[Taltarzac725]

Just ask Otzi how long tattoos have been around. Otzi - Wikipedia

Radiological examination of Ötzi's bones showed "age-conditioned or strain-induced degeneration" corresponding to many tattooed areas, including osteochondrosis and slight spondylosis in the lumbar spine and wear-and-tear degeneration in the knee and especially in the ankle joints.[31] It has been speculated that these tattoos may have been related to pain relief treatments similar to acupressure or acupuncture.[28] If so, this is at least 2,000 years before their previously known earliest use in China (c. 1000 BC).[32] It has been shown that 9 out of the 19 groups of his tattoos are located next to, or directly on acupunctural areas that are used today. The majority of the other tattoos are on meridians, other acupunctural areas of the body, or over arthritic joints. For example, the tattoos on his upper chest are placed on acupunctural locations that help with abdominal pain.[citation needed] Since it is presumed Ötzi had whipworm, which would cause said intestinal pain, such tattoos could have helped him feel some relief, which supports the theory that they were used for therapeutic purposes.[33][30]

How therapeutic tattoos might relieve stress and depression