Happy Autumn!
It’s already October! It seems like it was just yesterday that we had Memorial Day weekend with the whole summer ahead. Time condenses and increases speed for the last few months of the year – so I’m preparing for the rollercoaster ride.

P.S. I am preparing some gift certificate specials for the holiday season – so look for them in the next newsletter.

Although it is slowly gaining acceptance in the modern mainstream medical community, massage has played a strong role in medicine throughout history. Records of massage used by ancient Chinese, Greek, Persians and Romans show it to be an ancient tradition used by healers throughout the world.

While massage was undoubtedly passed on through oral tradition before written records existed, the earliest records of massage come from China at about 3000 BCE. Later, during the first millennium BCE, the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, an ancient medical text, lists massage as a treatment for bodies under stress or experiencing illness (see The History of Massage). Other ancient cultures used massage as well: ancient Egyptian ruins include scenes of foot massage, and ancient Mayan and Incan cultures relied on joint manipulation and massage as a healing method.

The use of massage in Greek culture is well documented. Massage was often used before and after sporting events, and facilities for massage were included in the schools and gymnastic centers. Hippocrates (460-377 BCE), known as the father of medicine, used herbs and oils with massage to treat various conditions. He stated, “Anyone wishing to study medicine must master the art of massage." (see The History of Massage). He used friction for sprains and dislocations, and used kneading in his treatment of constipation.

Romans, as well, used massage for healing. Julius Caesar was “pinched” (kneaded) as a treatment for his neuralgia and epileptic seizures. Roman baths often included rooms for massage, and wealthy figures often had their own physicians perform massage on them.

One of the top figures in ancient medicine, Avicenna (980 CE to 1037 CE) worked to collect and organize medical information from the Greeks and Romans, and translated the information to Arabic. He was especially talented at researching conditions and relieving pain. He advocated massage along with other analgesics as a means to reduce pain.

While modern massage has its roots in the 1800s, the foundation of massage and its use for healing goes back thousands of years. Although the method and types of massage were undoubtedly different from culture to culture and era to era, massage has remained a central tool in treating and healing medical conditions.

• “A Whirlwind Tour through the Entire History of Massage”
• “Ged Quayle: The History of Massage”
• “Islamic Culture and the Medical Arts”
• “The History of Massage”

More on Massage: Lymphatic Drainage Massage

In the human body, the lymphatic system is key in removing toxins, germs, excess water and in generating white blood cells. Lymphatic fluid is present within the entire capillary system of the body, and there are specific pathways the lymph fluid takes to move all the lymph fluid toward two major ducts at the base of the neck. Lymphatic Drainage Massage is a gentle, rhythmic type of massage that works by stimulating the lymph system. These gentle pumping actions applied to the skin cause movement in the lymph system toward the main lymph drainage ducts. This reduces blockages, gets lymph moving, and cleans out your system.

Normal movement of the lymph fluid is caused by muscle movement – breathing, walking, moving hands – all of these actions stimulate lymph fluid into lymph capillaries. However, when the body is injured, or under stress, the lymph system goes into overdrive, and the lymph system may be overwhelmed, or have blockages. Lymphatic massage can influence the lymph fluid to move from tissues into capillaries, and from there, to the major ducts draining lymph fluid throughout the body. The thoracic duct (on the left side of the body beneath the left collar bone) is the destination for lymph fluid from the entire left side of the body, and for the right side of the body below the chest. The right duct gathers fluids from the right side of the head, neck, upper chest and right arm.

In Lymphatic Drainage Massage, the massage therapist works from the major ducts outward, clearing blockages in major thoroughfares before working on lymph flow from more distal points on the body. By reducing blockages, the flow of the lymph system improves, and pulls along more lymph fluid from distal areas as it is worked. The therapy is very light and rhythmic. Usually the same actions are performed several times on a part of the body before moving to the next. Because lymphatic massage helps aid the removal of wastes in the system, sometimes clients feel tired and lethargic for 24-48 hours. This feeling has been compared to a low-grade alcohol hangover. The benefit is that once those toxins are out of the body, clients feel much better, retain less water, and overall have an increased function in the lymph system. Lymphatic massage can help with allergies and congestion, as well as edema. There are four main contraindications: 1) heart-related edema, 2) blood clots within the last three weeks, 3) acute inflammation (first 48 hours), and 4) active malignancies.

The following site contains more information about manual lymphatic drainage:

• Dr Vodder School North America

Please give me a call if you'd like to know more about lymphatic drainage massage or to include it in your next session (615.294-6672).