A Brief History of Therapeutic Massage

Massage is highly respected as one of the oldest, most effective therapeutic techniques of mankind. Although the art of massage was first mentioned in writings dated about 2,000 B.C.E., it is believed to have been a vital part of folk medicine much earlier, as an oral tradition. Chinese, Indian, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Persian, Arabic and Japanese medical literature abound with references to massage.

Oriental massage is said to have been developed into a systematized branch of healing in China during the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.E.- 220 C.E.). Utilizing the ancients' perspective on Qi (life force) and its meridians (pathways), a variety of techniques were devised to manipulate and restore this energy in the mind-body-spirit continuum. Massage has flourished in China throughout its history and it remains a modality of choice in many hospitals and clinics to this day.

The practice of massage spread from China to Japan in the sixth century and reached its peak in the Edo period (1603-1867). After the introduction of Western medical techniques in Japan during the 19th century, massage lost its venerable status. It was not until the 20th century that it reemerged as a powerful therapeutic tool in the form of Shiatsu, which quickly spread to the West. 

Massage has been a part of Western therapeutic techniques since the time of the Egyptians and the Greeks. Pictorial representations of massage appear in several Egyptian hieroglyphs and papyri. Hippocrates recommended massage and manipulation for several ailments. Galen and Celsus carried the work of Hippocrates into Roman times. Their writings on massage and other forms of medical treatment were the basis of medical practices that continued relatively unchanged into the Middle Ages. The Arabic medical colleges (which flourished during the early Middle Ages) taught massage technique in the Greco-Roman tradition as part of the standard curriculum.

Massage also remained a vital part of folk tradition in Western Europe, especially in the Slavic and Scandinavian countries. In the 16th century Ambrose Pare, a French physician, advocated massage as a treatment to accompany surgery. In the 18th century Per Henrik Ling of Sweden (1776-1839) developed a systematized approach to massage and medical gymnastics (remedial exercises). His work incorporated Western massage practices with Chinese massage techniques that were thought to have been brought to the West during the 16th century.

The technique of Swedish massage developed by Ling consists of a system of manipulations of the soft tissues, combined with active and passive joint movements. This system of massage and exercise was established in accordance with principles of anatomy and physiology and was designed to improve the functioning of the nervous, muscular and circulatory systems. Through his ardent study and dedication, Ling won acceptance for his new ideas, and his technique spread throughout Europe and the United States. The Swedish Institute's P. H. Ling Medical Massage Clinic honors his work and achievement.

In recent years, massage has enjoyed new respect in the United States, as research has begun to validate its benefits from a scientific perspective. This, coupled with the public's increased demand for safe, non-toxic interventions for prevention and health maintenance, have led to increased use of massage therapy as part of the growing field of complementary health care. The Touch Research Institutes at the University of Miami comprise the first research center in the world focused solely on better understanding the benefits of touch from a scientific perspective. The federal government has also begun to investigate the usefulness of massage therapy funding research through its National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).

Articles >

Experiencing a Session >