What is Cupping or Gua Sha?
Cupping is the term applied to a technique that uses small glass cups as suction devices that are placed on the skin. In my clinic we use fire cupping technique. Fire cupping involves soaking a cotton ball in 70% alcohol. The cotton is then clamped by a pair of forceps and lit via match or lighter. The flaming cotton ball is then, in one fluid motion, placed into the cup, quickly removed, and placed on the skin. By adding fire to the inside of the cup, oxygen is removed (which is of course replaced with an equal volume of carbon dioxide) and a small amount of suction is created by the air cooling down again. Dark circles may appear where the cups were placed due to rupture of the capillaries just under the skin but are not the same as a bruise caused by blunt-force trauma.
Once the suction has occurred, the cups can be gently moved across the skin (often referred to as “gliding cupping”). The suction in the cups causes the skin and superficial muscle layer to be lightly drawn into the cup. Cupping is much like the inverse of massage – rather than applying pressure to muscles, it uses gentle pressure to pull them upward. For most patients, this is particularly relaxing and relieving sensation. Once suctioned, the cups are generally left in place for about ten minutes while the patient relaxes.
Generally, cupping is combined with acupuncture in one treatment, but it can also be used alone. The suction and negative pressure provided by cupping can loosen the muscles, encourage blood flow, and sedate the nervous system. Cupping can be used to relieve back and neck pains, stiff muscles, anxiety, fatigue, migraines, rheumatism, and even cellulite
It is thought to affect tissues up to four inches deep from the external skin are massaged in this technique. Toxins can be released, blockages can be cleared within these four inches of affected materials. Even hands, wrists, legs, and ankles can by ‘cupped’, possibly applying the healing to specific organs that correlate with these points.
What is Gua Sha?
Another similar technique to cupping is Gua Sha. Gua Sha involes the practitioner using a blunt instrument to vigorously slide along the patients skin. This is done until redness (“sha”) appears at the skin surface. The purposes of this technique are very similar to those of cupping with the additional purpose of reducing fever.
Can I request cupping and Gua Sha?
If these practices are appropriate for your condition (to be determined by your practitioner) then they will be included in your treatment. Please note, cupping and gua sha are not standalone treatments. They are used as an adjunct to acupuncture treatment, largely because the health funds require needle penetration in the treatment if you are to claim on your private health insurance. In addition, cupping and gua sha only takes a few minutes so it is not time efficient to have these as separate treatments.
If you think cupping or gua sha may be able to help you with your condition, please feel free to contact Emma to discuss by:
Phone: 0416 231 831
Email: emma-acupuncture@hotmail.com
Or just:
