HISTORY OF MASSAGE
Massage is known as one of the oldest therapies in the world. The use of massage has been recognised from 3000BC in China.
In the fifth century BC, Hippocrates, ‘the father of medicine’, wrote about the benefits of massage and believed all doctors needed to know how to massage for healing purposes.
The Ancient Greeks used a massage for everyday exercise and fitness.
Romans used massage to cure diseases, treat stiffness and improve circulation. Gladiators were given massage before and after ‘the fight’. And of course, Julius Caesar received massages every day.
Swedish massage was developed in the 19th century by a Swedish physiologist and educator named Per Henrik Ling (1776-1839). His system was based on a study of gymnastics and physiology, and on techniques borrowed from China, Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
In 1813, The Royal Gymnastic Central Institute was established in Sweden.
In 1838, The Swedish Institute was opened in London.
In 1894, a group of women formed The Society of Trained Masseuses which later became The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
In 1899, Sir William Bennet started a massage department at St. George’s Hospital in London.
Hot stone massage has been used for over 2000 years by many cultures all over the world.
Native Americans and many European cultures used to wrap the hot stones in a towel and then place them on aching parts of their bodies.
The Japanese used hot stones to speed up the digestion process.
In China, hot stones were used since 1500 BC to relieve tired muscles.
After a Roman bath (hot water) people used to lie on cold stones.
Cowboys used to place hot stones under their sleeping bags to keep warm during the night.
Nowadays massage is used in intensive care units, for children, babies, elderly people, patients with cancer, and victims of heart attacks or strokes. Massage is also used in health centres, drug treatment clinics and pain clinics.
In our modern society, where stress-related diseases and disorders are becoming the number one health problem, massage is likely to gain increasing popularity to improve everybody’s health and well-being.