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Shiatsu is an ancient form of Japanese massage closely related to acupuncture that dates to the third millennium BC. The basic technique consists of the application of pressure by the fingers over some 600 neural trigger points located on lines (meridians) throughout the body. The points are said to be places where lymph vessels tend to congregate. By releasing the point with gentle sustained pressure, energy blocks are removed and the body can better eliminate waste products such as lactic acid that have accumulated in body tissues.

In Japan, where Shiatsu is recognized as a formal branch of medicine, Shiatsu practitioners must undergo a three-year course of training and be licensed with the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Western nations, because they do not recognize Shiatsu as a medical treatment, do not require a license. Nevertheless, Shiatsu is an established form of massage not just in Asia, but in most Western countries.

USES IN ME/CFS: As with other forms of gentle massage, patients report that Shiatsu is helpful with managing pain.

Treatment rating for Shiatsu