Massage as a Healing Therapy
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patrick
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. The origins of massage therapy are unknown, but it has been around a very long time and is possibly the oldest therapy known to man.
An oiled massage every day was reccommended by Hippocrates who is often refered to as the 'Father of Medicine'.
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.
Massage became so popular that Western forms of massage were developed. The Swedish gymnast Per Henrik Ling developed what we now know as Swedish massage, although it is still based on ancient massage principles. Swedish massage involves the use of exercise as well as massage, and is mainly used for the benefit of joints and muscles.
In the Western world massage did not become popular until the 20th century, by then it was more affordable to the ordinary person. Massage therapy had been popular for a while in Europe and gradually the USA followed suit. In the early 1970's a ground breaking book was published called The Massage Book. In this book George Downing showed massage therapy in a more holistic way.
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.
As massage relaxes the muscles and releases tension from the body, the person is able to relax and let go of all the stresses of everyday life. This in its self is a hugh benefit to the body, as endorphins are released creating the feel good factor, the persons spirit is lifted and they feel wonderful.
In traditional Chinese and Indian medicine it is believed that energy flows through the body along meridian lines. It is also thought that certain factors can block these meridian pathways and in the process cause illness. The restriction of energy by stress can be resolved by having a massage.
The majority of American hospitals now offer massage therapy as part of their treatment of patients. Although it has taken a while for this to happen, as massage therapy had been on the fringes of conventional medicine for a long time.
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.
By passing from the fringes into main stream medicine it now is available to a lot more people, who are now able to benefit from the improvement in their health that massage can give them.
An oiled massage every day was reccommended by Hippocrates who is often refered to as the 'Father of Medicine'.
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.
Massage became so popular that Western forms of massage were developed. The Swedish gymnast Per Henrik Ling developed what we now know as Swedish massage, although it is still based on ancient massage principles. Swedish massage involves the use of exercise as well as massage, and is mainly used for the benefit of joints and muscles.
In the Western world massage did not become popular until the 20th century, by then it was more affordable to the ordinary person. Massage therapy had been popular for a while in Europe and gradually the USA followed suit. In the early 1970's a ground breaking book was published called The Massage Book. In this book George Downing showed massage therapy in a more holistic way.
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.
As massage relaxes the muscles and releases tension from the body, the person is able to relax and let go of all the stresses of everyday life. This in its self is a hugh benefit to the body, as endorphins are released creating the feel good factor, the persons spirit is lifted and they feel wonderful.
In traditional Chinese and Indian medicine it is believed that energy flows through the body along meridian lines. It is also thought that certain factors can block these meridian pathways and in the process cause illness. The restriction of energy by stress can be resolved by having a massage.
The majority of American hospitals now offer massage therapy as part of their treatment of patients. Although it has taken a while for this to happen, as massage therapy had been on the fringes of conventional medicine for a long time.
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.
By passing from the fringes into main stream medicine it now is available to a lot more people, who are now able to benefit from the improvement in their health that massage can give them.
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