We have all had the experience of massage in its simplest form. How many times have you suffered from pain or discomfort with the natural reaction to rub the area; miraculously experiencing the diminishing of pain to a certain degree. Children are a very good example of this basic instinct to massage an area when in pain; when they have hurt themselves they come running for the area to be ‘rubbed better’.
Early in our development on this planet we would have had access to and understanding of many herbs and their effect on the body, whether taken internally or applied topically. Certain plants therefore were applied to the area of pain with gentle massage to promote the healing process. Animals, which still have the basic instincts towards health, will lick wounds or areas that are painful; they will also search out certain herbs to help the healing process. These techniques, from early civilisations to present time, have evolved the very diverse massage we know and use today.
Massage is, in my opinion, one of the most powerful medicines for the body – it allows the time and space to heal the body, mind and spirit.
Imagine this scenario – all people are allowed to have one massage a month paid for out of the contributions we make each month to the national pot of money called NHS. We get personal attention for 1 hour – we get to talk to a trained person who can listen to our problems while they are working the muscles of the body to release tension and soften the body. Miraculously we become less tense in our life – we are able to work better – less days off sick with back pain – less vists to our GP – less drugs administered – suddenly the NHS has more money to give some real time to patients with more serious health issues and give the correct treatment. WOW wouldn’t that be a breath of fresh air.