1000 A.D.
February 20, 2012 in Timeline
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900 A.D.
February 13, 2012 in Timeline
Greece. The story of the Trojan War, written in the 9th Century B.C., describes the use of massage, exercise, and proper nutrition as a means to promote relaxation and healing.
Greek gymnasiums become important centers where philosophers and athletes exercise and engage in philosophical discussions. The gymnasium was a place where the sick were healed, the young were educated, and the soldiers were trained. Aesculapius becomes worshiped as the Greek god of medicine. The winged staff with serpents remains the symbol of medicine.
Arab / Persian. Razi (860-932 A.D.) authored several books inspired by the work of Galen and Hippocrates. An encyclopedia of Greek, Roman, and Arabic medical practices prescribing proper diet, exercise, and massage as a means to treat disease and maintain health is his most important body of work.
Song dynasty (960-1280 AD.). The book Talks on Medicine (Yi Shuo) by Dr. Gao Zhang, describes feet as a tool of massage used to help broken bones mend, increase Qi and improve the circulation of blood. Dr. An-Shi Pang teaches the use of massage to ease the pains of childbirth. Volume IV of The Total Record of Economics (Jing Ji Zong Lun) teaches that”(For some sicknesses) you can use An, (for others) use Mo, sometimes use both, all called An Mo. When An (press), do not Mo (rub), (when) Mo (rub), do not An (press). Press with hands, when rubbing, use herbs sometimes. These are An and Mo. Fit (them) to the right purpose.”
600 A.D.
January 30, 2012 in Timeline
Sui Dynasty (605-618 A.D.). The book, The Record of Hundreds of Officers in the Sui Dynasty (Sui Shu Bai Guan Zhi), records that the Imperial Hospital held a division of An Mo with two An Mo physicians. Dr. Yuan-Fang Chao’s book, Thesis on the Origins and Symptoms of Various Diseases (Zhu Bing Yuan Hou Lun), tells us that self massage was a common teaching throughout the area.
Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.). An Mo grew in popularity. “Masters of An Mo” were recorded in the Record of Official Positions (Tang Shu Zhi Guan Zhi). Subsequent editions describe a medical division with one Doctor and four Masters of An Mo. Tang’s Six Records (Tang Liu Dian) tells us that the Imperial Hospital employed fifty-six An Mo technicians and fifteen An Mo students.
Dr. Tao Wang in his book The Extra Important Secret (Wai Tai Mi Yao) teaches the use of massage to cure stomach aches by saying: “Rub both hands to make them warm, use them to massage the stomach; [thus leading] Qi downward.” Dr. Si-Miao Sun in his book Thousand Gold Prescriptions (Qian Jin Fang) introduces Lao Zi’s 49 Massage Techniques. Dr. Dao-Ren Lin’s book, The Secret Prescriptions for Connecting Broken Bones (Xian Shou Li Shang Xu Duan Mi Fang) discusses theory and presents methods for the treatment of injuries.”
100 A.D.
January 9, 2012 in Timeline
Galen of Pergamum (129-200/217 A.D.) discovers that veins and arteries contain blood. His texts become the standard for physicians during the next one thousand years.
The Chinese Book of Han (111 A.D.) mentions in its chapter on Blood, Qi, Shape and Spirit that when the mind and body become shocked, Qi does not flow efficiently through its channels, resulting in sickness. The cure it prescribes is An Mo (massage) with herbs.”