The history of massage can be traced back to 3000 BCE (earlier) in India, when it was believed to be an sacred, mysterious art of healing. Believed to have originated with the Indus Valley Civilization, massage is widely used by many cultures. According to an investigation conducted in the past, it is the third most popular natural treatment for back pain. Massage is a well-known treatment for sports injuries. It has also been proven effective in treating menstrual disorders, and stress. Even when applied at the beginning of a cold sore it has proven to be effective in alleviating the onset symptoms.
Massage therapy in China began around 4000 BCE with the practice of acupuncture, which was documented in texts from Ancient China. From those writings we can see that massage was first introduced in India. Massage was a part of the medical system in the ancient times of India. Later, it spread to other parts of Asia, including China. Then, it reached Rome, Greece, India. It was used in India and China as part of healing however it gained popularity in Europe following the fall of the Roman Empire. By the thirteenth century, there were records of massages being offered as a luxury in the Court of the Renaissance in Italy.
If we examine the history of massage, we will see that it is akin to Roman and Greek methods of massaging. Greek massage was used as a part of physical therapy to prevent injury, joint pain and to stimulate healing in the body. It was mixed with herbs and other natural substances. The roots were harvested and dried. They were then ground into a fine powder, which could be rubbed into the skin, or powdered and mixed with oil. Like its Indian counterpart, the Greek massage improves blood flow. This allows the body to absorb nutrients more efficiently and aids in natural healing of the muscles and joints.
Its most common usage, however, was as a method of physical therapy. Massage practitioners utilized rub-on ingredients to massage the body to ease muscle tension, stiffness and spasms. As its popularity grew throughout Europe and the Middle East, so did its use as a holistic method of treatment. Massage practitioners in Italy were sometimes known as "mezzanine therapists," due to their relationship to and application of the massage technique. Both holistic healers and massage practitioners combine massage techniques using essential oils to revitalize the body and mind.
Massage therapists and the principles they worked with evolved during the first half of the 1800s. Carl Djokovic was the first to come up with Swedish massage therapy. To ease his asthma and provide a more relaxing experience for patients who suffer from asthma, he began experimenting with deep massage techniques at home. When his wife learned of his efforts, they encouraged him to continue with his work. His reputation was so high that he was able teach courses in Swedish massage therapy in London by the time when he began teaching them. Today massage therapists all over the globe receive instruction from master massage therapists educated in the traditional techniques of Swedish massage.
Massage techniques in China were developed by the Han Dynasty between the sixth and thirteenth centuries BC. They included rolling and pressing techniques and other gentle, yet effective stretching techniques. Although it is not certain when the first book on Chinese massage was written however, the techniques have been practiced for more than four thousand years. They were further refined during the Tang Dynasty in China, and remained prevalent well into the early Western world. The West started to be aware of the existence of an Swedish massage school in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1869. This school attracted many from other countries, and eventually it was renamed as Swedish massage.
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