Massage therapy is the manipulation of the body’s soft tissues in order to relax the muscles or increase circulation (Greene 1). Massage therapy improves an individuals overall health by helping the flow of fluids from the circulatory and the lymphatic systems throughout the rest of the body (Hickey 1). The application of massage techniques may include pressure, rubbing, kneading, stroking, taping, vibration, rocking, or even friction (Learn: Therapies 1). Massages may also be given in a non-forceful p

Massage therapy goes back as far as 2500 BC (Hickey 1). Massage therapy references have been found in Chinese medical texts that are more than 4,000 years old (Greene 1). Records indicate that Herodicus, teacher of Hippocrates, upheld exercise and massage as life extending (Cates 1). Hippocrates, the “Father of Medicine”, advocated Western health care practices for massage therapy (Greene 1). Per Henrik Ling, a Swede, developed an integrated system of massage and active and passive exercises (1). Ling taught his methods through a gymnastic institute that he established (1). The first massage therapy clinics in the United States were established by two Swedish physicians after the Civil War (1). Many well-known physicians have been known to use massage therapy for the treatment of kings and queens (Cates 1). It is said that Mary, Queen of Scots, was revived from near death by her physician’s use of massage (Cates 1).

Massage therapy has been found to have positive effects on the immune system (Barrett AIDS 1). Since AIDS is a disease in which there is depletion in the systems throughout the body, anything that can improve its functions can help (Barrett AIDS 1). Massage therapy can have a powerful effect on people with AIDS because as they are diagnosed people tend to pull away from them and not want to touch them as much, this causes them to feel unwanted and emotionally unstable. This is when massage therapy has a powerful effect on the patient’s life (Barrett AIDS 2). “To have an hour of someone’s undivided attention, to be the focus of another person’s caring touch, can be as healing to the mind and spirit as any medication for a physical ailment” (Barrett AIDS 2). Headaches are often treatable with massage therapy as well. Using a combination of kneading, and stretching the neck muscles along with relaxed breathing is the major key to getting rid of headaches (Barrett Head 2).

Throughout the years massage therapy h

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