Asian Theraputic Methods

Anma

History & Definition
Believed to be over 5,000 years old, the oldest known form of traditional Asian massage is Anma. Anma is a deep tissue massage with no oil, consisting of pressing and rubbing techniques. Anma was originally created by the Chinese around 3-5,000 years ago and brought to Japan by warrior monks through Korea around 1,000 years ago. In China, this method is known as Anmo. Since being brought to Japan, it has been further refined and developed into its own art form. Being that Anma is one of the oldest massage forms, other methods grew and developed from it. Swedish and Shiatsu are among the forms that grew out of this rich tradition. Not until 1964, was Shiatsu considered an independent form and method from Anma.

Anma’s Focus
Anma focuses on the whole and improving muscle condition and circulation of Qi, or Universal Life Energy. This tends to be a difference between Eastern and Western techniques; Western techniques focus more on the body and how they function, where Eastern’s focus is on the continual health and center between body and mind.

Anma Usages/Benefits
Some usages for Anma are sports injuries; core balance; beauty treatment; ailments such as headache, asthma, cold, and insomnia. Anma massage can have effects such as reduced tension, relaxation, increased rejuvenation and increased circulation. These are achieved through the nine different sections of Anma; used all together they create a full body therapy. In Japan, usually a therapist will specialize in only three to four areas on top of their other practices/techniques.

Koho Anma. (n.d.). Retrieved Sep. 3, 2008

Nihon Kaifuku Anma – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2008, April 24). Retrieved Sep. 19, 2008

Shiatsu

History & Definition
Shiatsu is considered a traditional Japanese technique/massage which uses fingers and palms to apply pressure to a particular area. In 1912, Tokujiro Namikoshi, founded Shiatsu by treating his mother at home. Shiatsu was associated with Anma massage until 1957, when Japan recognized it as a separate treatment; many various styles of Shiatsu have been created and are referred to as Derivative Shiatsu, for example Meridian Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu, Tao Shiatsu, Quantum Shiatsu, and so on.

Shiatsu’s Focus
In modern medicine, treatment is only decided on and provided after a diagnosis has been made. The significant difference between Shiatsu and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is “Diagnosis and Therapy combined.” Shiatsu does not always require a previous diagnosis like TCM. The purpose of Shiatsu, like many Eastern Techniques, is to prevent illness and promote the natural healing power of the body, along with finding and maintaining the body’s center.

Shiatsu Today
In 2000, the title “Shiatsupractor” was trademarked for a recently proposed international standardized Shiatsu license. Standards vary from different world locations for practicing Shiatsu. For example, in Japan the practioner must possess their license with the Ministry of Health and Welfare. This consists of three years study and 2,200 hours of education. Currently, the American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA) is seeking a statewide standardization of Asian Bodywork license requirements. Shiatsu therapy is now practiced worldwide, and since 1980, the evolution of Shiatsu techniques has mainly occurred in Europe and North America.

Shiatsu – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2008, Sep. 5). Retrieved Sep. 16, 2008

The Beginning

Massage can be defined as the treatment and practice of soft tissue manipulation with physical, functional, and sometimes psychological purposes and goals. A biblical reference of massage can be found as early as c.493 B.C. People of India can trace it back 3,000 years, and the Chinese have found traces as early as before the Sui Dynasty (589-617 A.D.). Some of the earliest references are from China; it is believed that massage originated in that domain of the world, then spread throughout Asia, Africa, the Roman Empire, then all of Europe, and finally the United States.

It Began in Asia

India has been practicing massage methods from around 3,000 B.C.E. Ayurvedic techniques and practices were developed somewhere between 1,500 and 500 B.C.E. Early written records were also found in China; 2,700 B.C.E. is around the time massage evolved in China. The creation of Chinese massage methods came from Chinese medicine, martial arts practitioners, Buddhists, and Taoists. The whole Chinese massage belief system is based on the principle that diseases and illnesses occur due to deficiency or an imbalance of energy in specific pathways of physiological systems. This is why the center of balance and energy is so important and prevalent throughout Chinese massage methods. Some Asian and traditional Chinese techniques are Tui Na, Shiatsu, and Acupuncture. Japan started practicing massage around approximately 1000 B.C.E. Japanese monks were studying Buddhism in China and observed the methods they were utilizing. Japan soon began to introduce and then customize these methods. Anma was the primary method in Japan, which grew to Shiatsu.  From Asia, massage moved to Egypt and Greece.

Spread to Egypt and Greece

Tomb paintings may be the first discovery of massage in Egypt. Egyptians are also credited with the creation of reflexology – applied pressure to hands and feet on specific points. The Greeks took Egyptian’s knowledge of massage and molded it to their beliefs and way of life. People such as, Homer, Aesculapius, and Hippocrates wrote on massage. The Greeks learned Ayurvedic medicine from India as well. It is believed that the Greeks practiced massage between 800 and 700 B.C.E. Athletes in Ancient Greece utilized it to keep their bodies in peak condition, whilst Greek women used massage as a beauty treatment on their skin. From Greece, massage spread to Rome around 200 and 100 B.C.E. Galen, a physician to many emperors, used massage therapy for different illnesses and injuries. Wealthy people in this time period received massages at home, where many Romans could not afford an at home practitioner, they would go to public baths to receive massages. Public baths eventually earned a reputation of excess and unnecessary pleasure. They were outlawed by Emperor Constantine in the fourth century CE. Around this time, massage started declining in popularity, but eventually spread to Europe.

Massage in Europe

Technological advances and scientific breakthroughs were changing the foundation of modern medicine; therefore, manual methods of healing had faded. Massage practice in the West had declined until around 1600 CE. Few advances were made in the massage industry until the 19th century. In the early 1800s, Peter Ling developed the Swedish Gymnastic movement System, which eventually leads to the creation of the Swedish massage.

Over to the United States

From the early part of the 20th century, an increasing number of new and rediscovered massage methods were implemented and practiced. For example: after World War I, patients were treated with massage who suffered nerve damage. Massage had remained out of the mainstream for years; therefore, it was perceived by many as a luxury for the wealthy or on the worst case scenario side associated with the sex trade. As time passed by, in the last half of the 20th century – rising interest in natural healing methods rejuvenated massage. More states started to regulate the practice, and industry standards and licensing and education started to emerge. Currently, there are a number of practices around the states and the world that practice a number of different methods and techniques from ancient methods to more current ones.

Light history of massage . (n.d.). Retrieved Sep. 4, 2008

Massage – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved Sep. 2, 2008

The History of Massage Therapy Dating Back Over 5,000 Years Ago. (n.d.). Retrieved Oct. 7, 2008

Wong, D. (n.d.). The History of Massage. Retrieved Sep. 4, 2008