A History Of Massage Therapy

By Jessica Hernandez, BA, CMT

Massage therapy has been around for many centuries. Today it is known mostly for types of relaxation and comfort. Many years ago it was used as a cure for many ailments. Most people looked to massage for comfort rather than medicine alone. Doctors incorporated many forms of manipulation of the body to help comfort the body through disease and pain. Often when people think of massage and which body system it affects they think muscles; Sore, aching, tight muscles. It does relieve muscle tension but how it does this is brought about by the stimulation of nearly all the body systems either directly or indirectly.

Massage has been one of the earliest manipulative practices around. Is has been used to relieve pain and discomfort naturally and instinctively. Actual documentation of massage as a healing method was found to be used on Huang Ti, The Yellow Emperor who died in 2598BC. Several documents dating back to 800A.D. also mention the use of bodywork on muscles. Herbs oils, and other substances rubbed on bodies were also mentioned to protect and heal.

Proof of massage in Europe dates back to Hippocrates of Asclepides, where two Greek physicians who were commonly associated with physical medicine used techniques of massage as their principle therapeutic modality. Both physicians wrote many books about the use of bodywork and its benefits. They became very influential during the middle Ages, which promoted the use of bodywork. In 1363 Guy de Chaulic published a book about surgery, where he described different methods of bodywork in conjunction with surgery. Paracelsus found that bodywork was not only an important therapy but that it was necessary.

Per Henrick Ling founded Swedish massage in the nineteenth century by curing himself of his rheumatism through massage. He began as a gymnastic coach who helped his athletes with their injuries. He later formed the Royal Gymnastic Central Institute in Stokholm, Sweden where his students carried out his work. They proved that injuries could be cured through various types of massage, Swedish being the most practiced.

Today massage is used on athletes for their injuries and on everyday regular people to relieve stress. It helps release toxins in the body to help the flow and movement of bodily fluids. Massage has been used therapeutically as well as recreationally. Massage has evolved over time to help people with pain and discomfort. Massage can be of great support to those in the terminal stages of illness often alleviating some pain and giving a feeling of connectedness between patient and care giver. It also allows pain relief and relaxation are what most people seek when they book a massage. However clients often speak of a feeling of lightness, being balanced and even tempered after the massage and those these feelings last for a good 48 hours. These are symptoms of a calm and composed state of mind and a relaxed body. Some chemicals thought to be influenced by massage, which are produced by the nervous and endocrine systems.

So give it a try you might be surprised how you feel. Remember; always drink a large glass of water within a ½ hour of your massage.