Cupping, Moxa, Guasha

Cupping Therapy

Cupping therapy is an ancient therapeutic practice that was popular throughout most of Europe, Egypt, Africa and China from as far back as the 5th Century BC. It is a wonderfully versatile therapy with many different techniques allowing it to be beneficial for a variety of conditions.

BOOK ACU + BODYWORK

Cupping involves a vacuum being created inside a specialized glass cup which is then positioned onto the body. The vacuum creates suction, drawing a small amount of skin and tissue into the cup. This drawing up of tissue, or ‘lift’ is what makes cupping feel amazing. By lifting and stretching tight muscles and adhesions cupping encourages blood and lymph to flow to the area. This is thought to encourage stagnation (metabolic waste) to be cleared out of the area into the surrounding tissue for eventual elimination.

Cupping therapy has widespread applications in Chinese Medicine and is likely to be incorporated into treatment for a variety of conditions from muscular pain to chesty coughs or asthma to menstrual pain or even digestive dysfunction.

The results of a strong cupping session are often pictured in the press with photos of big round circular marks on athletes’ bodies. These deep coloured marks (sha) will come up if there is a lot of stagnation in the area or the cupping technique is strong. It is good to know the colour and intensity will vary depending on what is being treated, how much stagnation is present and the particular cupping technique used. The intensity and shade of cupping marks will change as your treatment progresses and, in many cases, there may be minimal to no marking. It is also worth noting that these marks are not bruises, they are usually not painful and will simply fade away.

When done correctly cupping can be a deeply relaxing experience. The pressure and intensity is adjusted according to your needs and pain tolerance. The experience is often likened to a deep tissue massage, just less painful.

Moxa Therapy

Moxa, or moxibustion, is a form of heat therapy commonly used during an acupuncture treatment. It involves gently burning processed mugwort leaf on or near the body to stimulate acupoints, build Yang Qi and encourage healthy Qi circulation.

There are many ways that moxa is used to create different effects in the body. Direct moxa involves making various size cones which are sat in water then placed on the body and lit. Larger cones are used to gently warm and strengthen the body while small cones are used to disperse Qi and encourage circulation.Indirect moxa involves attaching moxa to the top of acupuncture needles or using a ‘moxa stick’, a cigar shaped stick of rolled moxa, to gently warm acupoints or larger areas of the body.

Moxa is an excellent way of stimulating acupoints in the absence of needles and there are many conditions that may benefit from moxa including:

Injuries and pain conditions
Menstrual disorders including heavy bleeding and menstrual pain
Breech presentation
Digestive disorders

BOOK ACU + BODYWORK

GuaSha Therapy

GuaSha is a traditional massage technique that involves scraping a smooth edged instrument such as a quartz Guasha stone or ceramic Chinese soup spoon over the body. It is used wherever there is tightness or pain in order to relax muscles, unblock stagnation and release ‘heat -toxins’ from meridian pathways.

Like cupping it is likely ‘sha’ bright red marking or petechiae will come up. In Chinese medicine this is said to be stagnation clearing from the body. These marks will disappear in a matter of days and are less likely to come up with subsequent treatments.

You can expect to have guasha included in a treatment for a variety of conditions including:

Muscular pain
Migraines
Early stages of a cold or flu
Cosmetic

Facial GuaSha has gained popularity recently. It is a gentle technique which aims to encourage healthy micro-circulation, promote lymphatic drainage and release any tension held in the face. If done correctly you will notice a healthy pink glow after facial acupuncture, but no sha. Click here for more info about facial acupuncture treatments.

GuaSha is an excellent self care technique that can easily be done at home. Just be mindful to use a face oil or muscle balm on the skin to help the stone glide. Guasha stones are available in the clinic or online.

BOOK ACU + BODYWORK