HISTORY OF MASSAGE

I don't know about you, but when I love something, I want to know EVERYTHING about it. This is definitely the case when we are talking about massage. There have plenty of blogs that discuss the many aspects of massage, but there have been none that discussed the history of massage. Today, we are going to be changing that!

1500 and 500 BCE: India was the first place that there is a written record of massage being used. They describe the use of the healing touch to treat diseases and conditions in part of the Ayurvedic

medicine, which means life health. This is the beginning of holistic medicine, which combines the use of meditation, relaxation, aromatherapy, and massage for their healing properties, according to The Allied Health Schools. 

2500 BCE: The Egyptians are credited with pioneering Reflexology, which is a common technique that is used throughout the massage world even today. This was very influential to other cultures, like the Greeks and the Romans. The Egyptians used hieroglyphics to describe their use of massage and reflexology to treat many different ailments and conditions. 

2600 BCE: There was the first written record of Chinese massage being used for it's medical benefits. According to the National Institutes of Health, this was written by the Chinese emperor, Huangdi, and was called the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine.

This book was written to help traditional practitioners learn about medicine and how to help common diseases and conditions. One of these treatments includes massage, acupuncture, acupressure, and herbology, which is highly recommended throughout the book and throughout traditional Chinese medicine. However, it is known that massage had been used for many of years before than even if there was not a written text record of it. 

1800s: It wasn't until about this time that massage passed over to the Western world in Sweden specifically. Pehr Henril Ling, a doctor, gymnast, and educator, developed what is called the Swedish Movement System. This was the beginning of what we now commonly call a Swedish massage in the United States and what is called  a Shiatsu massage in Japan.

Since then, massage has continued to change and develop into a very popular form of treatment throughout the world. Massage continues to grow into a more and more popular alternative treatment to many conditions. With such a rich and vivid history, it is no surprise that massage is and will continue to be such an important healing aspect of countless people's lives throughout the world.

 

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