Health Resources

A Brief History of Pain Management

Recordings on stone tablets provide evidence that ancient civilizations treated pain with heat, water, sun and physical pressure. The Greeks and Romans were the first to recognize the role of the brain in producing the perception of pain.

Hippocrates (460 - 377 B.C.) left historical records of pain relief treatments, including the use of powder made from the bark and leaves of the willow tree to help heal headaches, pains and fever. This remedy eventually led to the production of modern-day aspirin.

In the years 1400 to 1500, evidence began to accumulate which supported theories that connected the brain to actual physical sensations. Leonardo da Vinci came to believe that the brain was the central organ responsible for sensation. He developed the idea that the spinal cord transmits sensations to the brain.

With the growth of medicine occurred in the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly in Europe, where methods of practice and treatment became standardized.

A Brief History of Massage

The origin of the word "massage" may be from either the Arabic word "mass" (to touch), or the Greek word "massein" (to knead). Also worth noting, in Sanskrit, "Masch" translates as: to strike, press or condense.

Massage may be the oldest form of medical care known to mankind. It has been practiced by people in Egyptian and Asian cultures for over 4000 years. Wall paintings which depict people massaging each other have been discovered in Egyptian tombs.

A Chinese textbook written in 2700 BC (The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine) recommends the massage of the flesh with exercises of hands and feet as treatment for paralysis, chills, and fever. Traditional Chinese medicine included massage, known as "Tui Na" (push and grasp), in addition to acupuncture, herbal medicine and exercise.

Ayurvedic medicine, an ancient Indian system of healing, places great emphasis on the benefits of massage. One of the earliest known Indian medical texts, written approximately 1800 BC, describes "touch therapy" as a primary healing practice of the time.

In about 1000 BC Japanese monks studying in China, brought the healing methods of traditional Chinese medicine back to Japan. By introducing new combinations, the Japanese created a unique massage form called Shiatsu. Shiatsu is a Japanese word derived from "shi" (finger) and "atsu" (pressure). The technique is similar to acupuncture but without using needles.

In Europe, therapeutic massage can be traced back to ancient Greece. During that time, physicians promoted massage in conjunction with herbs, diet, relaxation, and hydrotherapy. In the 5th century BC, Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine, offered a holistic approach to good health. He said that massage along with fresh air, nutritious food, bathing, music, rest and visiting friends were all key to treating disease. The ancient Greeks massaged athletes before and after playing in sporting events. They believed that it helped prepare the muscles before activity and removed extra fluid and metabolites afterwards. These concepts are still in use today.

The physician and philosopher, Galen of Rome (129-199 AD) wrote about "friction massage," describing the direction of pressure and frequency of treatment. Roman physicians used massage for relieving pain also. Julius Caesar was said to have been given a daily massage to treat neuralgia.

Sweden's Henrik Ling (1776-1839) is considered by many to be the father of modern Western massage. Ling considered the organs of the body to be active instruments of the soul. He based his regimen on the ancient healing techniques of China, Rome, Greece, and Egypt. During the 19th century, his system of Swedish Massage, which combined gymnastics with the massage regimen, spread into the European continent and America.

Swedish or classic massage is defined largely by the strokes that compose its method: effleurage (stroking), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (striking), and frictions (rubbing) - with vibration added later. The French terms denoting the basic strokes were given by Dutch practitioner Johan Georg Mezger (1838-1909).

With the foundation of the Society of Trained Masseurs in 1894, massage and physiotherapy were further established in Europe. In 1917, Massage Therapy was introduced as a profession in the United States when the Surgeon-General set up a rehabilitation process for soldiers wounded in World War One. Patients suffering from nerve injury or shell shock were treated with massage.

Today, it is widely recognized that therapeutic massage can benefit just about everyone regardless of their age or physical condition. Massage is used in hospitals to care for patients with cancer, AIDS, heart attacks or strokes. Professional athletes use massage and physical therapy to maximize their performance or restore injured muscles back to health. Most American hospices have some kind of bodywork therapy available and it is frequently offered in health centers, drug treatment clinics, and pain clinics. In addition to the physical benefits such as pain relief and an increase in the body's range of movement, massage can also restore inner peace and provide a sense of well being.

Since advancements have been made in medical technology and pharmacology, physiotherapists have begun increasingly to favor electrical instruments over manual methods of stimulating the tissues. There are numerous electronic muscle stimulation / massage devices. One of the safest available today is the Rhythm Touch Q Massager which is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Electronic muscle stimulators they have been used by the medical community for many decades. The technology continues to be used extensively by doctors in hospital settings, physiotherapy clinics, and also by chiropractors, sports coaches, spas and health clubs.

Types of Massage

Relaxation Massage:
A smooth, flowing style that promotes general relaxation, improves circulation and range of movement, and relieves muscular tension.

Remedial Massage:
A paramedical treatment that helps to restore function to injured "soft tissues" (muscles, tendons and ligaments). This therapy may involve the use of various types of Massage, as well as a range of other physical treatments to assist in recovery. In addition, patients may be asked to perform some activities at home to assist the process of recovery.

Sports Massage:
Combines different Massage techniques to enhance sports performance and recuperation. An effective component of any training program.

Aromatherapy Massage:
Combining the therapeutic properties of essential oils with specific Massage techniques to promote health and well-being.

Reflexology:
Using thumb and finger pressure on the reflex points of the feet (which correspond to all areas of the body) to assist in achieving balance within the body.

Oriental Massage Therapies:
Oriental-based systems of finger pressure Massage, such as Acupressure and Shiatsu, that treat points along the acupressure meridians, aiming to release discomfort and rebalance energy.

A Brief History of Chinese Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a very ancient form of healing which pre-dates recorded history. The philosophy is rooted in the Taoist tradition which goes back over 8000 years. The people of this time period would meditate and observe the flow of energy within and without. They also were keen to observe man's relations with nature and the universe.

There were many sages of this period, but the most legendary was Fu Hsi, who lived in the Yellow River area of China approximately 8000 years ago. By observing nature, he formulated the first two symbols, a broken line and unbroken line. These symbols represented the two major forces in the universe - creation and reception - and how their interaction forms life. This duality was named yin-yang and it represents the backbone of Chinese Medicine theory and application.

During primitive China's "New Stone Age" (10,000 - 4000 years ago), stone knives were refined into fine needles and served as instruments of healing. Hieroglyphs from the Shang Dynasty (1000 BC) show evidence of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (the burning of wool at the tip of a needle to increase the heat effect to the injured part of the body).

The Nei Jing, the earliest book written on Chinese Medicine, was compiled around 305-204 B.C. and consists of chapters about anatomy, physiology, pathology, disease, diagnosis, treatment and prevention. It also includes chapters on acupuncture, descriptions of meridians and points, types of needles, needling techniques and Qi (life energy). Historical records indicate many physicians were practicing acupuncture during this time.

Acupuncture experienced great development during the Sui (581 - 618) and Tang (618 - 907) Dynasties. During this period, acupuncture became a special branch of medicine and acupuncture education became part of the Imperial Medical Bureau.

Further refinement of Acupuncture techniques occured during the Ming Dynasty (1568 - 1644). In 1601, Yang Jizhou wrote Zhenjin Dacheng (Principles of Acupuncture and Moxibustion), which became the foundation for the teachings of G. Soulie de Morant who introduced Acupuncture into Europe.

In 1911, Western Medicine was introduced in Asia and both Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology were suppressed. However, due to the large population and need for medical care, Acupuncture and herbs remained popular among the folk people.

In 1950 Chairman Mao officially united Traditional Chinese Medicine with Western Medicine, and Acupuncture became established in many hospitals.

Acupuncture research continued through the 1950's and 1960's with further study of acupuncture anesthesia and acupuncture's effect on the internal organs.

Today acupuncture continues to play an important role in China's medical system and practitioners of the ancient art can be found throughout the world.

New evidence suggests that Acupuncture was not only practiced in China. The Egyptians, in their medical treatises called the "Papyrus Ebera" (1550 B.C.), talked about body vessels that resembled the 12 meridians. The South African Bantu tribesman scratched parts of their bodies to cure diseases. Native people in the arctic used sharp stones for simple acupuncture and Brazilian cannibals shot tiny arrows with blow pipes to diseased parts of their bodies to cure disease!

How Does Acupuncture Work?

Acupuncture restores health by promoting the balanced flow of Qi (life energy) through the body. By stimulating points on the body through the use of needles or manual pressure, both blood and Qi are guided to the areas that need it. The stimulation also disperses blood and Qi away from areas where they are stuck.

A bruise is a good example of a place where blood is stuck, and can be seen by its black and blue discoloration. Clearing away the old stuck blood and restoring bloodflow and Qi to the bruised area greatly enhances and promotes quick and complete healing. If left untreated, areas with stagnant / insufficient bloodflow and Qi may result in pain or even disease.

Acupuncture points are believed to stimulate the central nervous system to release chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These chemicals either change the experience of pain or release other chemicals, such as hormones, that influence the body's self-regulating systems. The biochemical changes may stimulate the body's natural healing abilities and promote physical and emotional well-being.

Scientists have found evidence that acupuncture points are strategic conductors of electromagnetic signals. These are minute electrical impulses that transmit information through and between nerve cells. The signals convey information about pain and other sensations within the body's nervous system. Stimulating these pathways with acupuncture enables electromagnetic signals to be relayed at a greater rate than under normal conditions. These signals may start the flow of immune system cells to areas of the body that are injured or vulnerable to disease.

Research has found that several types of opioids may be released into the central nervous system during acupuncture treatment. These opiods are naturally occurring chemicals, such as endorphins, that may reduce pain and induce sleep.

In 2004, a study by the Royal London Homeopathic hospital involving 400 patients found that headaches were reduced sharply after 12 sessions of acupuncture, with effects lasting at least a year.