Massage therapy is a popular type of alternative treatment in traditional forms of medicine practiced in China, Japan, India, and Egypt. As a means to prevent conditions arising from physical, mental, and emotional stress, and to complement a treatment for a particular ailment, massage therapy is preferred because it offers a non-invasive means to achieve wellness and good health. It is also often recommended and used by individuals suffering from chronic conditions.
The use of massage therapy is well-documented and supported. In China and India, massage was used as far back as 4,000 years ago. It was considered for its therapeutic properties in the West in 400 BC and was supported by medical practitioners in the U.S. in the 19th century. It declined in use only in the 1940s when pharmaceutical drugs and medications became prevalent. It has increased in popularity recently, thanks to an alternative medical practice review in the 1994 publication of the National Institute of Health and the use of massages in the field of health care.
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