Massage
The manipulation of the soft tissue of the body has been used as a healing therapy for many thousands of years. Records dating back to 2700 B.C. show that in China massage was used to treat paralysis, chills and fever. Hippocrates, the famous Greek physician writing in 400 B.C., recommended that physicians should treat sports and war injuries with massage and rubbing.
The ancient cultures of Japan, Egypt, Rome and Arabia all considered massage to be calming, soothing and relaxing, and also very important as a healing therapy. Now, in the 21st century, there are many different kinds of massage therapies available, each of which offers specific benefits to the mind and body.
Massage uses either the therapists hands or, in some cases, mechanical means, to manipulate the body's soft tissue, especially the muscles.
Massage can be used to treat a wide range of conditions including stress, insomnia, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, diabetes, the muscle spasms and general aches and pains associated with pregnancy, and the mental and emotional problems associated with cancer, Alzheimers disease and stroke.
Massage relieves the symptoms of stiff, tired joints, speeds up digestion and encourages improved circulation, promotes relaxation and improved sleep. Clients who have experienced these forms of specialised massage report that they find the treatment soothing
Massage of any kind should not be carried out on clients with fever, contagious or infectious diseases. Clients with any form of cancer must obtain their doctors permission before having any kind of massage treatment. Clients with cardiovascular disease, arthritis, epilepsy, diabetes or trapped nerves should always have a chat with their doctor first.