ALL ABOUT MASSAGE
Learn About History of Massage Therapy and its healing power. Discover the benefits it brings to your health and well being. Find out the answer to a common questions about massage.
The Origin of Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is part of a traditional holistic system of healing methods that began about 5,000 years ago. The history of massage therapy dates back to 3000 BC in India, where it was considered a sacred system of natural healing.
Massage restores the body’s natural and physical balance so that it can heal naturally. As culture and history evolved, the healing methods of massage traveled to China and Southeast Asia about 2700 BC. Chinese massage methods developed as a combination of skills and practices of traditional Chinese medicine, martial arts, and the spiritual yoga training of Buddhists and Taoists.
By 2500 BC, massage therapy had made its way to Egypt, where it was depicted in tomb paintings.The Egyptians influenced the Greeks and Romans.
In Greece, between 800 and 700 BC, athletes used massage to condition their bodies before competitions. At that time, doctors often applied herbs and oils in combination with massage to treat various medical conditions. Hippocrates, the “father of medicine,” treated physical injuries in the 5th Century BC with friction, a massage technique. He used to prescribe a combination of massage, proper diet, exercise, fresh air, and music to restore health imbalance – a remedy we hear of even today.
The popularity of massage therapy declined in the West until the 17th Century, when new discoveries in pharmacology and medical technology changed modern medicine. However, many doctors could see the health benefits of massage.
History of the European Massage Technique
In the early 1800s, Swedish doctor, gymnast, and teacher Per Henrik Ling created a method that became known as the Swedish Movement Cure to help relieve chronic pain.
As much medical gymnastics as massage therapy, it was the precursor to what we now know as Swedish massage – a style that involves stroking, pressing, squeezing and striking.
The demand for masseurs and masseuses increased in the early 1900s. By the 1930s, Swedish massage had evolved, and the physiotherapists who used it in regular medicine helped massage therapy to become
The Many Benefits Of Therapeutic Massage
Massage is among the most relaxing and soothing sensations one can experience. However, the benefits go beyond relaxation and run deeper than you might think.
A recent study that appeared in the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) publication indicates that 50% of adults who saw a professional massage therapist in the past year did so for medical or health reasons.
In contrast, only 28% of massage consumers sought massage for relaxation or stress reduction during the same period. So why are so many patients turning to massage therapy? Let’s review the health benefits to find out.
THE HEALING POWER OF MASSAGE
Below you can read about essential benefits of the massage therapy. Besides, here are many types of massage techniques that catered to mitigate specific health condition and illnesses.
01.
Stress Relief
For centuries, people have turned to massage to de-stress. Recent studies support that massage significantly reduces physical and psychological stress.
Clinical studies show that massage therapy increases production of endorphins (natural chemicals that make you feel good), serotonin, and dopamine; while it reduces cortisol levels, heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen consumption; factors typically associated with stress.
02.
Reduces Anxiety
That heightened sense of elation after a massage isn’t just in your head. In fact, several recent studies confirm that researchers can measure the impact that massage has on individuals experiencing emotional trauma. Likewise, massage has also been shown to bring about a corrective effect for those suffering from deep anxiety.
As a case in point, a 2004 study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research, shows that women with breast cancer who received massage therapy had decreased levels of anxiety and hostility.
03.
Eases Muscle Tension
The complexities of modern life has made Americans more tense than ever, both psychologically and physically. As a result, back injuries, joint stiffness, and muscle tension is on the rise. Unfortunately, this is a trend that medical experts don’t see changing.
However, one factor that could soften the impact of muscle stiffness is therapeutic massage. Techniques such as Swedish massage, have a proven track record of loosening muscle groups and relaxing stiff joints.
04.
Improves Overall Sleep Quality
Maintaining good health is impossible without adequate sleep. Researchers have confirmed that massage therapy may significantly reduce the incidence of sleep insomnia. Furthermore, the effect of massage therapy on sleep isn’t limited to any one age group.
According to scientific research, massage helped infants aged six months or less sleep better and cry less. Testing in adults proved similar results as evidenced by a University of Miami School of Medicine study. These studies have also confirmed that massage promotes better sleep because it aids in the release of serotonin, which helps the body achieve a state of restfulness
05.
Promotes Greater Relaxation
Massage helps you rest by reducing the cortisol level and triggering several brain chemistry responses which translate into extended periods of deep relaxation.
In a study of the “effects of massage therapy on immune, hematological, and psychological state of adult subjects,” researchers found that “massage is capable of inducing psychological relaxation.”
06.
Provides Muscle and Joint Pain Relief
The body of evidence that supports using massage for the treatment of pain at the muscles and joints is rock solid.
Whether it’s chronic back pain, knee osteoarthritis, hand arthritis, or any other form of rheumatism; evidence suggests that massage not only reduces pain but improves range of motion and overall function.