Cupping & Gua Sha

Cupping and Gua Sha are methods used to bring an increase in blood flow to the affected area of the body. By increasing blood flow, the muscles relax and toxins are moved out. Cupping and Gua Sha are typically applied to the back and are especially useful for “cold-type” pain and problems with the lungs (e.g., asthma, bronchitis and the common cold.)

Cupping uses glass cups to create a vacuum, either by combustion or a suction pump, on the affected area. Several cups may be placed on the area and left in place for 10 minutes. Afterwards, there may be slight circular, generally painless bruising which lasts for a few days.

Gua Sha is friction induced by rubbing the area with a Chinese soup spoon to create a slight redness in the area. As the area is scraped, a build-up of fluid is pushed and passed leaving an indention or vacuum behind which draws toxic fluid out to the skin’s surface from deep within the tissues.