Massage as a Therapeutic Tool

One of the oldest methods of treatment is the "art of massage" and its existence as a therapeutic tool is recorded in different cultures in the history of mankind. We may think that massage is the trend of the time with many different types such as tai massage, lymphatic, cellulite, therapeutic massage, sports etc. used mainly by holistic healers. In fact, the history of therapeutic massage dates back to 3,000 years BC. in the cultures of the East beginning with
Ayurvedic healing system of ancient India, while a little later it was developed in China in the context of traditional Chinese medicine and later appeared in Egypt, and in other Western cultures.

The art of massage began to be practiced as a therapeutic massage with the unique tool of touch through fingers, elbows and even feet. Over time, to more effectively approach the deep tissues, tools were developed from natural materials, wood or metal, that applied pressure and massage to treat chronic pain from intense work or sports injuries.

But let's see below a brief description of therapeutic massage as it has been traditionally developed in Eastern and Western cultures.

Ayurvedic massage
According to the therapist and author Charaka, massage belongs to the daily self-care of the body (dinacharya), starting from the head and ending at the feet. It is recommended early in the morning for the flow of Prana (vital energy), the balance of the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, ether) that make up the body, the lubrication of the joints and the good circulation of the muscles. The oils used are usually coconut and almond oil to combat heat, sesame oil on the soles of the feet for deep sleep and expelling excess air, and qee (a type of clarified butter cow) for mental balance and nourishment of tissues.

There are many different therapeutic Ayurvedic massage techniques that are still unchanged today!

The most well-known techniques are:
Abhyanga : Intense massage combined with the use of heating oils aimed at increasing circulation, detoxifying the tissues and balancing the earth and air elements.
Shirodhara : Continuous flow of hot qee oil on the forehead to treat anxiety, headaches, rest the nervous system and harmonize the body-mind-spirit axis.
Marma points: Circular movements on special areas of the body followed by static finger pressure for a few seconds. A marma point is considered to play the role of transmitter and receiver, as it constantly exchanges messages between the internal and external environment.

Traditional Chinese massage
Massage in China was developed around 2,700 BC. and includes a combination of movements, massages and finger pressures on specific points of the body in order to activate the meridians and release Qi, the vital energy.

Chinese medicine practitioners use the elbows, fingers and feet while some techniques require kneeling and rubbing the skin to unblock pain and release any excess such as cold wind, fire, phlegm. Benefits include improved blood circulation, faster recovery from injuries, chronic pain management (muscle, joint), emotional balance.
The massages of the Chinese massage required the use of rose oil, apricot oil, peony in combination with jasmine essential oil, agioclima and rollers with precious stone heads.
According to the therapists, the components of the oils are part of the treatment and recovery of muscle strain.

The most well-known traditional types of Chinese massage that are still practiced today are:
Tuina : The practice requires strong pushes and pulls, shaking, on the soft tissue. The philosophy behind the technique is to directly feed tissues with nutrients by increasing circulation and the free flow of Qi in the body's meridians.
Gua Sha: It is a popular technique that is reviving nowadays, as it is applied in many countries and concerns facial care. The purpose is to smooth the skin and maintain youthfulness. This is achieved by using special tools rollers with heads of stones such as jade, jade, amethyst, citrine, quartz.
Accupresure – Acupressure : In this technique, pressure is applied to specific acupuncture points for a prolonged time, with a specific order and inclination on the body in order to activate Qi and balance the opposite sides of the body Yin – Yang that affect the flow of the meridians. The meridians are like a communication system throughout the body as they start in our fingers, connect to the brain and then communicate to the organs.

Egypt – Reflexology
One of the first countries to introduce therapeutic foot massage was Egypt where for the first time in 2,500 BC. we come across depictions of people practicing reflexology on the soles and palms. It is worth mentioning that the people of ancient Egypt had developed the system that separated the soles and palms into zones that reflexively correspond to the organs of the body. Until today, reflexology holds a special place as
therapeutic method as it can relieve musculoskeletal pain, hormonal problems, intestinal disorders, insomnia, anxiety, etc.
Today, more and more therapists practice massage as a therapeutic tool or as a supplement as part of holistic rehabilitation in combination with beneficial oils that help relax the nervous system and strengthen the whole body.

At our pharmacy, Avgerinos pharmacy, you will find a wide variety of oils such as balsam oil, argan oil, coconut oil, arnica oil, lavender essential oil, sandalwood oil, rose oil, etc. Contact us to prepare the right mixture for professional or personal use.