The Historical Benefits of Massage Stones in Modern Times
Did Xerxes, Genghis Khan, Attila the Hun, or Charlemagne ever get a massage? And if they never had one, would they have been “friendlier” if they had periodically enjoyed a relaxing hot rocks massage? Though we will probably never know for certain whether particular leaders in the past enjoyed massages, historical records provide us with some details about the usage of massages and massage stones, throughout history. Learning about how massages began and their trends throughout history, will not necessarily make our massages more relaxing. However, it will definitely help us to better appreciate the physical and mental benefits of massages, as we enjoy them today.
A healthy stone
Historians believe that massage is the oldest type of medical therapy used on humans. Various forms of accounts reveal that massage was used in ancient China, India, Egypt, Rome, and Greece. Besides positioning the stones directly on the body, people would carry stones for health and safeguarding purposes. Stones were also used to diagnosis and treat various diseases.
Even as early as 2,700 B.C., ancient Chinese used massage as a type of treatment for various illnesses, such as paralysis. And more than 2,000 years in the past, the Chinese were already using warmed stones, to improve the internal organs’ performance. Besides in China, people were using massage and healing stones in other regions of the ancient world, including India, Egypt, Europe, Africa, and North and South America. In India, the traditional medical system included therapeutic massage with aromatherapy oils and spices. And pictures of people being massaged have been found in various tombs of ancient Egypt.
Getting on Caesar’s nerves
Meanwhile, in the western world, several Greek and Roman heroes had massages performed on them every day, as a form of treatment for nerve pain. In fact, historical records reveal that Julius Caesar himself had such daily massages. One of the Romans’ practices combined hot immersion baths, with cold pools and marble stone.
The mother of invention
Where did the most conventional variety of massage used in Western society, Swedish massage, originate from? It was created sometime in the 1800s. Experts believe that masseuses in Sweden used several of the massaging techniques used in ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, and China. Besides Swedish massage, various methods have been used to help create other massage methods, such as aromatherapy and reflexology.
Furthermore, several of today’s mainstream massage methods were originally used to relieve people of particular health problems. For example, medical staff would use a certain massage for wounded soldiers during the 1930s’ World War I, to treat nerve damage and to ease “shell shock.”
Today, massage and massage stones are still used to treat a wide range of conditions, from lumbar back pain to paralysis, and from strokes and heart attacks, to different varieties of cancer. The secret to these “magical” stones is in the use of heat and cold during massage, to create useful therapeutic results. This stone becomes a handy, natural tool for the massage therapist, making his or her work more efficient.
Ninety eight point six
How does applying heat and cold impact the body? Back in ancient history, we learned in elementary school that the average temperature of a human’s body is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. In fact, the body is constantly battling to sustain that precise temperature. When the massage therapist applies stones to our bodies in a variety of ways (i.e. hot, cold, local, general, short, long), the natural and beneficial therapeutic results are outstanding.
Throughout human history, therapists have used massage as a means to treat a variety of medical conditions that have plagued people since the beginning of time. Though in modern times we are more aware of the medical befits of massage than Julius Caesar was, we can equally appreciate the historical benefits of massage stones.
About the Author
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Hot Stone Massage – Hot / Cold Part 1 of 2
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Hot Stone Facial Massage DVD w/ 18 Page Digital Users Manual $29.95 This DVD is part of a 4 title series on how to use hot stones in your various treatments, produced by Nature’s Stones Inc (NSI). NSI is an international leader in Hot Stone Massage Education, whose courses and DVD’s help bring therapists to the next level when using heated basalt stones on the full body, face, when doing manicures & pedicures, and while performing a Reflexology session. In ‘The … |
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Hot Stone Massage Full Body Video on DVD – Learn Healing Through Therapeutic Touch As Taught By 2 Master Instructors & 18 Pg Digital User Manual $25.00 Learn the basics of hot stone massage and how to create a relaxing, gentle and effective treatment for your client. This video, produced by the Institute for Massage and Spa Therapy Education (IMSTE), in conjunction with the Institute for Therapeutic Massage (ITM), 6 Massage Therapy Schools in New Jersey, is designed to show the benefits and contraindications of using hot stones while providing … |
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Healing Stone Massage $41.19 This video will show you everything you need to know to begin your hot stone massage practice. You will learn about the various types of stones, textures and shapes as well and the benefits and cautions related to stone therapy. Then Carollanne Crichton will lead you through a basic hot stone massage utilizing foundation layouts and hot stone massage techniques. After addressing some frequently a… |
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Stone Therapy School Level One: Massage with Hot and Cold Stones … |
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Hot Stone Massage: Healing Through Touch … |
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Hot Stone Massage Book & Kit $24.99 FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS HOT STONES AND AROMATHERAPY HAVE BEEN PRIZED FOR THEIR ABILITY TO PROMOTE RELAXATION, HEALING, AND GOOD HEALTH. UNTIL NOW YOU HAD TO HEAD TO AN EXPENSIVE SPA TO ENJOY THESE BENEFITS. NOW IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE A SPA EXPERIENCE SAFELY AND ENJOYABLY IN THE CONFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME. HOT STONE MASSAGE IS THE BEST AND MOST ENJOYABLE AND MOST EFFECTIVE MASSAGE AROUND. THE BENEFITS… |
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Hot Stone Therapy: An Instructional Manual, DVD & Certification Course $229.00 This accredited home study course features an instructional manual, DVD and certification course which will guide students through the entire process of mastering the art of Hot Stone Therapy. Everything from the preparation of heating the stones to the principles and techniques of a full body routine is covered. Topics include: History of hot stone therapy; Naturally formed stones versus mechanic… |
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Hot & Cold Stone Massage Book & Kit with CD $14.99 Kit includes: Hot & Cold Massage Therapy Guide to the Total Mind-Body Experience, by Ernest Ortiz, a well known author, teacher, therapist who has conducted workshops for the past 25 years. Specially mined imported basalt river stones. Basalt stones. formed by the cooling of molten lava are known for their smoothness and ability to retain hot & cold temperatures. Two sizes are included for bot… |
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Blue Thumbby Massage Tool $21.95 The Thumbby Massager Is A Revolutionary New Massage Tool that has been designed w/ the professional & general public in mind. This goes for massage therapists, pt’s, physicians, personal trainers, chiropractors, people who love to give & receive a massage, and anyone who wants to generate some easy self-care. Easy to use, it actually feels like a thumb to the receiving party. It can go deep w/o th… |
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OneTouch Massage 50 Piece Basalt Massage Stone Set 8F $64.99 The OneTouch Massage Stone Set includes 50 hand shaped black basalt stones in various sizes that allow for optimal placement on clients. Basalt stones are the preferred stone for massage therapy applications due to their high heat retention and non-porous surface. This set includes a high quality bamboo storage box. Features: * Includes Bamboo Storage Box |