The History of Massage: From Ancient Egypt to the Modern Spa

Long before modern spas, people around the world used touch to relieve pain, relax and heal. Here's a short journey through massage history.

Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia

Wall paintings in Egyptian tombs from around 2330 BC show people having their hands and feet treated. The Ebers Papyrus (around 1550 BC) also describes cupping and other therapies.

India and Ayurveda

Ayurveda, with roots more than 3,000 years old, describes daily oil massage – abhyanga – as part of a healthy life. Across South Asia, oil massage and champi are still part of family routines.

China and Japan

Chinese medicine developed tui na massage and acupressure over thousands of years. These ideas travelled to Japan, where they evolved into anma and, in the 20th century, shiatsu.

Thailand

Thai massage blends Indian, Chinese and local traditions. Wat Pho temple in Bangkok became a famous centre of teaching, and in 2019 UNESCO recognised nuad thai as Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Greece, Rome and the Islamic Golden Age

Hippocrates wrote about the value of "rubbing" for stiff joints, and Roman baths made massage part of social life. During the Islamic Golden Age, physicians including Ibn Sina (Avicenna) wrote about massage in medical texts, and the hammam tradition spread across the Middle East.

Europe and the birth of Swedish massage

In the 1800s, Per Henrik Ling developed a system of medical gymnastics in Sweden, and Dutch practitioner Johann Mezger named the strokes we still use today. This became Swedish massage – the foundation of modern Western massage.

The modern spa

Today's spas bring these traditions together under one roof, with certified therapists, high hygiene standards and treatments tailored to each person. Explore all 20 massage types we offer in F-7, Islamabad.

Ready to book? Call 0318 3526306, message us on WhatsApp, or visit Belvie Spa at Maqbool Market, F-7/4, Islamabad – open every day from 11 AM to 12 AM.