Should you try cupping or gua sha? These modalities might be right for you if you have specific aches and pains in your muscles. Read on to see what else they can help with!

What is cupping?

Cupping is an ancient form of bodywork practiced in many cultures. In China, cups were once made of bamboo, and suction was created by heating the insides of the cups and pressing them to the skin. These days, most cups used are clear glass. Suction may be created by using a pump or by heating the cup with a flame, and blood and qi is moved to help reduce muscle tightness and alleviate pain. Cupping may be quick and fast or cups can be left on the body longer. They can remain in one place or be slid back and forth.

Areas of stiffness and tension will be directly treated with this type of bodywork. Other uses for cupping include helping break up stubborn phlegm in the chest, helping to prevent a cold, or drawing warm blood to a cold area of the body.

What is Gua Sha?

Gua sha is a technique practiced in many traditional cultures. From Chinese, gua sha translates literally to “sand scraping.” Any type of curved object may be used, whether it is a tool designed specifically for gua sha or a spoon, a small metal lid, a coin, or any other object that has the curve the practitioner wants. A lubricant such as lotion or oil is spread over the skin that is to be scraped to protect the surface of the skin from abrasion, and the curved implement is then scraped over the skin with some degree of pressure. The greater the pressure used, the more intense the sensations will be during the treatment.

An area of tightness or tension can be directly treated with gua sha. It can also be used to prevent or treat a cold: if you get that stiff neck that means you’re about to get sick, see your acupuncturist and they may gua sha the back of your neck to release the pathogen and relieve the discomfort.

What are cupping and gua sha used for? What can I expect?

Both cupping and gua sha are used most often to address muscle tightness and pain. The area of the body to be treated might dictate which modality is used—it’s a lot easier to use gua sha in a smaller area like the nape of the neck, for example.

Cupping and gua sha often leave marks, called sha, on the skin. These may resemble bruising, but should disappear faster than a bruise and should not cause pain. Your results will be unique—you may leave your treatment with sha that varies in color from pale red to dark purple. The color and intensity of the marks tells me how long you have had the condition being treated, and other information such as your relative excess or deficient status. You can speed the disappearance of these marks by making sure you drink extra water on the day of your treatment!

Before performing cupping or gua sha I might ask if you plan to wear clothing such as a backless dress or bathing suit that will expose the marks soon after your treatment, simply due to their sometimes unsightly nature. Family or friends might ask you about your marks—let them know they are part of a treatment that helped relieve pain, create relaxation, and improved mobility.