Muse: The magazine of science, culture, and smart laughs for kids and children

A Different Kind of Map

There’s nothing like a foot rub after a long day. The question is, can putting pressure on the toes and heels help other body parts—like your head, back, and stomach—feel better too? Fans of reflexology think so. This practice uses massage on specific reflex points to relieve tension and improve health. It dates back more than 4,500 years, but doctors and scientists do not fully agree that rubbing the feet can cure ailments throughout the body.

Ancient Practices

If ancient writings could be considered textbooks, would most likely be the first on medicine. Originally, scholars thought the book was written around 2600 BCE by the

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