In today's deadline-driven, high-stress society, it's no longer uncommon to experiences headaches, stiff shoulders and carpal-tunnel pain every now and then. While many people turn to painkillers for relief from minor complaints, which in some cases can snowball into a chronic condition, massage treatments can be highly effective.
The appetite for this type of alternative/preventive medicine seems to be growing, as seen by the proliferation of massage clinics and relaxation specialists all over Japan. While it may seem to be a profit-making boom, Japanese have used acupressure to ease pain for more than 1,000 years. And while domestic research on the scientific effects of acupressure is scarce, the proven effects of traditional Chinese and Japanese massage are being taken more seriously by those in mainstream medicine.
For instance, in February, a Taiwanese study that concluded acupressure was more effective than physical therapy in relieving pain and improving lives for people with lower back pain was published in the highly respected British Medical Journal.