Supplemental
Supplemental treatments sit alongside acupuncture and herbal medicine when they fit your presentation or you request them. Annie chooses techniques based on what will help most, not as a fixed add-on package.
- Cupping - great for stiff muscles
- Gua Sha - improve blood flow and circulation
- Moxibustion - warms specific acupuncture points and meridians
Cupping
Cupping used either glass or plastic cups that are applied to the skin. There is a vacuum created about the skin which draws up blood and any stagnant fluids towards the skin. Many people find cupping feels surprisingly relaxing and grounding, although the first minute or two can take some adjusting to as the muscles and skin are stretched.
The suction created by cupping pulls up the layers of muscles, fascia and tissue in a way the massage and stretching cannot, so it is a great way to treat stubborn areas that have not responded well to other methods. Knots, injured joints and seized up muscles usually respond well.
The strength of the cupping may depend on the patterns involved in your condition. Gentler cupping can have relaxing and nourishing benefits. It can also improve blood and lymph flow and provide gentle tension relief.
Stronger cupping can be used to pull more blood out of the muscles and tissue towards the skin. This allows fresh, nourishing blood to be able to flow into the area while any stagnant blood pulled up to the skin will be cleared away in a few hours or days by the body's lymphatic system. This can have therapeutic effects for the whole body by improving excess dampness or blood stagnation.
Tight muscles result in lower oxygen levels and more waste matter from cells, dead cells and other material builds up in the stagnant blood. Depending on how much is pulled out of the area, there may be some itching or dark marks that imitate bruising on the skin. There is no tenderness associated with these cupping marks, unlike a true bruise which would be painful to press on. Very rarely there may be some small fluid blisters if there is an especially stagnant area or long term issue.
Sliding cupping is also an option that generally wont leave marks and can help release muscles and open meridians.
Wet cupping (or blood cupping or bleeding) is performed at felicity clinic.
You must inform your practitioner if you are taking steroids or hormone replacements as you will be very vulnerable to blistering.
Gua Sha
Gua Sha is a massage tool used to glide along the skin under pressure. It is often used to stimulate blood flow and muscle relaxation. It can be used in most areas including those areas not as practical for cupping such as the face, neck and arms. It can also encourage lymph flow by acting as a lymphatic massage, moving the lymph and fluids towards the heart.
It has been used as a beauty treatment in China for thousands of years to reduce puffy skin, improve the skin tone, brighten the face and even improve the hair by encouraging blood flow to the scalp. It's now become highly popular in modern beauty treatments. At felicity clinic, Annie is able to incorporate this into your treatment while enjoying the benefits of acupuncture at the same time.
Facial acupuncture is also a great option to keep in mind for reducing lines and improving tone.
Moxibustion
Moxibustion uses gentle heat to warm and strengthen meridians and acupuncture points. It can be effective to clear out pathogenic factors such as cold and dampness.
It is usually applied by burning a mugwort stick held by hand at specific points or placed on needles. This directs radiant (similar to infrared) heat deep under the skin and into the points.
This usually involves smoke which means the room must be well ventilated and masks may also be worn.
Dry needling
Dry needling may be used for local muscle release when that approach suits the area being treated. It may involve using acupuncture needles or thicker needles to target tight or seized up muscle groups, stimulating them and encouraging them to relax. Sometimes the targeted muscle may spasm and then completely relax.