ient's ailments. The current symbol for medicine, the Staff of Aesculapius, with a serpent knotted around it, comes from the stage of medicine where massage and serpents were used in treatment. Ancient Rome was fond of the practice of massage, which to them included bathing, being rubbed in vegetable oil and massaged on a regular basis for those who could afford it. Julius Caesar received a massage every day (Wischik). Massage has played an important part in the development of medicine and society as a whole, each country developing a technique of its own.
             There are over eighty different techniques of massage in practice today. From the common Swedish massage to Chi Nei Tsang and Otho-bionomy, anyone can find a type that suits his or her needs. For the purposes of this paper I will cover ten different types of massage in detail. These types are the most common and relevant in America's culture. Ayurvedic massage, used in India, means "life knowledge" or "right living" (The Body Worker). Ayurvedic massage is based off of the theory that there are basic body types and that there are different types of massage for each body type. There are over a hundred different points used in the massage that are the source of the vital life force. Sesame oil is most commonly used in this type of massage, as it has a heating and stimulating quality (The Body Worker). Ayurvedic massage is given weekly and even daily in Indian culture, not only as a medical practice but also as a family affair. What I find most interesting about Ayurvedic massage is their type of baby massage. After the birth of a child, a cleansing massage is preformed using a soft wheat-dough ball sprinkled with almond oil and turmeric. The rubbing is done for the first six days after birth, right before the bath. It is said to enhance circulation, aid in the digestive system, and help in the expulsion of toxins. On the seventy day after birth, actual m...