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The Ancient Art Of Massage
Massage is one of the oldest therapies known to man. The earliest writings about massage come from China and date back to 3,000 BC. The ancient Greeks and Romans used massage to preserve health and aid healing. Homer wrote about an oily medium used for massage in 1,000 BC. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine advised that an aromatic bath and fragrant massage should be had daily for the maintenance of health. Decadant as this sounds, it was based on Hippocrates research into the benefits of regular massage.
Today massage is used to relax the body and mind and relieve the stresses and strains of everyday life. Many modern health problems we suffer can be directly linked back to high stress levels. Touch stimulates the brain to produce endorphins, the body’s natural mood elevators and pain suppressors, but massage is far more than just a treatment that makes us feel good. Studies show that massage enhances our immune function and lowers the level of our stress hormones.
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| Hippocrates |
Hippocrates is responsible for the medical code of ethics known as the 'Hippocratic Oath'. He also wrote about the effects of massage, stating that a physician should be versed in many things, but most assuredly in 'rubbing', for hard rubbing binds and much rubbing causes parts to waste. The actual word used by Hippocrates was anatripsis, which is Greek for 'friction' and is one of the main techniques used today in therapeutic massage. |
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