Massage: a brief history and current research on massage for infants and during pregancy.

The purpose of this page is to introduce you to massage. We will take a brief journey through its history and then look at its main types.

I will also touch (no pun intended) on the topic of massage for infants and during pregnancy.

The topic fits quite well with the others you'll find on this website. Let me explain….

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, you are a holistic organism. Your physical, psychological and spiritual components constantly interacting; the goal is homeostasis, balance, equilibrium - whatever term you prefer to use.

Romancing-the-soap.com takes a holistic approach to true beauty. This isn’t a site where you learn how to apply make-up, which shampoo will give you a glorious mane, which brand of eyelash curlers is better, etc. etc. There are hundreds of websites like that.

What makes us unique is the approach we take to real beauty, stressing the holistic principle. This is why I address topics like sleep, stress, nutrition, exercise, etc. And, whenever possible, I provide you with quality links for further reading/learning. And massage is one of those little things we can do for ourselves which can do so much for our overall well-being.

Having said this, let’s begin the journey.

I would not be stretching the truth by saying that massage is perhaps the simplest and oldest mode of medical care. Archeologists unearthed Egyptian tombs containing images of people being massaged. The Roman emperor Caeser, who suffered from neuralgia (nerve pain), was treated with massage on a daily basis.

Chinese massage, which originated around 2700BC was based on the principle that illnesses are the result of an imbalance in specific pathways (“meridians”) representing the various physiological systems.

In Japan, massage became popular around 1100BC, when monks traveling to China to study had the opportunity to observe traditional Chinese medicine, which included massage.

Greek physicians often used oils and massage to treat various medical conditions, and to help keep athletes in top form.

Around 100 BC, the famous Roman physician Galen reported that a healthy diet, exercise, rest and massage were vital for maintaining and restoring health. A holistic physician!

Lamentably, massage therapy wasn’t introduced in the USA until the mid 1850s by Charles and George Taylor, two New York physicians who studied in Sweden. And speaking of Sweden….

Shiatsu is based on the “Qi”, that is, the flow of energy throughout the body. It is best used for what the practitioner believes to be a flow restriction in a specific location, or in cases of muscle knots. The therapist will use his/her fingers, thumbs or even knuckles to put pressure on the area for approximately 60 seconds.

Deep massage is a firm style aimed at relieving long-standing tightness, muscle spasms or knots. The therapist may use thumbs, elbows and even forearms to accomplish the goal. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I’d like it very much!

In the USA, recent research shows that over 90% of Americans believe that massage is beneficial to a person’s health. If you live in this country and are interested in starting a massage routine (ideally once a week), please make sure the therapist is well qualified, having passed the National Certification Examination in therapeutic massage. He/she should also possess the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) licence to practice.

Please note: Speak honestly with your therapist. Tell him/her what you want to achieve through massage. Make them aware of ANY physical condition you may have, especially if essential oils are used. (For example, rosemary should not be used if you have high blood pressure).

Can massage help the little ones? Research indicates so. Over 20 studies on infant massage were reviewed, all of them indicating benefits in areas of sleep and crying. The infants were more relaxed, cried less, and the stress hormones levels in their urine were also decreased. This was not recorded in the control group.

So go ahead and help your baby get a better night’s sleep. However, I strongly discourage using essential oils unless you check first with your medical practitioner or a truly experienced herbalist. Many essential oils can be very dangerous to children, and the dosage must be adjusted accurately. So, please play it safe. Use you favorite baby oil or baby lotion and do not use essential oils.

But a few words of caution are in order…

(1): No massage in the first trimester. It could result in premature labor!

(2): No abdominal massage. The baby may start kicking!

(3): No pressure between heel and ankle. This area has a correlation to the uterus, and pressure on this point could result in premature labor, especially when done during the last trimester!

Before signing off, I’d like you to be aware that much bickering goes on in regards to the history of this healing touch therapy, with authors/researchers attacking one another over dates, etc. etc.

If you are interested in the topic, may I recommend “The History of Massage” by Robert N. Calvert. This book is required material by some of the most respected massage therapy schools in the USA. Full of fascinating facts, you will learn about the evolution of massage techniques and much more. Follow the link below for more information.