Beyond Acupuncture: Cupping, Gua Sha, Moxibustion, and Electroacupuncture

If you want to jump ahead: Cupping Gua sha Moxibustion Electroacupuncture

Cupping, gua sha, moxibustion, & electroacupuncture

While acupuncture is the most well known aspect of Chinese medicine, other therapeutic modalities such as cupping, gua sha, moxibustion, and electroacupuncture are often used to enhance treatment outcomes. These techniques support circulation, reduce pain, and promote tissue healing.

Photo: @rcgmultimediaservices

Cupping

Cupping gained popularity in the US among athletes after Michael Phelps was seen with cupping marks on his back while swimming in the Olympics. However, this ancient healing modality has been around for thousands of years, and its true origin remains uncertain. Cupping therapy involves creating suction on the skin using a glass, ceramic, or plastic cup. Negative pressure is made in the cup either by applying a flame to the cup to remove oxygen before placing it on the skin or by attaching a suction device to a plastic cup after it is placed on the skin. The cups come in all different sizes and can be used all over the body, including the face.

Types

• Dry: This cupping involves placing a cup on areas of the body where there is tension and leaving them on without movement.

• Wet: This cupping involves piercing the skin, and blood will flow into the cup after the cup is placed on the skin. This helps to release stagnant blood in an area of pain.

• Moving: This cupping involves putting oil down first and then moving the cups along an area of the body where there is tension.

• Dynamic: This cupping involves placing the cups in specific muscles and having the patient move to increase the muscle's range of motion and neuromuscular re-education.

What can it be used for?

• Scar treatment

• Common cold

• Musculoskeletal pain

• Migraines

• Muscle tension

• Cosmetic purposes

Benefits

• Promotes blood flow to an area of tension which will help reduce pain

• Improves lymphatic circulation to reduce swelling and removes toxins

• Releases scar tissue and fascial adhesions that can cause pain and restricted range of motion

• Increases mobility and range of motion

• Helps maintain a healthy immune system

Photo: @rcgmultimediaservices

Gua sha

Gua Sha involves using a smooth-edged tool (like a small spoon or a jade tool) to scrape areas of your body which raises tiny red spots on your body known as petechiae. Their presence signals that there is bleeding underneath the skin. This stimulation of new blood helps encourage the healthy circulation of energy (qi) and blood and promotes the healing of injured tissues.

Types

• Graston Technique: This is an instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) technique that other manual therapists may utilize to help the practitioner identify areas of restriction and attempt to break up scar tissue. The tools are made of stainless steel and have rounded edges. The technique can be gentler than gua sha because specific receptors in the fascia respond to a softer approach.

• Facial Gua Sha: This gua sha is trending in the beauty world. It's great because it can be done at home with a purchased jade tool or roller. It's more gentle than body gua sha and does not cause red petechiae on the skin. It helps to move lymphatic fluids and breaks down muscle tension leading to increased blood flow and reduced puffiness in the face. It's used to prevent premature aging in the beauty world, but I also use this type of gua sha for jaw tension, Bell's palsy, and headaches.

What can it be used for?

• Scar treatment

• Common cold

• Musculoskeletal pain

• Migraines

• Muscle tension

• Cosmetic purposes

Benefits

• Promotes blood flow to an area of tension which will help reduce pain

• Improves lymphatic circulation to reduce swelling and removes toxins

• Releases scar tissue and fascial adhesions that can cause pain and restricted range of motion

• Helps maintain a healthy immune system

Photo: @rcgmultimediaservices

Moxibustion

Moxibustion is the process of applying heat to an acupuncture point. In Chinese medicine, the herb, Mugwort (or Ai Ye), can be applied directly or indirectly to the skin. Cold is one of the pathogens that can cause disease in Chinese medicine. It can be contracted externally through a virus, bacteria, or working/living in a cold environment. The cold can penetrate the skin, causing chills, muscle aches, and pain. Cold can also develop internally due to disharmony in yang (warming) energy.

Types

• Direct: this moxibustion technique applies the herb directly onto the patient. Some burn cream is put down on the patient, then the moxa is placed on the point and then burned about halfway before removing. Some ancient practices burned the moxa down, causing a tiny wound to galvanize the immune system.

• Indirect: this moxibustion technique applies the herb indirectly near the patient by placing the moxa on an acupuncture needle, using a moxa stick close to the skin, using stick-on moxa on a point, or using a moxa box to affect a larger area of the body.

• Moxa balms/liquids: these are applied onto the acupuncture point and then used with a heat source such as a heating pad or heat lamp.

What can it be used for?

• Common cold

• Trauma, bruising, scars, open wounds

• Pain and inflammation

• Prolapsed organs

• Poor circulation

• Fatigue

• Fertility and menstrual irregularities, such as heavy bleeding and painful periods

• Breech baby

• Digestive issues

• Prevention and immune boosting

• Relaxation and stress reduction

Benefits

• Warms the acupuncture channels and expels cold

• Improves circulation and stops pain

• Boosts yang energy

• Regulates menstrual cycle and stops bleeding

• Strengthens functional activity of the digestive tract

• Prevents disease and maintains health

• Strengthens the function of any organ that is prone to weakness

• Induces a sense of well-being and relaxation

Electroacupuncture

Electroacupuncture is very similar to traditional acupuncture treatments. Acupuncture treatments involve the placement of needles in a specific acupuncture point, muscle(s), or an area of the body. During an electroacupuncture treatment, clips are placed on the needles allowing a low to mid-frequency electrical current to produce a muscle contraction, increase blood flow, and reduce pain.

Types

• Transcutaneous - these units place electrodes on the skin using pads or a hand-held device to produce electrical neuromuscular stimulation.

• Percutaneous - these units use electrodes attached to acupuncture needles to produce electrical neuromuscular stimulation beneath the skin.

What can it be used for?

• Any pain condition

• Muscle tightness, weakness, and inhibition

• Injury recovery

• Neuropathies

• Women's menstrual disorders such as painful periods, fibroids, cysts, endometriosis

• Fertility

• Promoting labor

• Digestive issues

Benefits

• Better mobility and range of motion of muscles and joints

• Promote blood flow and circulation

• Muscle relaxation

• Pain reduction

• Stimulate nerve regeneration

• Stimulate bone growth for injuries and arthritis

Learn more about our full range of acupuncture and integrative services or would like to know if any of these would help with your pain condition, please feel free to contact me. Click the contact button below to schedule.

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