Nina Capobianco, BS LMT
At some point in our lives everyone suffers with an injury, pain or discomfort. Usually our immediate reaction is to rub or hold the area to ease the pain. Massage has been a healing therapy used for more than 3000 years. Artifacts depicting rubbing and other forms of massage have been uncovered in many countries all over the world. The origin of the term massage can be traced to Greek, Arabic, Latin and Sanskrit among others. The Greek root masso (massein) means to touch and to squeeze or to knead.
Touch is the first sense to develop in humans and usually the last to fade - an indicator of how important touch is to sustaining life. The skin is the body’s largest organ containing millions of sensory nerve endings that link to our brain’s sensory map to release feel good endorphins and pain killers upon receiving healing touch. Premature infants that receive gentle 15 min massage three times per week gain weight 47% faster, have better motor skills and can be released from the hospital six days sooner than preemies left untouched in their incubators [USA Weekend Feb 6-8, 1998]. Touch can lift depression, increase immune function and reduce job stress. Touch is one of our earliest forms of healing. It is a basic life necessity – a basic knead, so to speak.