until the early 1960s. Modern-day reflexology is a complementary, alternative healing practice that involves the physical act of applying pressure to the feet and hands, often with the use of lotion or oil, to treat persons with various ailments.
Zone therapy in its infancy was somewhat less developed in its approach, and it was rooted in the idea that the body could be divided into zones that ran from the feet to the head. Bowers and Fitzgerald reportedly discovered that when a disturbance or ailment affected a particular “zone” of the body, the organs and other anatomy in the same zone were also affected. Using this logic, they employed pegs and other devices to apply pressure to the affected zone in the hands or feet (or both) to attempt to remedy various health issues.
Bowers first presented on the subject of zone therapy in an article, “To Stop That Toothache, Squeeze Your Toe” (1915), which was published in Everybody’s Magazine. The publication of this article likely marked the first time zone therapy was introduced to general readers. Bowers cited Fitzgerald as a source of inspiration for the article. It is thought that Bowers was initially skeptical of Fitzgerald’s claims about the therapy, but Bowers would later reveal findings that led him to accept the validity of the practice.
The methods of Bowers and Fitzgerald were advocated by a number of esteemed colleagues during their lifetime, including Benedict Lust (the founder of naturopathy in the United States), and were further developed by other influential reflexologists, such as Eunice D. Ingham, who brought the field closer to its current state. The practice of reflexology has been criticized by other clinicians, especially those rooted in traditional, modern medicine. Regardless, the ideas and practices that originated with Bowers and Fitzgerald continue to be used and expanded upon. In the twenty-first century, the root of Bowers and Fitzgerald’s work can be found in the chiropractic field and massage, though they are rejected by traditional medical organizations, such as the American Medical Association.
Bibliography
Bowers, Edwin Frederick. Side-Stepping Ill Health. Reprint. Charleston, S.C.: Nabu Press, 2010.
Fitzgerald, William H., and Edwin Frederick Bowers. Zone Therapy: Or, Relieving Pain at Home. Reprint. Whitefish, Mont.: Kessinger, 2007.
Marquardt, Hanne. Reflex Zone Therapy of the Feet: A Textbook for Therapists. Rochester, Vt.: Healing Arts Press, 1988.
Shirley, Christopher. “How Does Reflexology Work?” Massage Magazine, 20 Mar. 2023, www.massagemag.com/how-does-reflexology-work-141938. Accessed 15 Aug. 2023.