The origins of massage therapy are unknown, but it has been around a very long time and is most likely the oldest therapy known to man. Many ancient civilizations used massage as part of their health procedures, and in the Middle and Far East massage therapy has been in use since 3000BC, and possibly even longer.
Hippocrates, who is known as the Father of Medicine wrote that the way to good health was to have an oiled massage each day.
To allow the hands to move over the body with ease masseurs will use oils no matter which form of massage they use, essential oils are sometimes used after being mixed with a carrier oil.
Scientists have shown that essential oils can penetrate the skin, maybe through the sweat pores or the hair follicles. These oils when massaged into the skin are absorbed into the body's bloodstream and other fluids to work internally.
Although used for centuries in the Middle and Far East, massage therapy did not reach the West for thousands of years. In the 19th century it became increasingly popular especially in Europe, but was limited to the health spas that were patronised only by wealthy people.
Swedish massage was develped by Per Henrik Ling a Swedish gymnast. Massage had become very popular, and he developed this type of massage due to his interest in sport. This type of massage deals mainly with the joints and muscles of the body.
It was not until well into the 20th century that massage became really popular with the ordinary people of the Western world. An American called George Downing published a book in the early 1970s simply called The Massage Book. This wasn't just a book on massage, but a book that showed massage therapy in a way that took into account a persons whole body.
Hippocrates 460-400BC always looked at the body holistically, that is he always took into account the mind,body and spirit when treating someone.
One very good way to rid the body of accumulated waste and toxins is to have a deep massage, this gets the blood and lymphatic circulation working really well. As well as working on the physical level, massage also works on the mind and spirit by relaxing the physical body, the mind and spirit can also be relaxed.
Stress is part of everyones life, there is no getting away from it, our jobs, family, money problems etc all cause us stress. A lot of people find it almost impossible to relax, and they end up going to bed each night wound up tighter than a spring. Massage relaxes the body, endorphins are released, we feel better therefore we sleep better.
A lesser-known benefit of massage, not necessarily supported by western science, is that it improves the flow of energy throughout the body. It is believed, particularly in the traditional medicines of China and India that energy flows through meridian lines all through the human body. Factors such as stress can restrict the energy flow, but massage helps clear the blockages and allow the energy to move freely again.
Although massage was on the edge of conventional medicine for a long time it has now been accepted by the majority of practitioners of conventional medicine. Massage therapy is also often offered as part of a patients treatment in American hospitals.
Although hospital do now use massage therapy as part of their treatment of patients it's usage is somewhat limited. The uses range from stress relief, management of chronis pain, and easing joint and muscle problems for greater mobility.
New research suggests that massage therapy helps to boost the immune system, lower blood pressure and manage pain.
This very versatile form of treatment is now available to far more of the general public. By incorporating massage into main stream medicine Dr's in hospitals are now able to treat high blood pressure, joint and muscle problems and stress with massage as part of the treatment programme. As time goes by more and more people with a variety of different conditions are found to benefit from massage. - 15478
Hippocrates, who is known as the Father of Medicine wrote that the way to good health was to have an oiled massage each day.
To allow the hands to move over the body with ease masseurs will use oils no matter which form of massage they use, essential oils are sometimes used after being mixed with a carrier oil.
Scientists have shown that essential oils can penetrate the skin, maybe through the sweat pores or the hair follicles. These oils when massaged into the skin are absorbed into the body's bloodstream and other fluids to work internally.
Although used for centuries in the Middle and Far East, massage therapy did not reach the West for thousands of years. In the 19th century it became increasingly popular especially in Europe, but was limited to the health spas that were patronised only by wealthy people.
Swedish massage was develped by Per Henrik Ling a Swedish gymnast. Massage had become very popular, and he developed this type of massage due to his interest in sport. This type of massage deals mainly with the joints and muscles of the body.
It was not until well into the 20th century that massage became really popular with the ordinary people of the Western world. An American called George Downing published a book in the early 1970s simply called The Massage Book. This wasn't just a book on massage, but a book that showed massage therapy in a way that took into account a persons whole body.
Hippocrates 460-400BC always looked at the body holistically, that is he always took into account the mind,body and spirit when treating someone.
One very good way to rid the body of accumulated waste and toxins is to have a deep massage, this gets the blood and lymphatic circulation working really well. As well as working on the physical level, massage also works on the mind and spirit by relaxing the physical body, the mind and spirit can also be relaxed.
Stress is part of everyones life, there is no getting away from it, our jobs, family, money problems etc all cause us stress. A lot of people find it almost impossible to relax, and they end up going to bed each night wound up tighter than a spring. Massage relaxes the body, endorphins are released, we feel better therefore we sleep better.
A lesser-known benefit of massage, not necessarily supported by western science, is that it improves the flow of energy throughout the body. It is believed, particularly in the traditional medicines of China and India that energy flows through meridian lines all through the human body. Factors such as stress can restrict the energy flow, but massage helps clear the blockages and allow the energy to move freely again.
Although massage was on the edge of conventional medicine for a long time it has now been accepted by the majority of practitioners of conventional medicine. Massage therapy is also often offered as part of a patients treatment in American hospitals.
Although hospital do now use massage therapy as part of their treatment of patients it's usage is somewhat limited. The uses range from stress relief, management of chronis pain, and easing joint and muscle problems for greater mobility.
New research suggests that massage therapy helps to boost the immune system, lower blood pressure and manage pain.
This very versatile form of treatment is now available to far more of the general public. By incorporating massage into main stream medicine Dr's in hospitals are now able to treat high blood pressure, joint and muscle problems and stress with massage as part of the treatment programme. As time goes by more and more people with a variety of different conditions are found to benefit from massage. - 15478
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