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The Science of Psychic Healing2004
gentleness, and airiness,” are the words best describing the movement. A
little practice will give the student the right movement.
If you desire to stroke the entire body of the patient, it is well to divide
the process into two distinct treatments, viz., (1) from the head down to the
waist, and (2) from the waist down to the feet. In giving the general stroking
treatment to the whole body, it is well to devote considerable attention to
the chest, and abdominal region, in order that the organs be stimulated, and
their “magnetism” equalized.
It is well, also, to remember that the old and tried principle of “Rubbing,”
is but another mode of communicating Vital Force, or Prana. This form of
treatment is as old as the race, and has been practiced in all times, and by
all peoples. Alpini reports, in his work entitled, “De Medicinæ Egyptiorum,”
that the Egyptian priests were adepts at certain mystical and medical
rubbings, which form of treatment was used by them in curing chronic
diseases. Hippocrates held rubbings in high favor, and evidently employed
them very frequently. He has written as follows: “A doctor ought to know
many things; he should not be unacquainted with the benefits to be derived
from rubbing. With its application quite contrary effects may be produced;
it loosens stiff joints, and gives tone and strength to those which are relaxed.”
Celsus, nearly two thousand years ago, was a vigorous advocate of this
method of treatment, and in his books he devotes much space to this form
of Vital treatment, and incidentally proves that it was known and practiced
long before his time.
In ancient Rome, rubbing was a favorite form of treatment, and was
employed regularly by the wealthy, in order to keep in good condition, a
practice that is followed by many wealthy people of our own times, under
the name of “massage,” etc. Alexander of Tralles, a Greek physician of the
sixth century, was an initiate in the “mystic rubbings,” and incorporated it
in his practice. He claimed that it helped to throw off morbid matter, and
calmed the nervous system, and facilitated perspiration. He also held that it
tended to calm convulsions, and was efficacious in a number of complaints.