Gua Sha Cupping – Moxibustion

Boost Your Lymphatic System with Gua Sha

Manual lymphatic drainage assists your body’s immune system. Lymphatic nodes act as checkpoints where your body deals with infection and breaks down other microbes and bacteria. Between your body’s cells, fluid that collects beneath your skin often appears as swelling or sometimes bloating.

Normally, the lymphatic flow depends simply on the action of your lungs and limbs to pump fluid up toward your throat through little one-way valves. Regular exercise and a diet rich in cellulose fiber with fermented foods can only do so much, however. Sometimes you need a little help to gently push those fluids back into the body’s detoxification program.

Gua Sha works to move those collected fluids back into the circulatory system, where they get recycled by the liver. Even if you currently engage in vigorous exercise, you don’t have to rely only on these one-way valves and deep diaphragmatic breathing to pump and move lymph gently. Technically, there is no actual pump for the lymphatic system, but guasha techniques can help anyone.

Whether performing these techniques on yourself or receiving a treatment, you are giving your lymphatic system the boost that it needs to rid yourself of the fluids that are stuck beneath the surface of your skin and causing your face and body to bloat.

Gua Sha has a long history.

While the terms “jade scraping” or “Gua Sha” may be new to your ears, this ancient healing technique dates back nearly seven centuries to the Ming Dynasty.

The classical Chinese medicine text Shan Han Lun from 220 CE describes the observation of ‘Sha’ – redness that manifests when you press upon the flesh and found this to indicate that fluid had become trapped in the tissue.

Gua Sha has developed since then into a popular folk remedy. It revitalizes the soft tissue with gentle scraping strokes that release this fluid to the surface. This action encourages the skin to heal itself and spontaneously produce enzymes beneficial to the internal organs, especially the Liver.

Having studied Japanese and Chinese traditions, I have adapted these techniques for your benefit. Facial lymphatic treatments and full-body lymphatic treatments address different kinds of swelling, but both will leave you feeling refreshed and open.

The Benefits of Gua Sha

Modern-day jade scraping is less invasive than traditional techniques. Regardless, Gua Sha still produces some impressive results. As you can see, the benefits of Gua Sha are extensive and include: circulation stimulation, improved collagen production, softening of wrinkles and fine lines, a reduction of puffiness and inflammation, diminished dark circles, temporarily tightened skin, brightened complexion, sculpted facial muscles, and a release of tension.

Cupping creates beneficial physiological changes.

Ever since Michael Phelps, 2016 Olympic swimming champion, sported his cupping marks on national television, cupping has soared in popularity. Recently, chiropractors and physical therapists rebranded cupping, calling it “myofascial decompression.”

This fancy name for an ancient technique has been around for thousands of years and traces its roots to ancient Chinese and Egyptian medicine. The first documentation of cupping appears in one of the oldest medical textbooks globally, Ebers Papyrus (1550 BC), which describes the process in detail.

The procedure uses bamboo, glass, or plastic cups applied to the skin with suction, caused by creating a vacuum with a pump inside the cup or using a small torch. The suction creates many physiological changes to the tissue that help improve quality of life and athletic performance.

Marks produced by the suction are not bruises. We know this because these marks are not tender to the touch. Instead, cupping marks result from the interstitial blood and lymph rising to the skin’s surface, where enzymes break the lymph down and allow for reabsorption by the capillaries. Enzymes produced in this process also benefit the liver and other organs.

Uses of Cupping

In the past, cupping was used to treat severe lung conditions like bronchitis and pneumonia.

Currently, cupping still helps to manage those conditions. However, today we focus on relieving symptoms like shortness of breath, wheezing, and asthma as well. If you are in search of pain relief from musculoskeletal injuries, such as strains, sprains, injuries, or inflammation, cupping may also offer lasting relief.

Wet cupping includes the procedure of puncturing the skin to drain blood or fluid from a swollen joint. This kind of procedure should only be attempted by a trained professional. However, sometimes this is the only procedure which will relieve the pain.

What is Moxibustion?

Moxibustion (or moxa) functions as a heat application. Traditionally, this involves burning a cigar of wrapped herbs, usually a mix of mugwort with other herbs like ginger. Most clinical applications in use today, however, use a smokeless type of charcoal. Moxibusion is also helpful for treating musculoskeletal injuries, such as strains, sprains, injuries, or inflammation. Often this modality will help just as well, if not better, than using guasha or cupping.

What are its benefits?

• Pain management: The heat from moxibustion therapy improves circulation to the injury area. Nutrients flow more easily into the site as waste, and damaged cells are easily removed.
• Decreases healing time of injuries: When the circulation of blood, Qi, and lymph increases, healing time reduces, which results in more mobility to the affected joint.
• Reduces arthritic pain: Often, arthritic pain responds favorably to heat and worse with cold.
• Minimizes headaches/ soothes migraines: Studies have shown a reduction in duration and severity of headaches and migraines with moxibustion treatment.
• Benefits gynecological issues/ menstrual pain: Moxibustion is often used to treat specific acupuncture points with or without needles to help alleviate symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle. This herb has an affinity toward benefiting the uterus.
• Turning breech position of a fetus: One of the most well-known indications for moxibustion therapy is to help turn a baby in the breech position during pregnancy. This simple and effective technique is highly regarded within gynecology
• Boosts immunity/ protection against cases of flu and colds: Moxibustion with or without acupuncture on specific points throughout the body help boost immunity and shorten the duration of cold and flu symptoms. Studies have shown that this kind of treatment can increase white blood cell counts almost immediately following an intervention.
• Improvements from digestive complaints: For conditions such as abdominal pain and diarrhea, moxibustion is particularly helpful to alleviate pain and regulate the large intestines re-absorption of water.
• Vitality/ longevity benefits: Daily application of moxibustion on certain points helps to increase your vitality and longevity. Some of these points are known to help stimulate the immune system, enhance digestion, increase endurance, and strengthen the lower body.

Pharmacological Effects of Moxa

• Stops Bleeding – Both fresh and charred forms have been shown to stop bleeding.
• Stops Asthma – The tea has a calming effect and is a wonderful home remedy for wheezing.
• Stops Coughing – Mugwort also aids in expelling phlegm from the lungs.
• Cholagogic – It promotes bile flow and circulation, menstruation, digestion, and labor.
• Kills microbes – Topical applications ward off sepsis and have antibacterial properties.

Sign Me Up! How Do I Get Started?

Moxibustion therapy (or moxa) is often performed by a well-versed practitioner of Chinese Medicine, but you can also easily do it on your own at home! Make sure that you know how to use it so you avoid any risk of burns.

Several brands and methods you may try, but the smokeless kinds are typically better for use indoors. Make sure you only burn the moxa in a well-ventilated area.

Many prefer the stick-on type moxa. It’s so easy to use and provides a gentle yet therapeutic warmth with minimal risk of injury. Ask me for help if you want to use these products at home.

Experience Positive Physiological Changes

I have expert training in Moxibustion, Cupping, and Gua Sha techniques, but did you know that fine acupuncture needling can also improve wrinkles and restore collagen production? Facial acupuncture is a much safer alternative to botox or plastic surgery. Let me help you restore your youthful complexion the natural way.

If you want Gua Sha, facial acupuncture, or lymphatic treatment, contact me today. You will notice the difference. (310) 902-7222