Cupping & Gua Sha
Cupping & Gua Sha are Traditional Chinese Medicine techniques of clearing local congestion and stagnation within the body. Both treatments are intended to balance qi, or the flow of energy, increasing blood flow and improving lymphatic draniage. Cupping and Gua Sha are both very safe and effective for acute pain and discomfort. However, they require different equipment and are preformed differently.
What is Cupping?
Cupping is a very effective form of myofascial release. It is a technique in which a vacuum is created within a cup using suction when the cup is placed on a patient’s skin. The suction works to break up adhesions that are blocking the flow of qi and nutrients to different parts of the body. Cupping can also stimulate lymphatic and blood flow to an area to remove toxins and facilitate healing.
Cupping is Used to Treat:
- muscle aches & pain
- stress
- respiratory diseases
- high blood pressure
- stagmation
- lymphatic drainage
- migraines/headaches
- depression/anxiety
- arthritis
- carpal tunnel
- tennis elbow
The treatment does leave painless, circular marks on the body after the treatment. This happens because the suction force of cupping expands and breaks open tiny blood vessels (capillaries) under the skin. The marks normally take less than one week to disappear.
