The History of Massage Therapy Massage therapy history dates back thousands of years to ancient cultures that believed in it's medical benefits. The first written records of massage therapy are found in China and Egypt. The first known Chinese text, written around 2700 BCE, is called "The Yellow Emperor's Classic Book of Internal Medicine." This book was only published in English in 1949, but since that time, it has become a staple in massage therapy training and is also often used as a textbook for teaching many other forms of alternative medicine such as acupuncture, acupressure and herbology. Egyptian tomb paintings show that massage therapy was also a part of their medical tradition. Egyptians get the credit for pioneering reflexology around 2500 BCE. Their studies and traditions greatly influenced other cultures such as the Greeks and Romans. Massage therapy history also has roots in India, where the traditions were not written down until sometime between 1500 and 500 BCE, but practice may have actually originated around 3000 BCE or earlier. Hindus used the art of healing touch in the practice of Ayurvedic medicine. Ayurveda, a Sanskrit word, translates to "life knowledge" or "life science." It is regarded as the basis of holistic medicine, combining meditation, relaxation and aromatherapy.  The Western Migration of Massage Therapy It was from this early massage therapy history that the Swedish doctor, gymnast and educator Per Henril Ling developed a method of movement known as the "Swedish Movement System" in the early 1800s. This is commonly regarded as the foundation for Swedish massage most commonly used in the West today. It should be noted, however, that although the "Swedish Movement System" was developed by Ling, it was the Dutch Johan Georg Mezger who defined the basic hand strokes of Swedish massage. Today the most common types of massage practiced in the western hemisphere are Swedish massage and the Japanese massage practice of Shiatsu, also referred to as pressure point or trigger point massage. Great emphasis is also being placed on movement and bodywork. Types of body work include: Reiki, Feldenkrais and Pilates, where the focus is a combination of movement, breathing and relaxation to improve mobility. (See our Massage Therapy Glossary for more information about these different massage and body work specialties.) Where Massage Therapy Is Going Considering the long history of massage, its incorporation into Western medicine is only in its infancy. The potential for growth and research of the healing properties of therapeutic massage and body work has gained great momentum over the last fifty years, and the public demand for massage therapy is at an all-time high. As a preventative practice, therapeutic massage is used in spas, gyms and work places all over the country. Using massage therapy to promote balance and maintain internal and external health is something that is now a standard part of the North American lifestyle. In the health care industry, massage is commonly used in hospitals, nursing homes and birthing centers. It is also used in physical therapy and in chiropractic clinics to treat pain, increase circulation and expedite the healing of injured muscles. Massage Therapy as Preventative Treatment As a restorative treatment, massage therapy has earned respect in modern medicine, but its benefits as preventative treatment have only recently been considered. Can a body-mind-spirit synergy actually prevent certain forms of disease? This question is now being seriously pondered by medical professionals. We have merely begun exploring the myriad healing properties of massage therapy. It is the hope and goal of many professional massage therapists to see their techniques more fully integrated into the Western lifestyle and our professional health care system.  |
