Moxa, Cupping & Gua Sha
Moxibustion
Used alongside Acupuncture since its beginnings, Moxa is a herb, mugwort. Rolled and burnt moxa creates a gentle heat especially effective for treating conditions of deficiency (think how you feel on ‘duvet days’). Moxa is a warming treatment used to rebalance the organs, aid digestion and bolster immunity. It can also be used in musculoskeletal conditions caused by cold exposure (e.g. wry neck).
Cupping
Glass cups in which a vacuum is formed are placed onto the body. This has the effect of pulling fresh blood in to the muscles. This re-oxygenates and detoxifies over-worked muscles. Used traditionally everywhere from Iraq to Italy, Cupping is a well established and traditionally proven aid to well-being.
Gua Sha
Gua Sha is a method of scraping the skin. In Chinese Medicine this is understood to open the channels to expel Wind and Heat. In Western terms this equates to an exfoliating treatment that opens the pores, and aims to move blood in the local area, refreshing tired muscles. Their is some evidence to suggest gua sha can also lower inflammation in the local area.
