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The Healing Art of Massage
| Article
# : |
11396 |
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Section : |
LIFE
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| Issue
Date : |
11 / 1986 |
1,764 Words |
| Author
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Ronda Miller
Ronda Miller is a freelance writer who specializes in human
interest stories. She currently resides in Irvine,
California. |
MEDICAL RESEARCH has proven that simple human touch is a necessity of life: Even among animals, baby monkeys will tenaciously cling to terrycloth-covered surrogates when denied physical contact with their mothers, and later develop dangerously antisocial behavior. Without adequate holding; rocking, and touching, researchers say, human babies can even die.
Human touch that apples methodical pressure, friction; manipulation of the body is called message. The practice of massage as a healing art is countless centuries old and has its roots deep m the c civilizations around the world. Ancient Egyptian tomb drawings document a form of therapeutic massage that was practiced over 5,000 years ago. Three thousand years before Christ laid his hands on the afflicted and healed the sick; many forms of massage therapy were in active use in Japan, China, India and the Middle East.
Indeed massage predates medicine as the oldest health practice used to alleviate pain, believe symptoms of disease; and promote and maintain good health. Ageless Oriental doctrines concerning holistic health, moreover, elevated massage to a spiritual and philosophical plane. Steeped in time-honored tradition and respect, and with documented benefits to mankind over several thousand years, massage would appear to have earned a noble place among other important health practices.
Flip through a phone book, past the body-face heading for 'Dentistry' and 'Chiropractice'. Stop before you reach. 'Physicians and Surgeons' Look carefully and you may actually find a listing for 'Massage', with one or two legitimate practitioners sandwiched between a couple of lurid ads for 'Sexy Lady Escort Service', 'Exotic Bachelor Parties', and Adam and Eve Spa Encounters'.
The sad fact is that two trades have been fighting for years over the billing of "The oldest profession in the world," massage is one contender. You can probably guess the other.
Legitimate massage has suffered at the hands of "adult entertainers" who practice a less reputable profession under its protective guise. Despite centuries of respectful practice as a valid healthy therapy, massage is still held in suspicion by many people.
Unfortunately for massage practitioners, some of these people make the rules. "It is outrageous that more than half of all California cities require professional massage practitioners to be
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