

Bodhi Tree Therapies
Bowen & Massage Therapy
A blend of Muscular & Fascial Therapy

Massage Therapy - From the beginning
The Word Massage derives from the Arabic word “Massa” , to touch, feel or handle. Every indigenous culture has its own style and form of hands on healing. Its origins date back thousands of years.
CHINA
China is generally accepted as the originator of hands on healing methods. There is evidence dating back to the Shang dynasty circa 16-11 Century bc, which refers to a technique called “Anmo” which literally means compression (an) and gliding (mo) . The term became generally used for massage. The very simplistic understanding was that the area of muscle and soft tissue that was in pain had constricted blood vessels and had a deficiency in healthy qi rich blood. By encouraging blood flow into those areas, the oxygenated, qi rich blood, eliminated the pain, which is the basically the premise of modern massage.
INDIA
In order to harmonize and treat a patient, Ayurvedic medicine uses a combination of diet, herbalism, aromatherapy, colour therapy, sound therapy and TOUCH therapy. This holistic medical practice began in India around 3000bc, it’s basis and theory was documented around 1500-500bc. Ayurvedic medicine is still practised throughout India today.
EGYPT
There is documented evidence that Queen IsIs of Egypt, who ruled around 2000bc, included massage in her general health and wellbeing routine. Around 1850bc, written on ancient papyrus paper, there is an account for a therapeutic treatment for swollen legs with massage and mud.
MESOPATAMIA (IRAQ/KUWAIT)
Archaeologist’s discovered clay tablets from ancient Babylon dating from around 300bc , which details, massage being used as a way of relieving inflammation of the intestines. Paintings on the tomb walls depict massage used for healing . The practise of hands on healing medicine was practised by priest’s whose belief was that disease, pain and illness was the work of the gods and goddesses. Prayers, spells, and amulets were often used in the hope of a cure. An almost magical quality would have been given to those trained in the art of hands on healing.
GREECE
It would seem that the ancient greeks were the first to develop sports massage!
The young man of ancient Greece were encouraged to develop their skills for battle. A purpose built training facility or “gymnasium” was available for the purpose. Attached to the training facility would be a communal bathing facility, where not only bathing was encouraged to relax the muscles, but specific massage was performed pre and post training.
I can’t quite help but draw parallels between the ancient greeks and the elite sports men of today. We have taken over 2000 years to learn what the greeks knew. As today’s top sports men and women, train in specialist gymnasiums, always looking to compete, to train in order to perform at their best, always striving for greater agility and strength and to win. There care regime includes hot baths, ice baths and sport massage pre and post event by highly trained specialist therapists.
Ancient Greece has been integral in the development of modern medicine and treatments. Hippocrates who was thought to have lived between 460-370 bc. and is now called the father of modern medicine observed, that ill health and disease was not caused by angry gods but was the result of natural causes. He believed in a healthy diet, massage and physical exercise as a way to maintain good health. Hippocrates was a man well ahead of his time. He also theorized that germ cells are passed down genetically which Darwin later laid claim to in 1864. 2000 years later!!!! .
“The way to health is to have an aromatic bath and an oiled scented massage every day”
Hippocrates
FRANCE
Thought to be have been brought into Europe by the French during the Napoleonic campaign. Massage in French means “friction of kneading” . The French are thought to have introduced the “Massage parlour” in around 1864 to Paris, the Hedonistic Europeans embraced the raunchiness of the “The Massage Parlour” and it became the accepted term for a “brothel”, jump forward 150 years and regretfully the Massage industry still struggles to overcome its past associations.
SWEDEN
The Swedish physician Per Henrik Ling (1776–1839) devised a massage system with a set protocol for joint and muscle ailments after visiting China. It was later extended to relieve deformities of arthritis and re-educate muscles following paralysis. Manipulations include light or hard stroking, compression (kneading, squeezing, and friction), and percussion (striking with the edges of the hand) and is the basis of the remedial, sports and therapeutic techniques of today.
Theresa Klos
(I love finding out the origin and meaning of things.. so when I decided to write this I got a little more than I bargained for, but that’s perfect, as to me that’s what life is about to learn, to adapt, to implement and to create!)