Cupping & Guasha

Cupping and guasha are centuries old medical techniques. Both techniques are used for their ability to reduce pain in both chronic, and sub-acute pain presentations. Other therapeutic benefits include reducing inflammation, oxidative and muscular stress as well as immunoprotective benefits.

Cupping and guasha both bring blood to the surface, just below the skin. Guasha does this via friction, and cupping via suction. This process is called extravasation. Extravasation does not damage blood vessels, or break the skin. However, it will cause colored marks varying from light red to dark purple. It is important to note that while they appear and fade like, they are not conventional bruises, nor are they painful.

What causes the markings?

In areas with pain and injury, old blood, lymph, cellular debris, and toxins have often accumulated. Cupping will leave marks that indicate that the stagnation has been released from that area and moved to the surface layers of the tissue, where the body’s capillary system can carry it away to be metabolized and excreted. The color of the marks depends on the level of stagnation in the area. The darker the color, the more stagnation. Marks range from pink to bright red to purple, usually lasting several days to a week. If there is no pain or stagnation present, only a light pink mark will disappear quickly after treatment. Areas with old trauma or injury may require multiple cupping treatments to clear all stagnation. Generally, the marks are less and less with each subsequent treatment as the stagnation improves.

Cupping marks are not bruises. Although the marks can look dramatic, it feels terrific and leaves you feeling immediately better, looser, and with less pain and tightness. It’s pretty amazing, and our patients love it. The markings normally fade and disappear within a week.

What is Guasha?

Guasha began in 475 BCE in ancient China. Where the act of scraping the skin cleared and dispersed diseases. It was used to treat pain (acute and chronic), nausea, coughing, limited range of motion, fever, and inflammation.

Gua is translated as ‘scraping’ and sha refers to the little red or purple petechiae that emerge on the skin's surface as a result of the technique. It is a mild to firm, unidirectional pressure stroke using a blunt tool to stimulate microcirculation. It stretches the connective tissue and softens adhesions; this helps to improve blood and lymphatic circulation.

Guasha helps circulation by moving energy and blood and removing stagnation. It expels heat, fevers, and upper respiratory infections and can calm the nervous system.