Although massage therapy is often stereotyped as a new-age component of health care, human touch is probably the oldest known healing tradition. The ancient peoples of China, Greece, Egypt, and India relied on basic massage to relieve almost any medical condition from which they were suffering. As early as 2700 BC, the Chinese text, The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, recommended that “breathing exercises, massage of the skin and flesh, and exercises of the hands and feet” should be used to treat paralysis, chills, an

Even if there is no medical condition that directly hinders the body, massage therapy can still improve an individual’s quality of life in countless ways. The most basic principle in the field of massage is the improved flow of blood. When the body is overworked, tension in the muscles and other soft tissues can impair circulation, resulting in a deficient supply of nutrients. Wastes or toxins, impurities found in the muscles and skin, can accumulate and cause soreness, stiffness, and muscle spasms (“Massage Therapy” 2). In addition, illness, structural and functional problems, or slower healing can occur when the flow of blood through the body is restricted. The hands-on techniques of massage adequately manipulate muscle tissues, consequently assisting with the removal of metabolic wastes (Bovo 3). As the affected area is massaged, the muscles gradually release their hold on the irritated nerves, and the pain eases. In addition, massage has been shown to increase the production of pain-killing endorphins and the mood-altering hormone serotonin, while simultaneously slowing the release of the stress hormone cortisol (“Massage Therapy” 2). Massage therapy increased the amount of beta-endorphins, hormones responsible for pain relief, in the blood by 16 percent (“Edgemont”). Consequently, massage aids the relaxation of the body by physically and chemically addressing the problem. Not only does therapeutic touch play a major role in the relief of pain, but massage also enhances faster healing time from pulled muscles and sprained ligaments (Bovo 3). Pain and swelling is significantly reduced, along with the formation of excessive scar tissue. Massage not only reduces discomfort, but also aids the body in its healing processes. Athletes, in particular, can benefit from massage therapy. Sports massage conditions athletes for rigorous physical training and reduces Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness when administered two hours after the termination of eccentric exercise (Bovo 3). Thus, massage therapy offers extraordinary benefits to the human body, and an individual has everything to gain from the experience.

Just as hands-on manipulation is beneficial to a physically healthy individual, massage therapy can make noticeable improvements in those with special needs. Hospitalized patients who were massaged attributed greater mobility, increased energy, positive mood changes, and a faster rate of recovery to massage therapy (“Massage Therapy” 4). Over 40 percent of hospitalized fibromyalgia patients who used deep tissue massage said it helped them feel better, in comparison to only 35 percent said prescription drugs were effective (“Edgemont”). The healing effects of therapeutic massage can also be seen in those with physical wounds. In a controlled trial, minor wounds were surgically inflicted in the shoulders of forty-four male college students. Twenty-three received Therapeutic Touch treatments and twenty-one did not. After eight days, the treated group’s wounds had shrunk an average of 93.5 percent compared to 67.3 percent for those untreated (Collinge 16). Patients suffering from skin conditions experienced visible improvement as well. For example, in burn patients, massage therapy decreased the physical symptoms of pain and itching (“Massage Therapy” 4). In the same way, massage therapy proved to be an effective treatment for pain in cancer patients. Therapeutic massage is a beneficial nursing intervention that promotes relaxation and alleviates the perception of pain and anxiety in hospitalized cancer patients (“Scientific Studies” 4). Massage therapy has also proved helpful in geriatrics and the care of the elderly (White Personal Interview). Massage can be especially beneficial to seniors, from those who suffer from arthritis, diabetes, circulatory problems and high blood pressure to those with headaches, stiff joints, and sore backs (Baker). Specifically, massage positive

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