Massage Therapy - History and Development

The history of massage started during the 3000recognized by schools in 1894. A year after,
BC when the Chinese wrote Cong-Fu of theSigmund Freud used massage therapy to treat
Tao-Tse, the oldest book written about massagehysteria. During the same year, Harvey Kellog
which was later translated to French in the 1700s.wrote The Art of Massage.
In 2760 BC, Nei Ching or the Yellow Emperor'sThe 1900's gave birth to different massage
Esoteric Classic discussed therapeutic touch.therapy methods like Jin shin jyutsu or the art of
The Egyptians made their contribution in massagecirculation awakening developed in Japan by Jiro
when they created reflexology in 2500 BC. EvenMurai, The Alexander Technique created by F.M.
the Indians participated in the development ofAlexander, an Australian actor, Naprapathy (1907)
massage when they established Ayurvedicwhich originated in Chicago, Bindgewebs massage
massage.(1929), created by German Physical therapist,
During 500 BC-50 AD, the Greek and RomansElizabeth Dicke and Neuromuscular therapy (1930)
used massage on Olympic athletes and to relievecreated by Stanley Leif.
neuralgia and epileptic seizures. Hippocrates, theIn 1937, Rene Maurice Gattefosse, discovered the
father of medicine, incorporated massage inhealing powers of essential oils accidentally during
medicine. In 130 AD-201 AD, Galen, a Greeka laboratory experiment where he burned his
physician from the school of gladiators who werehand and used lavender oil to soothe it. He coined
rubbed before fighting wrote a book on manualthe word Aromatherapy. Two years after, The
medicine.Florida State Massage Therapy Association Inc.
In 100s AD, schools for massage therapy were(FSTMA) was organized. Today, it is one f the
created in China. Then in 600s AD the Japaneseoldest massage organizations with 85 charter
developed shiatsu, which uses the fingers to applymembers.
pressure on acupuncture points to regenerateThe Massage Registration Act was formulated
energy. During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644),during 1949, and in 1950 Francis Tappan and
pediatric massage therapy or tuina evolved into aGertrude Beard wrote books and articles
higher form of therapy which is still used today.concerning massage techniques. Two years later,
During 1776-1813, Per Henrik Ling, a fencingHoshino Therapy, which is an official medical
master and gymnast cured himself of rheumatismtherapy in Argentina was developed. Then during
through massage and created Medical Gymnasticsthe 1960s, John Barnes created Myofascial
and later formed the Royal Gymnastic CentralRelease Therapy.
Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. Then inIn 1977-1978, Aston- Patterning was developed
1839-1909, Johann Mezger introduced medicalby Judith Aston and Hellerwork was created by
massage to the scientific community and theJoseph Heller. Both methods are forms of rolfing.
terms effleurage, petrissage and tapotementDuring the 1980s, the Association of Bodywork
became familiar.and Massage Practitioners was established. Also,
The effects of massage on anemia wereWatsu or water therapy was developed by
researched by medical doctors and professors inHarold Dull followed by Stuart Taws creation of
New York City in 1880. Four years later,Taws Method or Soft Tissue Release.
Professor Charcot, a French physician who taughtIn the 1990s, a protocol for fybromyalgia
Sigmund Freud recommended massage therapy insyndrome was defined by the American College
French medicine.of Rheumatology and the Touch Research
The Society of Trained Masseuses was formed inInstitute, which studies the effects of touch
Britain which offered massage educationtherapy was established.