The origins of massage therapy are unknown, but it has been around a very long time and is most likely the oldest therapy known to man. Many ancient civilizations used massage as part of their health procedures, and in the Middle and Far East massage therapy has been in use since 3000BC, and possibly even longer.
Hippocrates, who is known as the Father of Medicine wrote that the way to good health was to have an oiled massage each day.
Masseurs still use oils no matter which form of massage they use, this allows the hands to move over the body with ease. Often essential oils are used either for their health or relaxation benefits.
These oils when massaged into the skin are absorbed into the body’s bloodstream and other fluids to work internally. This has been shown by scientists, whose research shows that the oils can penetrate the skin, maybe through the sweat pores or the hair follicles.
Although used for centuries in the Middle and Far East, massage therapy did not reach the West for thousands of years. In the 19th century it became increasingly popular especially in Europe, but was limited to the health spas that were patronised only by wealthy people.
Massage became so popular that Western forms of massage were developed. The Swedish gymnast Per Henrik Ling developed what we now know as Swedish massage, although it is still based on ancient massage principles. Swedish massage involves the use of exercise as well as massage, and is mainly used for the benefit of joints and muscles.
It was not until well into the 20th century that massage became really popular with the ordinary people of the Western world. An American called George Downing published a book in the early 1970s simply called The Massage Book. This wasn’t just a book on massage, but a book that showed massage therapy in a way that took into account a persons whole body.
Hippocrates 460-400BC always looked at the body holistically, that is he always took into account the mind,body and spirit when treating someone.
The massage process relaxes the body, mind and spirit. On the physical level, massage increases the circulation of blood around the body, which in turn help get rid of accumulated waste, so releasing harmful toxins from the body.
As massage relaxes the muscles and releases tension from the body, the person is able to relax and let go of all the stresses of everyday life. This in its self is a hugh benefit to the body, as endorphins are released creating the feel good factor, the persons spirit is lifted and they feel wonderful.
In traditional Chinese and Indian medicine it is believed that energy flows through the body along meridian lines. It is also thought that certain factors can block these meridian pathways and in the process cause illness. The restriction of energy by stress can be resolved by having a massage.
Although massage was on the edge of conventional medicine for a long time it has now been accepted by the majority of practitioners of conventional medicine. Massage therapy is also often offered as part of a patients treatment in American hospitals.
Why do hospitals use massage therapy? Massage is often used in the treatment of chronic pain, pregnancy, infant care, joint and muscle mobility, stress management and to help many other symptoms and disorders.
According to some research massage therapy used on a regular basis can help to boost the immune system, help to lower high blood pressure and give relief in the management of pain.
This very versatile form of treatment is now available to far more of the general public. By incorporating massage into main stream medicine Dr’s in hospitals are now able to treat high blood pressure, joint and muscle problems and stress with massage as part of the treatment programme. As time goes by more and more people with a variety of different conditions are found to benefit from massage.
