Shiatsu theory and Western massage have a common ground between. The two systems are great ways of relieving stress and promoting health. Both systems are focusing on the body to be treated. Neither of these two systems uses sophisticated electronic or mechanical machinery in the diagnosis or implementation of treatment. The third common ground is that in the Western World, shiatsu and massage are not considered to be a part of Western medicine. Western medicine is based mostly on current western mainstream scientific tradition. All other countries except Japan consider shiatsu and western massage non-traditional forms of treatment or in or in other words alternative medicine just like healing, reiki, hypnosis or crystal healing.

Shiatsu practitioners tend to demonstrating their usage of anatomy, physiology and pathology rather than using other alternative treatment approaches like Reiki or faith healing. This explains why shiatsu is becoming so popular in the West as it is becoming the bridge between East and West.

Now we will explore the differences between Shiatsu theory and Western massage. The main four differences are:

1. The historical evolution of the treatments.

2. Technique used and ingredients in treatment.

3. The philosophy behind the approach and the essence, which every practitioner attempts to capture.

4. The nature of derivative systems that have emerged.

History show that massage is one of the oldest forms of treatment and medical care. Even if we don’t know what the ancient Egyptian practitioners believed in but the tomb paintings found, contain illustrations of people being massaged. The oldest book which talk about massage which dates from 2,700 B.C., The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, recommends massage of skin and flesh as the appropriate treatment for many ailments. The traditional Ayurveda Indian system of medicine which is other 5000 years old, greatly treats with therapeutic massage with aromatic oils and spices. Homer’s writings from Greece also mention that the Olympic athletes were using massage for the same purpose it is used today.