Cupping Therapy: How It Works, Benefits, and What to Expect
Cupping Therapy is an ancient healing practice rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, where acrylic, silicon or glass cups are placed on the skin to create suction. This technique draws the skin and underlying tissues into the cups, helping to release tension, improve blood flow, and promote healing.
How Cupping Works:
Cupping uses specialized cups that are placed on the skin and suctioned onto the body. The cups create a vacuum effect, pulling the skin and superficial muscles upward into the cup. This suction increases blood circulation, loosens muscles, and encourages the flow of qi (energy) in the body.
Benefits of Cupping:
– Relieves Muscle Tension and Promotes Relaxation
– Increases Speed of Muscle Recovery
– Enhances Circulation
– Reduces Inflammation and Chronic Pain
– Improves and Stimulates Immune System Function
– Promotes Detoxification by Stimulating the Lymphatic System
– Lowers Anxiety and Stress
What to Expect During a Cupping Session:
During a cupping session at Bonita Vista Acupuncture, your practitioner will begin by assessing your specific needs and health concerns. Once you’re comfortable, cups will be strategically placed on your skin, typically on the back, neck, or shoulders. You’ll feel a gentle pulling sensation as the cups create suction.
After the cups are removed, you may notice circular marks on your skin—these are not bruises but signs of increased blood flow and the body’s natural healing response. The marks usually fade within a few days. Post-treatment, clients often report feeling relaxed, relieved from pain, and more energized.
Cupping can be incorporated into a massage or booked as a stand-alone service.
Gua Sha Therapy: How It Works and Its Benefits
Gua Sha is a traditional Chinese healing technique that involves scraping the skin with a smooth-edged tool to stimulate microcirculation of the soft tissue, promoting a flow of energy, or qi, in the body. This therapy is often used to address chronic pain, inflammation, and to enhance the body’s natural healing processes.
How Gua Sha Works:
During a Gua Sha session, a trained practitioner uses a special tool, typically made of jade or rose quartz, to gently push the skin in long, even strokes. The pushing motion helps to release tension in the muscles, improve blood flow, and promote lymphatic drainage. By moving stagnant blood and fluids away from the affected area, Gua Sha helps to break up adhesions, reduce inflammation, and encourage overall healing.
Benefits of Gua Sha:
– Reduces Muscle Pain and Tension
– Improves Circulation
– Tones and Tightens the Skin
– Increase Collagen and Elastin Production
– Supports Immune Function
– Decreases Inflammation
– Promotes Relaxation and Stress Relief
– Encourages Lymphatic Drainage
What to Expect with a Gua Sha Treatment:
Gua sha is a treatment that is added on to a massage service or a cosmetic acupuncture plan. Your practitioner will apply a light layer of oil to the treatment area, to allow the tool to glide smoothly over the skin. You may feel a warming or tingling sensation as the tool glides over your skin. While facial Gua Sha is very light and will not leave a mark, Gua Sha on the body is a heavier style. Body scraping can sometimes leave red or purple marks, which are a normal response to the increased blood flow and the release of stagnant energy. These marks are not painful and typically fade within a few days. Unlike bruises, Gua Sha marks indicate where the body is releasing toxins and enhancing circulation.
It’s common to feel slightly sore in the treated areas, similar to the feeling after a deep tissue massage.
To maximize the benefits of your Gua Sha treatment, it’s recommended to stay hydrated, avoid strenuous activity, and keep the treated areas warm and covered. This helps support the body’s natural healing processes and maintains the therapeutic effects of the session.
