Gua Sha

Gua Sha is a healing technique used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).  The skin is pressed with a smooth tool such as a piece of jade that results in the appearance of small red patches. “Gua” means to scrape or rub. “Sha” is a reddish, elevated patch of skin.  People who receive acupuncture often enjoy it, saying that it feels like a massage.  One thing to note is that Gua Sha does usually cause the skin to appear red for 1-3 days in the areas that it was applied. However, it is usually a pleasurable experience and virtually painless.

Cupping

Cupping therapy is a form of alternative medicine in which cups are placed on the skin to create suction. It is believed that the suction of the cups mobilizes blood flow to promote the healing of a broad range of medical ailments. Cupping can be considered as an inversion of massage.  Instead of applying a pressure downwards on the muscle, cupping uses pressure upwards to lift the muscles. For many, this provides a relaxing sensation.

Cupping therapy dates back to ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cultures. One of the oldest medical textbooks in the world, the Ebers Papyrus, describes how the ancient Egyptians were using cupping therapy in 1,550 B.C.

In a typical cupping session, either glass or plastic cups are placed on certain locations on the body.  With traditional glass cupping, a cotton ball that has been soaked in alcohol is lit and placed in the cup, removing the oxygen.  The vacuum created by the lack of oxygen anchors the cup to the skin and pulls the skin and superficial muscles upward.  Modern plastic cups have a handheld pump which creates the suction that pulls the skin and superficial muscles upward for the same effect.

Cupping increases blood circulation to the area where the cups are placed. This helps relieve muscle tension, which can improve overall blood flow and promote cell repair. It also creates an avenue for toxins to be drawn out of the body.