Massage
A brief history
Massage is a natural therapy, which has probably been used since the origins of mankind. The English word massage is derived from the Arabic Mass'h, meaning 'press softly', and there can hardly be a culture where rubbing or pressing of some sort has not played a part in the healing process.
Records show that massage was practised in China as early as 3000BC - one of the earliest books containing a list of massage movements dates from this time!
In many American Indian tribes traditional medicine was based on the idea that disease was the result of 'objects' which had become embedded in the body and that removing them would alleviate the problem. The methods of removing these 'objects' would include magical routines that consisted of rubbing movements which themselves were of course pain relieving!. Massage is also referred to in ancient Hindu texts that date from 1800BC and in Indian Villages today there are still several 'massage experts' equipt with an array of herbs, spices and aromatic oils.
Various forms of massage were used in the Middle East dating back as far as 7th Century BC. Other cultures with documents referring to massage are Indonesia, Australia & Tahiti - Captain Cook was said to be cured from Sciatica after he was massaged by a Tahitian woman! Europe also has a very long history of massage. It was used in ancient Greece and Rome to revive soldiers and gladiators after battles. There are only occasional references to massage during the middle ages and not widely heard of again until the 1570's
Over the next three centuries more was heard of massage again and it was Swedish physiologist Peter Henry Ling who developed a clear system of massage in the early 1800's - whose terminology is still used today as Swedish Massage! It was then Dutch physician Dr Johann Metzger who established massage as part of medical practise. By the late 1800's British Doctors were advocating that Nurses should be trained in massage to be used in the medical field. The society of trained masseuses flourished with membership increasing during the first world war until around 1964 when it become less used in Hospitals. Following the decline of massage as a medical treatment there was an increase in its use as a Holistic treatment - which brings us to where massage is today. Although it is now mostly used outside of orthodox medicine the recent increase in the popularity of Complementray Therapy has once again created an interest from Nurses, many of who are being given the chance to learn!
Despite
being used for many years, massage is only now building a body of
clinical evidence to support its use in the healthcare arena. Guidelines
recently published by the National Institute for Clinical Evidence
(NICE) recommends that patients with persistent, non-specific low back
pain have access to a choice of different treatments, including massage. The
NICE guidelines state “The effect of massage on patients with chronic
low back pain lasted at least a year after the end of treatment.”
Benefits
Profoundly relaxing
Stimulaitng
Cleansing
Removes dead skin cells
Warming
Improves circulation
Removes waste products
Reduces muscle fatigue
Maintains elasticity of muscle fibres
Reduces muscle tissue adhesions (knots)
Stimulates lymph flow
Reduces generalised swelling
Reduces blood pressure
Maintains homeostasis
Boosts immune system
Relieves tension
Soothes anxiety
Alleviates stress
Reduces pain
Improves skin tone
Improves posture
Increases energy & reduces fatigue
Reduces headaches
Improves digestion
Loosens tight muscles, relieves soreness and stiffness
Increase flexibilty
Improves ability to cope
Enhances self-image
Enhances sense of well-being
Promotes a feeling of being 'centered'
Reduces depression
Promotes a youthful feeling
© Butterfly
Therapy Room 2011
