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February 5, 2006

Is Massage Traditional Or Alternative Medicine?

Massage has been documented as a medical procedure for over 5000 years, and it may be modern medicine that is "alternative." A history lesson is in order.

The first documented description of massage as a technique or therapy dates back to 3,000 B.C. in China. At the same time, similar approaches were evolving in India, eventually becoming the practice of Ayurvedic medicine, or the "arts of life," which also utilized massage as an instrumental healing methodology. Greeks, Romans and even Native Americans highly valued not just the therapeutic, but also the actual healing value of massage. Hippocrates himself is quoted as stating that "anyone wishing to study medicine must master the art of massage."

However, due to the advent of the scientific method, not to mention the elimination of serious diseases from the human population (small pox and polio, almost), modern medicine has earned it's place at the top of medical charts. Luckily, the benefits of massage are standing the test of modern research.

Contemporary research has validated many of the formerly unsubstantiated claims of alternative practitioners. Scientific studies have confirmed the effectiveness of massage in alleviating some depressive symptoms, altering the immune system, controlling pain and reducing stress.

Posted by linda at February 5, 2006 12:51 PM