Cranio Sacral Reflexology is Born: A Biography of

Dr. Martine Faure Alderson

Author: Catherine Smith is a qualified

Reflexologist since 2002. She trained in
Cranio-Sacral Reflexology and later as a Cranio
Sacral Reflexology teacher with Martine FaureAlderson.

Early Life
Martine Faure Alderson was born in Lyon,
France on the first of November 1934 with
a congenital hip dislocation that eventually
resulted in arthritis. She tragically lost her
parents when she was 10 years old and
from that time lived between France and
London, where she lived with her aunt. She
eventually settled in London when she was
23.
Her enthusiasm for natural therapies first
developed when she was twenty. She
spent a year in hospital in France following
hip replacement surgery. She discovered
that maintaining a healthy diet had more
beneficial outcomes as opposed to taking
conventional medicines, especially with
regard to the pain of her arthritis, freedom
of movement and clarity of mind. Martine
made it her lifes quest to understand pain
and suffering and to work with and
develop natural therapies.

Cranio Sacral Therapy by Dr. John

Upledger. This was the first time he taught
in the UK.
In the following 10 years, her search for a
deeper understanding of natural therapies
led her to achieve diplomas in
naturopathy, herbalism homeopathy,
acupuncture, Osteopathy and Cranio
Sacral Therapy. Martine graduated from
the College of Naturopathic Medicine
London and the London College of
Traditional Acupuncture.
In 1990 Martine graduated in Homeopathy
and is a member of the Society of
Homeopaths. She continued her studies in
Homeopathy
in
the
prestigious
Homeopathic Medical Association in
Argentina. The college insisted that she sit
her exams in Spanish. So while studying for
her exams, Martine simultaneously
learned to speak Spanish and, in foreign
tongue, she achieved second place in her
class.

Knowledge and Learning

Martines life is defined by her passion for
knowledge and learning. In 1964 she
studied at the London College of
Osteopathic
medicine
while
simultaneously taking external classes at
medical college. She was amongst a small
group of students at the London College of
Osteopathic medicine who were trained in

1968 Dr Faure Aldersons Graduation from the London

College of Osteopathic Medicine and the College of
Naturopathic Medicine

Doreen Bayly
In 1967 Martine attended a lecture by
Doreen Bayly who studied Reflexology
under Eunice Ingham. Doreen Bayly
pioneered Reflexology in the UK. She
invited Martine to study privately with her
and in return Martine acted as her
translator. She gave seminars throughout
Europe with Doreen. Martine opened her
own reflexology institute in Paris, Reflex
Total Faure Alderson (RTTFA), in 1974.

The reflex was painful and congested. She

palpated the big toes discovering the
location of maxillary reflex. She also
worked all of the toes, the reflexes for the
jaw, the coccyx and sacral reflexes.
This approach was entirely experimental
and the method evolved and developed as
the work progressed. Over three days
Martine worked and successfully relieved
the childs condition.
This experience prompted Martine to
develop a new approach to Reflexology.
Designing this unique treatment took 10
years and subsequent years of research to
develop the teaching programme of Cranio
Sacral Reflexology (CSR) as we understand
it today.
Cancer Research

Cranio Sacral Reflexology

The inception of Cranio Sacral Reflexology
was inspired through an experience with a
young client. A mother arrived with her
five year old daughter who had fallen and
seriously injured her chin. The fall
compressed the sphenobasilar symphysis
(SBS), the jaw, teeth and the upper part of
the nasal bone. The child was in extreme
pain, clinging to her mother. Consequently
Martine was unable to give her Cranio
Sacral Therapy. As the little girl clung to her
mother Martine worked on her feet.
Combining her knowledge of anatomy and
physiology with her expertise in
Reflexology, Martine worked the area
where she believed the SBS to be located.

November 2015

From 2000 to 2006 Martine and a group of

her students undertook research in the
Marie Curie Institute in Paris. The research
examined the effects of Cranio Sacral
Reflexology on the wellbeing of individuals
with Cancer. As it developed the scope of
the research expanded to include four
additional hospitals Worldwide: the
National University Hospital of Iceland,
Reykjavik; the Adventist Hospital, Sydney;
the Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth; and
Michigan State University Hospital in the
USA.
The research established that Cranio Sacral
Reflexology contributed to better mental
and physical wellness and lessened pain. It
had a particular impact on psychological
factors such as depression and anxiety.
Through her research Martine developed
her Cranio Sacral Reflexology Lymphatic
protocol. Findings in the Marie-Curie
Institute found that 70% of patients
presenting with Lymphedema in the
abdomen or legs experienced a reduction

of swelling and greater comfort and relief

with this treatment.

The Life and Work of

Dr Martine Faure Alderson

Romanian Charity Work

Following the fall of Ceausescu in 1990 the
despair and anguish of children in
Romanias squalid orphanages had a great
impact on Martine. She travelled to
Romania and was deeply disturbed by the
appalling conditions children were living
under in state run orphanages. In response
the Faure Alderson Romanian Appeal
(FARA) a Non-Government Organization
(NGO) was founded. In 1999 and 2000 she
was nominated for European Women of
the year for her work with the children of
Romania.
Honorary Lifetime Membership
Now 81, she continues to practice, teach
and present workshops internationally.
She is the author of Total Reflexology, the
Reflex Points for Physical, Emotional and
Psychological
Healing
and
Total
Reflexology of the Hands. Throughout her
career Martine has been recognised as an
innovator and her development of Cranio
Sacral Reflexology in particular has earned
her international acclaim. In 2014 Dr
Martine Faure Alderson was awarded
Honorary Lifetime Membership of the
Association of Reflexologists for her
significant contribution to the field of
Reflexology. The passion for knowledge
and learning which drove her early career
continues to inspire Reflexologists and
therapists worldwide.
Dr. Faure Alderson will teaching her ground
breaking The Brain in Cranio Sacral
Reflexology in the Marino Institute of
Education Dublin, Ireland in August 2016. Part
1 24th and 25th August & Part 2 27th and 28th
August. For information on CSR courses
contact prana.reflexology@gmail.com

November 2015

1934

1944

1964

Born in Lyon

Tragically lost Parents

Studied Medicine and Osteopathy

1967

Introduced to Reflexology by Doreen

Bayly

1968

Graduated from College of Osteopathic

Medicine

1974

Set up RTTFA School of Reflexology in

Paris

1990

Graduated as a Homeopath

1999

Nominated for Woman of the Year for

Work with Children in Romania

2000

Undertook Cancer research at Marie

Curie hospital (6yrs)

2006

2010

2014

2015

Published Total Reflexology

Founded CSRI Academy of Excellence

Awarded Honorary Lifetime
Membership of the Association of
Reflexologists.
Published Total Reflexology (Hand)