Shiatsu

Shiatsu is an ancient Japanese massage therapy. The word shiatsu literally means ‘finger pressure’ and you may also hear it called ‘shiatsu massage’ or ‘shiatsu body work’. Shiatsu has become quite popular in the Western world over recent years. Many complementary therapy centres offer shiatsu.

The principle behind shiatsu is related to the energy flow (known as Ki or Qi (pronounced 'chee') through your body. According to shiatsu therapists, disruption to this energy flow can cause illness and disease. Like acupuncture, shiatsu claims to free blockages to the Ki flow and restore energy to areas where it is low. A shiatsu specialist does this by pressing on or stretching points on your body that lie along the lines of energy (called meridian channels). Shiatsu practitioners believe that the therapy stimulates the circulation of your blood, helps to release toxins and tension from your muscles, and stimulates your hormonal system. This is believed to help the body heal itself.

As with many types of complementary therapies, one of the main reasons people with cancer use shiatsu is that it makes them feel good. Shiatsu therapists promote the therapy as a natural way to help you relax and cope with

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Pain
• Nausea

Generally, therapists believe that freeing your energy flow can help lift your mood and improve your wellbeing.

Some people with cancer use shiatsu to help control symptoms and side effects such as poor appetite, sleep problems, pain and low mood. They say that it helps them to cope better with their cancer and its treatment. After a shiatsu treatment a lot of people say they feel very relaxed and have an increase in their energy levels.

There is no scientific evidence to prove that shiatsu can cure or prevent any type of disease, including cancer. Also, a lack of high quality research to date means there is currently no scientific evidence to support the use of shiatsu for controlling cancer symptoms. This does not mean that shiatsu may not work n controlling symptoms or side effects, simply that it has not yet been tested properly. But some studies using massage therapy in general (including shiatsu massage) suggest it might be helpful as a complementary therapy for people with cancer and other illnesses.

Several studies have looked at the effects of acupressure on controlling symptoms of sickness in people with cancer. Acupressure is a very similar therapy to shiatsu but the pressure is applied using only the thumbs and fingers. A study in the UK in 2007 found that stimulating acupressure points on the wrist can help to control sickness after surgery. Some cancer hospitals use anti sickness bracelets as a way of controlling nausea. But there’s not much evidence to prove it helps sickness caused by chemotherapy or radiotherapy in people with cancer.

On your first visit for shiatsu your therapist will ask you some general questions about your health, lifestyle and medical history. They might ask you about your diet, sleep patterns and how you feel emotionally.

Many therapists will begin your treatment by gently touching your abdominal area (called 'hara' in Japanese). This helps them find out about your body’s energy levels and which areas of your body need attention. If your therapist is worried that shiatsu could interfere with your health or any drugs you take, they may want to check with your GP before going ahead. In general, this rarely happens, but there may be situations where your therapist and doctor recommend that you don’t use shiatsu.

A shiatsu treatment session usually lasts about an hour. You don’t have to undress and you usually lie down on a futon type mattress on the floor to have the treatment. But if you can’t lie down, you can have shiatsu sitting up. It is best to wear very lose fitting clothing like a tracksuit or cotton baggy trousers. Therapists can apply pressure to the energy points using their fingers, thumbs, elbows, knees and sometimes even their feet.

Generally, shiatsu is a safe therapy. After your first treatment you may have some mild side effects such as headache and muscle stiffness. You may also feel very tired. But these symptoms usually pass within a few hours. If they continue contact your doctor or therapist for advice.

There are some conditions that mean your therapist should use a more gentle type of shiatsu to avoid causing harm. These might include low platelets in the blood or weakened bones (osteoporosis). If you have a high temperature (fever) your therapist may want to delay your treatment until you have recovered. The important thing is that your shiatsu therapist takes a full history from you, so they are aware of any other health problems you have.

In the first three months of pregnancy your therapist should avoid certain points on your body, as pressure on these points might increase the risk of miscarriage.

If you have shiatsu treatments privately, it will usually cost between £30 and £60 for a one hour treatment. It is very important that you have your treatments with a qualified therapist. There is information about finding a qualified therapist further down this page.

A few cancer centres and hospitals in the UK may offer patients shiatsu treatments free of charge. Ask your nurse or doctor if this is an option where you have your treatment. If not, they may be able to direct you to voluntary organisations that can offer complementary therapy treatments free or at a lower cost.

The complementary therapies organisations section has a list of organisations that may be able to give you some advice about where to get shiatsu.

At the moment in the UK there is no single professional organisation that regulates shiatsu therapists. They can join several associations. But by law they don’t have to, nor do they have to finish any specific training.

However, most reputable shiatsu therapists do belong to one of the shiatsu organisations. The best way to find a reliable teacher is to

• Contact one of the shiatsu organisations and ask for a list of reputable therapists in your area
• Ask the therapist how many years of training they've had, how long they've been practising and if they have experience in treating people with cancer
• Ask if they have indemnity insurance (in case of negligence)

CancerHelp UK's complementary and alternative therapies section has more information about how to find a reliable therapist, and the questions you should ask.

There are a few different shiatsu organisations. The General Shiatsu Council is a group of organisations working together to develop a common set of practice and training standards. They aim to have one professional body holding a register of UK shiatsu therapists. They have details of all the shiatsu therapy organisations that are members on their website.

Shiatsu Regulatory Group
Tel: 0845 130 4560
Email: admin@shiatsusociety.org
Website: www.shiatsusociety.org

You can also look at our list of complementary therapy organisations.