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History of Massage Therapy
from:Although we have no exact dates for the practice, the origins of massage therapy go back around 5,000 years. This healing tool for both the body and the soul has Asian roots. The earliest forms are believed to be from the countries of China, India and Thailand. These include the use of pressure points in China around 8,000 BC and breathing techniques in India around 8,000 B.C. The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine dated around 2,700 B.C. remarks on the use of massaging the body to help treat chills, fevers and complete.
Specificities concerning origins, creators and practitioners are sadly lacking. Possibly, the longest known histories of Oriental massage belong to Anma and Shiatsu and Ayurvedic treatments. The latter has documents written from around 3,000 B.C.
This does not deny the presence of variations of massage in Egypt, Greece and several European countries in ancient times. There are cave paintings many believe depict a form of massage dating from ca 1500 BC in the Pyrenees. There is also information on an Egyptian papyrus referring to a type of massage practice from around 1700 BC. Among the ancient classical Greeks and Romans, massage was not unknown. The great philosopher and Doctor Hippocrates (c 460-377 B.C.) mentioned the practice. Other Greeks and Roman physicians, historians and philosophers record similar applications. Among them were Gales (A.D. 129-c40 B.C.) and Asclepiades of Bithynia. Julius Caesar, the great Roman General, historian and consul, received a massage daily to help control his epilepsy.
The European history of a system of massage, however, dates only to the 1800s. During this century, a number of different forms of massage therapy came into existence. They are the foundations of today’s contemporary therapeutic massage. Of primary importance is Henrik Per Ling (1776-1839) of Stockholm. He introduced the form in Sweden. As a result, he founded Swedish Massage. Ling also provided the first terms. Utilizing French, he provided the terminology used by many practitioners today. These include Effleurage and tapotement. Ling also provided the basis of rationale behind massage therapy. It was to relax muscles, stimulate the circulation of blood and help the client regain or increase his or her range of motion. Ling created the system of traditional Western Massage. Dr. Johan Georg Mezzer from Holland (1834-1901) helped establish professional recognition of massage in 1894. This was the Society of Trained Masseuses in England. Also interested in the topic, although not practicing it, was Dr. John Grosvenor (1742-1823). He taught at oxford and demonstrated the use of massage.
Swedish Massage made its way over to North America in the 1800s. Two major proponents were Dr. John Henry Kellog, M.D. (1852-1943) and his brother Will Kellog (1860-1951. Founders of the Kellog Cereal Empire, they also supported the use of massage therapy. The popularity of therapeutic massage in medical circles created what some practitioners refer to as a Golden Age. From 1880 to 1910, therapeutic massage co-existed with conventional medicine in Western Civilizations. During and following World War I, therapeutic massage also continued to be useful. Doctors, nurses and aides used it to help war shocked and physically injured veterans.
By World War II, however, various medical advancements had pushed therapeutic massage into the background. It only began to emerge with the counter-culture culture of the 1960s. Many Western and Oriental practices were embraced by the youthful sector of society. Advancements and new approaches resulted in different types of Swedish Massage. Esalen Massage emerged in the 1960s at the alternative learning school of Esalen Institute. It combined Western and Asian philosophies. Swedish Massage and Acupressure. Rolfing was also a product of the 1960s.It bear the name of its originator, Ida Rolf (1896-1979), an American biophysicist.
The 1970s saw the start of an interest in Baby Massage and the creation of Hellerwork by Joseph Heller. Hellerwork grew out of Rolfing. The years following saw the increased use of other types of massage therapy. Sports Massage made it as part of the core medical offerings in the 1996 Summer Olympics. Other non-Western types of therapeutic massage are also now part of complementary and alternative treatments. These include Shiatsu, Reiki, Acupressure, Reflexology and Thai Massage. Another area that continues to grow is Equine Massage Therapy and small animal or pet massage therapy.
Today, therapeutic massage has many different variants. The types appeal to the diverse philosophies and life styles of society. Like in the past, history will continue to unfold. The changing uses and types of massage therapy will continue to evolve.
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