Hippocratic Massage
In Humoral medicine, Hippocratic massage (fricto in Latin) was lauded as an invaluable treatment for disease and the maintenance of health. Depending on the patient’s needs, the massage would be performed either dry or with oil.
- Dry fricto would have been similar to the application of dynamic myofascial release.
- Oily fricto would have resembled modern deep tissue massage.
Dry and oily fricto (or anatripsis in Greek), used medium to firm sustained pressure. They were not pampering or relaxing experiences; instead, they were corrective methods to help alleviate dysfunction and chronic tension. While deep tissue and myofascial release may have differing core philosophies and theories regarding their actions and the body systems they influence, both modalities interface in the same manner as Hippocratic massage. Current practitioners may say that their techniques are unique, but there is nothing new under the sun, especially in the context of manual therapy. Every technique we perform has been done by someone else at some point in the past.
How has Hippocratic massage influenced modern massage therapy? Understanding its influence is very similar to how massage affects other body systems. For example, massage is known for helping the immune system fight pathogens. Does it do it directly? No. Instead, the mechanical pressure of massage helps lymph capillaries collect interstitial fluid (which is the blood plasma that leaks out of capillaries into the space between cells). Then it is sent to the lymph nodes, which help remove pathogens. Is the massage removing the pathogens? No, but it is helping our body function more effectively.
Hippocratic massage has influenced modern massage therapy through the therapeutic systems that came before. For example, although medical gymnastics and the movement cure were not forms of massage therapy, modern massage, specifically Swedish massage (or more accurately, scientific massage), integrated practices from these therapies.
Per Henrik Ling (1776–1839) is a connection point between Hippocratic massage and modern massage therapy. Ling practiced traditional medicine of the era (a variation of humoral medicine) and had great admiration for the Greek philosopher-physicians. The foundation of medical gymnastics was likely inspired by Ling’s reading of the Officina del medico.
The Officina del medico, written in the first century BC, by Celsus, was rediscovered in the 1400s and was one of the first medical texts printed and widely circulated across Europe. This text includes teachings from Hippocrates, Asclepiades, and Galen, all of whom wrote extensively about massage. Ling was known for reading Greek, Latin, and medical literature. He also had access to classical libraries, and since the Officina del medico was printed in French, German, and English, it is highly likely he read and was inspired by it.