The History and Development of Massage
The history of massage started during the 3000 BC when the Chinese
wrote Cong-Fu of the Tao-Tse, the oldest book written about massage which
was later translated to French in the 1700s. In 2760 BC, Nei Ching or the
Yellow Emperor's Esoteric Classic discussed therapeutic touch.
The
Egyptians made their contribution in massage when they created reflexology
in 2500 BC. Even the Indians participated in the development of massage
when they established Ayurvedic massage.
During 500 BC-50 AD, the
Greek and Romans used massage on Olympic athletes and to relieve neuralgia
and epileptic seizures. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, incorporated
massage in medicine. In 130 AD-201 AD, Galen, a Greek physician from the
school of gladiators who were rubbed before fighting wrote a book on
manual medicine.
In 100s AD, schools for massage therapy were
created in China. Then in 600s AD the Japanese developed shiatsu, which
uses the fingers to apply pressure on acupuncture points to regenerate
energy. During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), pediatric massage therapy or
tuina evolved into a higher form of therapy which is still used
today.
During 1776-1813, Per Henrik Ling, a fencing master and
gymnast cured himself of rheumatism through massage and created Medical
Gymnastics and later formed the Royal Gymnastic Central Institute in
Stockholm, Sweden. Then in 1839-1909, Johann Mezger introduced medical
massage to the scientific community and the terms effleurage, petrissage
and tapotement became familiar.
The effects of massage on anemia
were researched by medical doctors and professors in New York City in
1880. Four years later, Professor Charcot, a French physician who taught
Sigmund Freud recommended massage therapy in French medicine.
The
Society of Trained Masseuses was formed in Britain which offered massage
education recognized by schools in 1894. A year after, Sigmund Freud used
massage therapy to treat hysteria. During the same year, Harvey Kellog
wrote The Art of Massage.
The 1900's gave birth to different
massage therapy methods like Jin shin jyutsu or the art of circulation
awakening developed in Japan by Jiro Murai, The Alexander Technique
created by F.M. Alexander, an Australian actor, Naprapathy (1907) which
originated in Chicago, Bindgewebs massage (1929), created by German
Physical therapist, Elizabeth Dicke and Neuromuscular therapy (1930)
created by Stanley Leif.
In 1937, Rene Maurice Gattefosse,
discovered the healing powers of essential oils accidentally during a
laboratory experiment where he burned his hand and used lavender oil to
soothe it. He coined the word Aromatherapy. Two years after, The Florida
State Massage Therapy Association Inc. (FSTMA) was organized. Today, it is
one f the oldest massage organizations with 85 charter members.
The
Massage Registration Act was formulated during 1949, and in 1950 Francis
Tappan and Gertrude Beard wrote books and articles concerning massage
techniques. Two years later, Hoshino Therapy, which is an official medical
therapy in Argentina was developed. Then during the 1960s, John Barnes
created Myofascial Release Therapy.
In 1977-1978, Aston- Patterning
was developed by Judith Aston and Hellerwork was created by Joseph Heller.
Both methods are forms of rolfing.
During the 1980s, the
Association of Bodywork and Massage Practitioners was established. Also,
Watsu or water therapy was developed by Harold Dull followed by Stuart
Taws creation of Taws Method or Soft Tissue Release.
In the 1990s,
a protocol for fybromyalgia syndrome was defined by the American College
of Rheumatology and the Touch Research Institute, which studies the
effects of touch therapy was established.
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