Historic Descriptions of Massage

From an article in the 1917 issue of the Annals of Medical History by M. Jastrow: "The evolution of medicine from magic to religion to empiricism to science is recognized in the history of massage. The phases are often difficult to distinguish, notably in ancient cultures. Characteristic is the following reference to Babylonian-Assyrian medicine: "If a man has cramps ... place his head downwards and his feet [under him], manipulate his back with the thumb, saying 'be good,' manipulate his arms 14 times, manipulate his head 14 times, rolling him on the ground ... Massage must have been recognized as beneficial in certain cases, but the point of view necessarily was that what was good for the patient was bad for the demon. The drugs, the poultices, the hot and cold douches and the massage all were supposed to act not on the patient but on the demon who was in this way to be forced out or to be coaxed out."

Robert Montraville Green, M.D., a Harvard Medical School Professor of Anatomy has translated the ancient physician Galen's book, Hygiene. In Galen's words, "If, therefore, he is completely rested, it is superfluous to massage or anoint him, unless it were necessary to overcome extreme cold; for then we shall prepare him with massage, just like those who are going to employ cold bathing. But if there should be any sense of fatigue, it has been said before that then it is necessary to anoint and to massage gently. And so also if he were drier than desirable, he should be anointed with sweet oil; for this moistens the dry skin. And he should be massaged little, but with neither firm nor gentle massage. For we want the administration only to favor digestion, not to change the condition of the skin or of the flesh [muscle], nor to eliminate any of the excrements in them. But gentle massage does both, and firm massage the former, for it thickens and toughens the skin, whereas gentle massage purges and makes the body relaxed and soft."

In 1785, C. E. Savary, a Frenchman, wrote about his experiences receiving massage in Egypt. This quote is taken from Dr. Douglas Graham's 1902 Manual Therapeutics: A Treatise on Massage. "Perfectly masseed, one feels completely regenerated, a feeling of extreme comfort pervades the whole system, the chest expands, and we breathe with pleasure; the blood circulates with ease, and we have a sensation as if freed from an enormous load; we experience a suppleness and lightness 'til then unknown. It seems as if we truly lived for the first time. There is a lively feeling of existence which radiates to the extremities of the body, whilst the whole is given over to the most delightful sensations; the mind takes cognizance of these, and enjoys the most agreeable thoughts; the imagination wanders over the universe which it adorns, sees everywhere smiling pictures, everywhere the image of happiness. If life were only a succession of ideas, the rapidity with which memory retraces, them, the vigor with which the mind runs over the extended chain of them, would make one believe that in the two hours of delicious calm which follow a great many years have passed."

George H. Taylor, M.D., a late 19th-century physician who advocated exercise for health, provides this description of shampooing in his book, Health by Exercise, as the practice was experienced by English residents living in India during his time: "The English who reside in India frequently give accounts of the shampooing and friction, which they find a great source of delight as well as of health. The person receiving the operation is extended on a seat, while the operator manipulates his members, as he would knead dough for bread. He then strikes him lightly with the side of the hand, applies perfume and friction, and terminates by cracking the joints of the fingers, toes, and neck. After this operation, the subject experiences a sensation of ineffable happiness and energy. It is said that the Indian ladies seldom pass a day without being thus shampooed by their slaves."

I've taken this version of a well-known story from Dr. Douglas Graham's book, Manual Therapeutics: A Treatise on Massage: "The wise and able Emperor Hadrian, AD. 76-138, who will be so well-remembered as having built the wall from the Solway Frith to the Tyne, and whose reign was distinguished by peace and beneficent energy, one day saw a veteran soldier rubbing himself against the marble at the public baths, and asked him why he did so. The veteran answered, "I have no slave to rub me," whereupon the emperor gave him two slaves and sufficient to maintain them. Another day several old men rubbed themselves against the wall in the emperor's presence, hoping for similar good fortune, when the shrewd Hadrian, perceiving their object, directed them to rub one another!"

Avicenna (980-1037) was a great Persian physician. In his book, the Canon Medicinae, an encyclopedic attempt at collecting all known medical knowledge, he writes in chapter four, entitled "Of Friction," "One kind of friction is hard, which enlarges or thickens; another is gentle, which loosens. One is prolonged, which causes thinness; another is moderate, which fattens. When these are combined, corresponding results will be produced."

Robert Noah Calvert is the founder and CEO of Massage Magazine. The material for this column comes from the World of Massage Museum's collection and Calvert's book, The History of Massage, published in February 2002 by Healing Arts Press.