Traditional hand and foot massage originated from diagnostics using the hand and foot in traditional Chinese medicine. In the early developmental stage of traditional Chinese medicine, it was already known that abnormal changes on the hand and foot might indicate pathological disturbance of the internal organs. As mentioned in The Yellow Emperor's Canon of Medicine, the earliest classical medical book, written by various authors between 475 BC to 221 BC: "A hot sensation in the palm indicates the presence of heat pathogens in the internal organs; A cold sensation in the palm indicates the presence of cold pathogens in the internal organs Patients with diseases of the small intestine due to attack of severe cold pathogens may have a hot sensation on the shoulder and between the little finger and index finger." So, as a part of traditional Chinese medicine, diagnosis using the hand and foot appeared as early as other components of ancient medicine.

After traditional Chinese medicine gradually developed into a complete medical system with its own theories, therapies, recipes and herbs, diagnosis by hand and foot was still very limited compared with the more advanced four diagnostic methods-observation, olfaction and auscultation, interrogation and palpation for general diagnosis. Because of neglect by classical medicine physicians with their traditional conservative attitude of superiority, diagnosis using the hand, foot and eye remained a minor branch of medicine and was not accepted and practiced by the majority of physicians and so failed to develop. According to fragmentary statements scattered in a few medical books, hand and foot diagnosis remained in its primitive stage until the Qing Dynasty.

Although diagnosis by hand and foot was overlooked in medicine, it found a place to be carried forward in traditional hand fortune-telling. As a matter of fact, the fortune-tellers made an important contribution to the development of diagnosis as well as hand and foot massage. In Ma Yi Shen Xiang (Linen Clothes Miraculous Fortune-telling), published in the period between AD 960 and AD 1127, the shape of the hand and foot, creases on the palmar and dorsal sides of the hand and their relationship to the maintenance of health by physical and breathing exercises were mentioned in detail, and the 72 types of palmar creases were summarized. This was the first book to accurately describe the shape and creases of the hand and foot in detail, al-though it also contained much superstitious material. However, its analysis of physical and mental health according to hand and foot variation is still informative and useful.

During the Song and Ming dynasties, the development of fortune-telling reached its zenith, and along with it diagnosis and treatment by hand and foot also matured. In ancient China it was believed that "fortune-tellers may be good physicians" because they had wide social contact and rich life experiences for studying the psychology of common people, and the chance to obtain knowledge of common diseases. Through their close contact with people, and analysis and explaination of their health and diseases, they earned the confidence of their clients. Their diagnostic techniques and hand and foot treatment increasingly improved and gained acceptance by their patients. This is how this methods were applied and spread among common people through the centuries.

In the Ming and Qing dynasties, traditional Chinese massage further developed and combined with the theory of meridians and acu-points. By application of traditional massage maneuvers, the five Shu (well, spring, stream, river and sea) acu-points on the hand, and on the foot below the elbow and knee joints, were frequently selected for massage in the treatment of diseases. After absorbing the experience of folk hand and foot massage, an independent medical branch--regular hand and foot massage--was established.

However, as with traditional massage itself, hand and foot massage was not widely accepted as an independent branch of medicine equal in importance to other branches. Only a few fragmentary statements in few books on pediatric Tuina (traditional massage) mentioned it. It was only applied and adopted by common people, instead of qualified physicians.

In the 1980s, following the renewed popularity of Qigong and the Yi Jing ( Book of Changes), traditional hand and foot massage was also back in vogue. Superstitious activities such as hand fortune-telling and the diagnosis of disease by palmar creases, and predicting the future by palmar creases also became more fashionable for a time.

Since the introduction of reflective sole therapy from Hong Kong and Taiwan into the mainland of China, traditional hand and foot massage has become more and more attractive for clinical application.

The investigation of unconventional therapies has become a trend in the development of contemporary medicine. Hand and foot massage is simple and easy to learn and practise, and effective in obtaining good therapeutic result. Therefore, as a treasure of traditional Chinese medicine, it will surely attract more attention around the world and again bring its benefits to man-kind.

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