Both ancient therapies in their own right, cupping and gua sha have been used for at least 3500 years in China and other parts of the world to treat a wide range of ailments.
Cupping and gua sha are both used to stimulate circulation in the blood vessels
and the lymphatic system, thus releasing toxins and promoting healing.
Cupping: involves the use of one or more ‘cups’ or jars that are used to form a
vacuum on the skin, drawing blood in to the area. Traditional bamboo cups have
been largely replaced with glass or plastic jars.
Gua sha: literally means ‘to scrape away fever’ and is most commonly used to
treat common colds and muscular tension. The smooth edge of an object repeatedly scraped across the skin to encourage local circulation.
