Definition: Literally finger pressure, Shiatsu is a form of oriental massage and pressure designed to stimulate the acupuncture points and meridians (refer to the description of Acupuncture).

Background: Shiatsu is an ancient Japanese medical therapy which arose spontaneously and independently at about the same time as did Acupuncture in China. It has been a kind of family medicine in Japan, a remedial massage performed by one family member upon another. A seemingly simple practice but with an enormous amount of background knowledge and folklore behind it.

Basically, Shiatsu works by the application of finger pressure over the acupuncture points and meridians. Hence in the West it is called 'Acupressure' or 'Acupuncture without needles'.