Chinese reflexology
Chinese charts map the ear crosswise: the base of the fourth and fifth toes of the LEFT foot is worked for the RIGHT ear and vice versa.
Same crossover reasoning as for the eye area.
Foot reflexology · zone 4, 5
Ear reflex area — Left foot
Placement
Location: At the base of the fourth and fifth toes of the left foot, on the plantar surface just below the toe ridge; the same same-side / opposite-side disagreement applies as for the eye.
Longitudinal zone(s): 4, 5 of 5
Side: left foot
Tradition: Shared across schools
How other schools place it
Ingham (Western)
Ingham-lineage charts keep the ear reflex on the same side as the ear, at the base of the fourth and fifth toes of that foot.
Charts also disagree on where the eustachian-tube area sits between the eye and ear areas.
Traditional use
Traditionally included in head-and-neck sequences, often together with a rotation of the small toes.
Reflexology is a traditional practice, not an evidence-based medical treatment. Systematic reviews have not shown it to be effective for any medical condition. These maps document what practitioners traditionally use — they are not claims about how the body works.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the ear reflex area on the foot?
At the base of the fourth and fifth toes of the left foot, on the plantar surface just below the toe ridge; the same same-side / opposite-side disagreement applies as for the eye.
Which tradition does this placement come from?
Shared across schools. Other schools place this area differently; the variants are documented on this page.
Does pressing this area treat the organ it is named after?
No. Reflexology maps are traditional diagrams, not descriptions of anatomy or physiology. Systematic reviews have not found reflexology to be an effective treatment for any medical condition.
Sources
References displayed on this page were recorded with the point dataset.
- Eunice D. Ingham, "Stories the Feet Can Tell Thru Reflexology" (1938) and "Stories the Feet Have Told Thru Reflexology" (1951) Ingham original foot charts, plantar view
- Chinese foot reflex-zone charts (足部反射区) as taught in the Chinese foot-massage tradition Standard Chinese plantar and dorsal reflex-zone chart
- Wikipedia, "Reflexology" Zone-therapy framework; documents that published reflexology maps are not consistent with one another