Cupping, Guasha and Moxibustion
Body-work techniques that improve your circulation and release tight muscles, to promote healing and restore ease and balance.
Cupping
Cupping is a perfect complement to acupuncture or a stand-alone treatment. It’s an excellent way to release tension and improve flow through tight muscles and fascia.
Warmed glass cups are applied to specific areas of the body, typically the back. The gentle suction lifts the skin inside the cup, increasing blood flow to the skin and muscles, promoting lymph and fluid circulation to help clear toxins, reducing inflammation and boosting cellular healing.
As well as musculoskeletal issues like back pain, frozen shoulder, and sciatica, cupping can also be used to help boost the immune system, clear lingering coughs, and provide deep relaxation.
Guasha
Guasha has gained popularity among bodyworkers for its ability to quickly soften tight muscles, release fascia and connective tissue, reduce inflammation, and enhance blood circulation.
Guasha may be done as part of your acupuncture treatment, with the rounded jade stone being lightly rubbed or scraped across the body to target areas of tension and pain. Many of my patients are amazed at how effectively guasha can relieve tight shoulders, necks, jaws, backs, and legs, leaving the body feeling relaxed and primed for healing.
This technique is also easy to learn and can be applied at home, for additional benefits between treatments.
Moxibustion
Also known as “moxa”, this heat therapy can be an excellent complement to your acupuncture treatment. A rolled stick of mugwort and other warming Chinese herbs is lit and held near the skin, delivering a penetrating, soothing heat, similar in wavelength to infrared light. This helps to speed recovery, improve circulation, and ease pain.
Traditionally used to encourage breech babies to turn in late pregnancy, and to support postpartum recovery, moxibustion is beneficial whenever the body needs more warmth – from period pain and infertility to digestive discomfort, frozen shoulder and arthritis pain.
Infrared heat lamps can also be used to enhance circulation, relaxing tight muscles and stimulating cellular repair, all while you relax during your acupuncture session.
Frequently Asked Questions.
While I describe the sensation of cupping to that of gentle suction, it should not be painful. There will often be a feeling of drawing or tension when the cup is applied, but it can be adjusted for comfort, and people are often surprised just how relaxed they feel afterwards.
It is normal to have round cupping marks after your treatment (and these can now frequently be seen on athletes and celebrities), but they will fade after a few days.
If appropriate, I will instruct you to continue your moxa treatment in between visits, and show you how to do this safely. It can be done in as little as 15 minutes, and doing this “homework” can really speed up your results.
Moxa has traditionally been used for this purpose, applying the penetrating heat to a point called zhiyin or “Bladder 67” by the little toe, and is recommended by many midwives and obstetricians. I see many women in their final weeks of pregnancy for birth preparation, including optimal fetal positioning and breech presentation.
However, as it’s impossible to do a randomized double-blind clinical trial (in which both the practitioner and the patient don’t know whether they are getting the real therapy or a sham), I can’t make any claims about its efficacy or say that it has a success rate of over 70%.
Guasha is pronounced “gwa-shaa” and it’s not just for facial rejuvenation.
I use it in my treatments to soften tight muscles and relax the fascia wrapping the muscles all over the body, improving the flow of blood and lymph.
It is great for tight necks, shoulders, jaws, backs and legs, and even to help stubborn sinus congestion. And I can show you how to do it at home to maintain your progress.