吳若石神父創建足部反射健康法,台灣腳底按摩屬於民俗療法,目前吳神父在台東長濱的教會傳教
吳若石（德語：Josef Eugster Johann，1940年—），生於瑞士，天主教神父，現為白冷外方傳教會台灣區會會長以及臺東縣長濱堂區主任司鐸。是FJM 吳若石神父足部反射健康法(Fr. Josef’s Method of Reflexology)的創始者，也是台灣腳底按摩的創始者。1970年8月24日吳若石神父奉修會派遣來到台灣台東服務，1989年奉派至天主教會花蓮教區長濱堂區服務迄今。吳若石神父的足跡踏遍五大洲數十個國家和地區（澳大利亞、美國、加拿大、玻利維亞、辛巴威、坦尚尼亞、中國大陸等地）。
Fr. Josef Eugster Wu (German: Josef Eugster Johann, 1940– ) was born in Switzerland and is a Roman Catholic priest. He currently serves as the Superior of the Taiwan Region of the Bethlehem Foreign Mission Society and as the parish priest of Changbin Parish in Taitung County, Taiwan. He is the founder of the FJM Fr. Josef’s Method of Reflexology and is also recognized as the pioneer of foot reflexology (commonly known as foot massage) in Taiwan.
On August 24, 1970, Fr. Wu was sent by his religious order to Taiwan to serve in Taitung. In 1989, he was assigned to serve in Changbin Parish of the Catholic Diocese of Hualien, where he continues his ministry to this day. Fr. Wu’s footsteps have reached dozens of countries and regions across five continents, including Australia, the United States, Canada, Bolivia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and mainland China.
生平
在1968年在瑞士家鄉Berneck晉鐸為天主教神父，兩年後派赴台灣傳教，初時在台東縣池上鄉擔任教牧工作，後來被修會派遣至台東縣長濱鄉服務。 吳若石神父奉派來台灣後因水土不服罹患嚴重關節炎，當時與他同修會的會士介紹下認識了反射療法理論並嘗試使用這個理論改善自己的關節炎。吳若石神父便開始對這反射療法產生興趣，並開始研究腳底反射療法理論並在不斷持續的研究與驗證中逐漸發展出成熟的足部反射健康法。
因當時台灣民間普遍貧窮，無力就醫者甚多，吳若石神父在台東原住民部落，教授當時稱為腳底按摩的技術，希望能改善他們的健康，也希望當地人在學到這個技術後，能用來謀生，改善生計。後來吳若石的腳底按摩療法在台灣受到注意，不少傳媒都紛紛採訪吳神父。吳神父更推出多本專講腳底按摩的書籍。在臺灣各地，到處都可見掛有「吳神父腳底按摩」的商店。這些書籍，隨著來往香港及臺灣的人員流動而傳到香港。之後，在1980年代後期，由於著名港星周潤發公開為一位影迷進行按摩治療，使吳若石及他所推廣的腳底按摩療法在香港大受追捧，並流傳至中國大陸。中華人民共和國政府曾頒發十大外國人對華人傑出貢獻獎給他，表彰他的貢獻。
Biography
In 1968, Fr. Wu was ordained as a Catholic priest in his hometown of Berneck, Switzerland. Two years later, he was sent to Taiwan as a missionary. He initially carried out pastoral work in Chishang Township, Taitung County, and was later assigned by his order to serve in Changbin Township, Taitung County.
After arriving in Taiwan, Fr. Wu suffered from severe arthritis due to difficulties adjusting to the local climate and environment. Through the introduction of fellow members of his religious order, he came into contact with reflexology theory and began to apply it in an attempt to alleviate his arthritis. This experience sparked his interest in reflexology, leading him to study foot reflexology in depth. Through continuous research and practical verification, he gradually developed a systematic and mature Foot Reflex Health Method.
At the time, poverty was widespread among the general population in Taiwan, and many people could not afford medical treatment. Fr. Wu taught what was then known as foot massage to Indigenous communities in Taitung, hoping to improve their health and enable them to earn a livelihood through this skill. Over time, his foot massage therapy attracted widespread attention in Taiwan, and many media outlets interviewed him. He also published numerous books dedicated to foot reflexology.
Across Taiwan, shops bearing the name “Fr. Wu’s Foot Massage” became a common sight. These publications were later introduced to Hong Kong through frequent exchanges between Hong Kong and Taiwan. In the late 1980s, when renowned Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-fat publicly performed foot massage therapy for a fan, Fr. Wu and the foot reflexology method he promoted gained immense popularity in Hong Kong and subsequently spread to mainland China. In recognition of his contributions, the government of the People’s Republic of China awarded him one of the “Top Ten Outstanding Foreigners Who Have Made Significant Contributions to China.”
因腳底按摩法曾受之爭議
早年由於在當時腳底按摩療效被過度渲染並任意使用完全脫出吳若石神父初期用意，許多人誤以為腳底按摩具有醫療效果，使得臺灣衛生署一度禁止腳底按摩療法，吳神父也成為爭議性的人物，當時其所屬的白冷外方傳教會也表示此舉超過傳教工作的範圍。後來衛生署在1993年公告腳底按摩屬於民俗療法，而不予列管，腳底按摩從此以民俗療法保健的名義，繼續得以在民間流傳。
Controversies Surrounding Foot Massage
In the early years, the therapeutic effects of foot massage were often exaggerated and misused, straying far from Fr. Wu’s original intentions. As a result, many people mistakenly believed that foot massage had direct medical efficacy. This led Taiwan’s Department of Health to temporarily ban foot massage practices. Fr. Wu consequently became a controversial figure, and the Bethlehem Foreign Mission Society, to which he belonged, stated that such activities went beyond the scope of missionary work.
In 1993, however, the Department of Health officially announced that foot massage should be classified as a form of folk therapy and would not be subject to regulatory control. From that point onward, foot massage continued to be practiced among the public under the designation of folk health care.
為教宗聖若望保祿二世 施作足部反射健康法
吳若石神父一直沒有得到教會的支持。直到2003年底，吳若石神父受時任駐教廷大使戴瑞明推薦，為當時不良於行、聲帶受損、頸椎也有問題的教宗若望保祿二世進行足部反射健康法。當時教廷也謹慎的派出三位主教進行評估。吳若石神父解說了足部反射健康法的背景後，再分別為三位主教施作足部反射健康法，並且準確說出三位主教的身體問題；最後獲得正式的允許親自為教宗若望保祿二世進行足部反射健康法。
據吳若石神父說，他並不了解他離開後是否有人繼續為教宗服務；但是，原本因聲帶問題無法講話的教宗在一個月後得以講話，並發表聖誕文告。自此，來自教會的反對聲浪逐漸減少，並獲得教會的肯定[1]
Administering the Foot Reflex Health Method to Pope John Paul II
For many years, Fr. Wu did not receive official support from the Church. This changed in late 2003, when he was recommended by the then Ambassador to the Holy See, Raymond Tai, to administer the Foot Reflex Health Method to Pope John Paul II, who at the time had difficulty walking, vocal cord damage, and cervical spine issues.
The Vatican cautiously appointed three bishops to conduct an evaluation. After Fr. Wu explained the background and principles of the Foot Reflex Health Method, he administered the treatment separately to each of the three bishops and accurately identified their respective physical conditions. As a result, he was formally granted permission to personally administer the Foot Reflex Health Method to Pope John Paul II.
According to Fr. Wu, he was not aware whether anyone continued the treatment after he left. However, the Pope—who had been unable to speak due to vocal cord problems—was able to speak again one month later and deliver his Christmas message. From that time onward, opposition within the Church gradually diminished, and his work gained recognition and affirmation from the Church.
參考資料
- 吳神父施摩力 教宗滿足. [2018-03-18]. （原始內容存檔於2018-03-18）.
- 外連接
- YouTube上的足部按摩創始人：吳神父的自癒經驗.（繁體中文）
- 林進登、林大豐（2004）。吳若石神父腳底按摩在台灣發展之研究。台東大學體育學報，2：209-224。
吳若石神父生 日慶生
