The Ancient Roots of Massage Therapy

Like almost everything else in the world, massage therapy has a deep and rich history. Although some may think of it as a modern practice, it has actually existed for thousands of years. One of the earliest concepts related to massage goes all the way back to 2600 BC. It is traditionally argued by many scholars that, within this year, the semi-mythical Chinese Emperor, Huangdi, may have written the work Huangdi Neijing.[1] This ancient writing contains a section known to some as the “Canon of Acupuncture”, as it is the first written piece on the subject.[2] As a practice, acupuncture involves inserting needles into certain points of the body. By placing the needles into the skin within the areas of these points, qi (lifeforce) can flow better, thus resulting in better health.[3]

The Huangdi Neijing offers an alternative to needles though. It also mentions the use of hands, fingers, and tools that can be applied with pressure to the same areas. This technique, known today as acupressure, would become the first recorded form of massage to exist.[4] Eventually, as time progressed, massage would become an established Chinese practice. This was later discovered through a 19th century archeological dig, when archaeologists found an oracle bone inscribed with a mention of the practice.[5] The inscriptions stated that a woman named Bi used massage as a treatment for the sick.[6]

From generation to generation, the practice of massage was passed down with different names. It went from being called “anwu”, during the era of the oracle bones, to “moshou” (hand rubbing) in the Qin Dynasty. Then in the Han Dynasty, the practice would be known as “anmo” (press and rub), before becoming “tuina” (push and hold).[7] Eventually, massage therapy wouldn’t just spread from one generation to the next, but to other nations as well. Through the Chinese, the concept of massage was brought to ancient Korea, where it would be called “chuna”. Likewise, it was also brought to ancient Japan, where it would be called “anma”.[8] Japan’s anma massage would later evolve into a contemporary form known today as “shiatsu” (finger pressure).[9]

While the oldest known birthplace of massage may be China, which in turn introduced the practice elsewhere around Northeast Asia, massage therapy had also been developing in other places independently.

In Saqqara, Egypt, there exists a wall painting at the tomb of Ankhmahor. This mural, thought to be from 2330 BC, depicts ancient Egyptians giving each other hand and foot massages. Considering this, researchers believe that massage therapy (in its reflexology form) may have been a common practice within ancient Egyptian culture.[10][11] Many centuries into the future, massage became so prominent that Cleopatra, the ancient ruler of Egypt, would have her handmaidens massage her with aromatic creams. Archeologists would later find such creams in pots and jars around ancient Egyptian tombs.[12]

Meanwhile, several Southeast Asian and Pacific cultures flourished with their own versions of massage. Parts of the ancient precolonial Philippines, for example, are thought to have practiced a now-contemporary therapy called “hilot”, which includes massage techniques. In this practice, the body is seen as being made up of elements, with each element having a correlation with a specific illness-inducing engkanto (spiritual being). As a response, the practice of hilot would be applied by an abularyo (practitioner of folk medicine) to the sick recipient.[13] Likewise, ancient Hawaii’s kahunas (medical priests) would sometimes practice “lomilomi”, which Is a form of massage continued today by trained layfolk. While this style consists of the usual physical aspects, it is also combined with spiritual beliefs regarding a lifeforce called “mana”.[14]

Basing the practice on their alternative medicine system called “Ayurveda”, ancient India enjoyed several forms of massage therapy. The texts of this system mentioned styles such as mordan (rubbing), samvahana (hand massage), and shampooing (massage using a brush or the hands).[15] Additionally, they also had what’s known today as “champissage”, which is a massage of the head and face. This practice would eventually be adopted by the ancient Greeks after their soldiers were led through Asia Minor by Alexander the Great.[16]

Despite the Indic influence on massage in Greek culture, the Greeks had their own versions beforehand. Hippocrates, known to the West as the “Father of Medicine”, endorsed one of these that he called “anatripsis”. It consisted of an upward massage on the shoulder, to aid in the event of dislocation.[17] Eventually, as Greek dominance declined, and the power of Rome rose, Greek ideas, inclusive of massage, were transferred over to the Romans. Julius Caesar was one of these Romans who utilized the Greek version of massage, in order to aid himself against his struggle with neuralgia and epilepsy.[18] Meanwhile, massage continued to pop up in many other places around the world. From the culture of the ancient Slavs, who combined massage with hydrotherapy,[19] to the ancient Cherokee, who used the practice to prepare their people for war.[20] These roots, worldwide, would help massage become what it is today.

Enjoy this blast from the past? Here at EPIC, you can take part of the ever-growing history of massage by living it. Don’t be shy to hit us up with a booking!

Sources:

1. Curran J. (2008). The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine. BMJ : British Medical Journal, 336(7647), 777.

2. Wu, J.N. (1996). A Short History of Acupuncture. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2(1), 19-21.

3. Sullivan, D. (2018, September 18). Is Acupuncture the Miracle Remedy for Everything? Healthline. Retrieved from: https://www.healthline.com/health/acupuncture-how-does-it-work-scientifically

4. Acupuncture and Massage College. (2018, January 04). History of Massage Therapy. The Acupuncture and Massage College. Retrieved from: https://www.amcollege.edu/blog/history-of-massage-therapy-amc-miami

5. Jingwei L. (1986). CHINESE MASSAGE AND THE INTRODUCTION OF MASSAGE INTO CHINA BEFORE THE 8(th) CENTURY. Ancient science of life, 6(1), 24–29.

6. Pritchard, S. (2015). Chinese Massage Manual: A Comprehensive Step-by-Step Introduction to the Healing Art of Tui Na. Philadelphia, PA: Singing Dragon.

7. Calvert, R.N. (2002). The History of Massage: An Illustrated Survey from Around the World. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.

8. Park, T. Y., Moon, T. W., Cho, D. C., Lee, J. H., Ko, Y. S., Hwang, E. H., Heo, K. H., Choi, T. Y., and Shin, B. C. (2014). An introduction to Chuna manual medicine in Korea: History, insurance coverage, education, and clinical research in Korean literature. Integrative medicine research, 3(2), 49–59.

9. Acupuncture and Massage College. (2019, October 01). The Acupuncture and Massage College. Retrieved from: https://www.amcollege.edu/blog/history-of-shiatsu

10. Menz, H.B. (2012, November 14). Reflexology: Panacea or Placebo. The Conversation. Retrieved from: https://theconversation.com/reflexology-panacea-or-placebo-10527

11. Embong, N. H., Soh, Y. C., Ming, L. C., and Wong, T. W. (2015). Revisiting reflexology: Concept, evidence, current practice, and practitioner training. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine, 5(4), 197–206.

12. Rosser, M., Couldridge, G., and Rosser, S. (2012). Body Massage. London, UK: Hodder Education.

13. Fajardo, B.S. and Pansacola, M.A.V. (2013). Hilot: The Science of the Ancient Filipino Healing Arts. Mandaluyong, Philippines: Anvil Publishing, Inc.

14. Davidson, T. (2020, December 9). Lomilomi. Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: https://www.encyclopedia.com/medicine/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/lomilomi

15. Braun, M.B. and Simonson, S. (2008). Introduction to Massage Therapy. Philadelphia, PH: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

16. Callaway, K. and Burgess, S. (2010). A History of Massage. In L. Casanelia and D. Stelfox (Ed.). Foundations of Massage. Chatswood, Australia: Elsevier.

17. Tarver, H.M., Luchau, T., and Salvos, S.G. (2016). History of Massage Therapy. In S.G Salvo (Ed.). Massage Therapy: Principles and Practice. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier.

18. Beck, M.F. (2017). Theory and Practice of Therapeutic Massage. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

19. Fritz, S. and Fritz, L. (2021). Mosby’s Fundamentals of Massage Therapy. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier.

20. Campos, N. (2008). The Six Keys to Optimal Health: Achieving and Maintaining Wellness in the Twenty-first Century.

Article by: Jonathan A. Watson