The History of Massage -
Massage history from around the world. Touch is one of the oldest
known medical treatments known in the world.
Touch therapy is described in the Ayer-Veda, the
earliest known medical text from India (around
1800 B.C.), along with diet and exercise as
primary healing practices of the time (Older,
1982). Hippocrates, in 400 B.C., described
medicine as “the art of rubbing.” Older (1982)
describes exotic uses of massage in contemporary
cultures. He noted that in Samoa massage is used
for every ailment from diarrhea to migraines
using mixtures of plants, flowers from trees,
roots and coconut milk. In Cuba, garlic and oil
are applied to the stomach after “a meal lodged
in the stomach where it causes pain and fever”
(Older, 1982).
THE WORD MASSAGE is from the Greek to knead;
Sanskrit, Masch, to strike to press, to
condense, and according to Graham "Massage:
Reference Handbook of the Medical Sciences",
includes "friction, kneading, manipulating,
rolling, and percussion of the external tissues
of the body in a variety of ways, either with a
curative, palliative, or hygienic object in
view." Friction, rolling, a form of deep
kneading, and percussion, are produced by the
action of many of the mechanical vibratodes.
"Mechanical
Vibration", M. L. H. Arnold Snow, M.D. 1912
Massage in China
The first documented descriptions of massage
dating back to about 3,000 BC were discovered in
China. Chinese Taoist priests practised ‘Qi
Gong’ - meditative movement revealing and
cultivating the vital life force. Traditional
Chinese medicine is based on the principle that
every illness, ailment or discomfort in the body
is due to an imbalance of ‘Qi’. In about 1,000
BC Japanese monks began to study Buddhism in
China. They witnessed the healing methods of
traditional Chinese medicine and took them back
to Japan.
Massage in Japan
In Japan the practice of medicine mostly
consisted of diagnosis and treatment with
massage-type methods. The Japanese not only
adopted the Chinese style, but also began to
enhance it by introducing new combinations,
eventually reaching a unique Japanese form
called Shiatsu. Shiatsu is a Japanese word
derived from ‘shi’ meaning finger and ‘atsu’
meaning pressure. It is a technique similar to
that used in acupuncture but without needles and
with extra movements involved.
Massage in India
Civilization in India also dates back to
about 3,000 BC. Around 1,800 to 500 BC the Vedic
Indian culture spread westwards towards the
river Ganges. They developed a unique form of
medicine know as Ayurvedic medicine. They wrote
several great books that recorded their
techniques. One called ‘Ayur Veda’ which means
‘the arts of life’, dates back to 1,700 BC and
describes some simple massage and herbal
treatments for various conditions.
Massage in Egypt
Ancient Egyptian drawings show people
massaging each other's feet. It has been
practiced by people of Eastern cultures for over
4,000 years. REFLEXOLOGY now is enjoying
widespread support in North America. It is part
of a holistic approach to body healing. It
offers a hopeful vision of help and relief,
aside from conventional methods.
Nature designed our feet for walking on
uneven and rough ground, thus massaging our feet
to keep our bodies healthy. REFLEXOLOGY is based
on the principle that our nerves or zones end at
the bottom of our feet. These zones or reflex
points go from the bottom of our feet to the top
of our head, encompassing all vital organs on
the way. When we press or massage a certain
point on the bottom of our foot, we send energy,
via that zone, to the corresponding area in our
body. So we are helping our body to heal itself
by balancing our energies. Tender zones or
points may indicate that part of our body
requires help or energy sent to it, via the
reflex point.
Oils for massage
Oils have been used in massage treatments throughout
history. Homer wrote about an oily medium used for
massage as early as 1000 B.C. Plato and Socrates wrote of anointing
with oil and rubbing to ease pain.
Today there are many types of oils with many uses. It is necessary to
experiment with the many types and
try them on a variety of skin types to develop your own sense of use and
personal preference.
The purpose of using oil in a massage is to facilitate
the gliding over the client's skin. The various oils contain
ingredients for nourishing the skin and promoting health. Essential
oils (fragrant oils distilled from plants,
trees, roots, seeds) can be added for further enhancing the treatment.
When buying oils, look for cold-pressed
or expellier-pressed ( made with the least amount of heating and
processing) as they last longer. ( A rancid oil can cause free radical
damage to your self and client.)
Keep large quantities of oils refrigerated or in a cool place (below 65
degrees) when not in use to delay spoilage.
Vitamin E added each month to the oil will help prevent spoilage. Use
about 300 IU of vitamin E per pint of oil.
A rancid oil will have an unusual smell to it and taste bitter.
These are the basic oils and can be used
in combination or alone. Essential Oils can be added for additional
therapeutic purpose.
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