Throughout my life I suffered from gastrointestinal problems. I could
not live without my milk of magnesia. One day I was competing for a
badminton championship title. The competition was very close and this
put tremendous pressure on me. For the competition I wore a new pair
of sneakers that gave me a lot of pain in the arches of my feet,
causing them to swell. My feet hurt whenever they touched the ground.
I had studied acupuncture and knew there are not many acupressure
points in the soles, so I could not understand why my feet hurt so
much. At my wit's end, I tried massaging those painful points with an
over-the-counter ointment. Gradually the pain subsided. Days went by
the hard and painful lumps disappeared and I felt much better.
Then one day it occurred to me I had not had to take my daily dose of
milk of magnesia. I came to realize the foot treatment I applied to
myself had relieved me of my gastric distress. After that I began
regularly reflexing my feet, working out the lumps and sore areas. My
brother teased me,"you should have more sense."However, from personal
experience I knew of the relaxing feeling working on the feet
produced, so I dismissed his comments.
Shortly after this, a friend of mine, who lived in Taidong, told me
that a Swiss catholic priest was doing the exact same thing, treating
patients by working on their feet. Thrilled, I traveled to Taidong and
went to see Father Josef. Thus began what has become a twenty-five
years friendship with him. As we engaged in frequent exchanges of
ideas and opinions we soon became close research partners. When we
found new inspirations and discoveries on medical theories and
treatments we would exchange views in long discussions. We shared our
thoughts on Chinese and foreign medical documents and clinical
experiences. But when answering to my repeated questions he would say,
"I have no idea how it works. It is a form of Chinese medical study,
and I'm just re-introducing it back to you. It is your job to do the
research and find explanations." These words encouraged me to embark
on a research project incorporating Chinese medical theories with
reflexology, combining them with the neurology and physiology of
western medicine.
For more than twenty years, both Father Josef and I traveled often
between Taipei and Taidong. We tried our best in our research,
consulting studies and opinions by professionals in Taiwan and
overseas, amassing many clinical experiences. We also attended, and
often lectured as a team, at domestic and international seminars on
reflexology. We took it upon ourselves to promote this revolutionary
therapy.
Despite the efforts and promotion by a great number of professional
practitioners, the public remains skeptical about the many advantages
of Father Josef's New Foot Reflexology. I believe their skepticism is
due to the lack of clear, precise, and logical explanations about
reflexology. This is what primarily motivated us to write this book.
I have nothing but high regard for Father Josef, a dedicated priest
devoted to his faith, an honest and kind person, is conscientious and
meticulous in his studies. His compassion and exemplary moral
integrity are truly admirable. I am forever grateful for the
contributions he has made to the people of Taiwan. I contribute the
current popularity of foot reflexology and its prominence in both
Taiwan and the international Chinese community to Father Josef's
selflessness and compassion. Since 1980 he has been applying this
amazingly effective treatment to thousands of people tormented by pain
and ailments. His acts of kindness have drawn widespread media
coverage and have been followed by the publishing of books on foot
massage in order to expound his specific healing method with the feet.
His work has grown to incorporate traditional Chinese medicine and
western physical rehabilitation programs to bring about new medical
thinking. It is fair to say that without Father Josef, there would be
no reflexology in Taiwan or Asia, let alone this new, well-developed
and improved foot reflexology.
The publishing of this book is the culmination of our lifetime
collaboration. Whether your concern is reflexology theories,
techniques, or the application of the reflex stick, we hope to provide
you with a clear and definitive account of what reflexology is and how
to apply it for best results. Father Josef's New Foot Reflexology is a
deep well of medical information, and yet there remains much to learn.
We invite every one of you to work with us in the 21st century to
revive your physical health by using this all-natural therapy that has
no side-effects!
Dr. Eugene Ying-Chi Cheng, Ph.D.
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