Cupping & Gua Sha
Traditional Fire Cupping is a healing technique that improves circulation, relieves tension and supports the body’s natural healing.
A small flame is placed inside a glass cup to heat the air inside. The flame is them removed and the cup is quickly placed on the skin. As the air cools, it creates a vacuum that gently pulls the skin upward into the cup.
This suction increases blood flow, loosens muscles, and draws out what Chinese Medicine calls “stagnation” which can be thought of as stuck energy, tension or toxins.
Once the cups are removed, round and pink, red or purple marks often remain on the skin. These are not bruises, and usually fade within a week.
Cupping can be deeply relaxing and a natural way to help the body restore balance and feel better.
Traditional Gua Sha (Gwa’-Shaw) is the ancient practice of skin scraping.
This healing technique functions similarly to cupping and involves using a smooth-edged tool to apply pressure to the back, neck, shoulders or limbs where cups don’t often have the space to suction or you need more precise opening.
This increases blood flow, releases tension and helps the body clear stagnation. It will most likely leave red or purple marks on the skin that fades within several days as a sign of circulation being stimulated.
Unlike the trendy Gua Sha skin care tools that are sweeping social media, this is a medicinal practice with a very different purpose. Modern Gua Sha cosmetic tools are an adaptation of this practice.
