Therapy Masters

Moxibustion is closely related to acupuncture and is the application of heated herbs to an acupressure point for medicinal purposes. It is believed to strengthen the blood, stimulate the flow of qi and maintain general health.

The Moxa plant is a member of the Artemesia or mugwort family, which is known to increase blood circulation. The fresh leaves of the plant are picked in Spring and sun dried, before being ground in to a fine powder or Moxa “wool”.  This “wool” can then be shaped to form a cone which is used in Direct Moxibustion. The Moxa "wool" can also be wrapped tightly in paper like a cigar to form a Moxa Roll or Stick. It is this form of Moxa which is used during Indirect Moxibustion. Other herbs may also be added to a Moxa Stick to enhance its medicinal effects.

Moxa is believed to add new energy to the body and can treat both excess and deficient conditions.  In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) excess conditions are those in which problems are caused by there being too much of something (e.g. cold weather), while deficient conditions are caused by there not being enough of something the person needs (e.g. as seen in chronic health conditions). Therapists consider Moxibustion to be especially effective in the treatment of chronic problems, and the burning of Moxa is believed to expel cold and warm the meridians (TCM terms).

There are two types of Moxibustion- Direct and Indirect. Direct Moxibustion uses a small cone-shaped amount of Moxa, placed directly on the skin, on top of an acupuncture point. The cone shaped mound is then lit and burned. The client will feel a pleasant heating sensation that runs deep in the skin. Indirect Moxibustion has a much lower risk of pain or burning. The therapist lights one end of a Moxa Stick and holds it as close as it is comfortable, to the area being treated until the skin turns red.

Cupping is the placing of a closed container where a partial vacuum has been created, on the skin for medicinal purposes. Originally the cups were made from animal horn but they are now made from bamboo, plastic or glass. The vacuum is created in the cup, when a flame is placed within the cup, then quickly removed as the cup is placed on the skin. The quicker this occurs, the more suction is retained in the cup.  The vacuum inside the cup allows for negative pressure suction to draw up the underlying tissues in to the cup, and forms an area of blood stasis.

The cup may be left in place for between 3 to 10 minutes and were the blood stasis or bruise is formed localised healing takes place. The application time is adjusted according to the strength of the vacuum inside the cup. The cup may be left in a stationary position or moved with the assistance of oil (applied prior to the cup). The cup should be removed when the skin has gone a reddish/purple colour and if the skin has not gone red after 5 minutes, the treatment is not considered successful. The quicker the skin turns red, the better the prognosis.

Sliding Cupping is used to treat blood stagnation and pain in large areas of thick musculature. Single Cups are applied for specific areas of tenderness and point stimulation, while Multiple Cups are used for disorders of a larger area (e.g. along a muscle strain). Rapid Cupping benefits areas of local numbness and atrophy.

Overall the purpose of Cupping  is to relax muscles, warm the tissue, promote the flow of qi and circulation, dispel cold and dampness (TCM terms), and reduce swelling and pain. Cupping is considered to be one of the best types of deep tissue treatment available.

Gua Sha is another TCM treatment. “Gua” means “scraping” or “to scrape”, and “Sha” is the term used to describe redness that may occur post treatment. A smooth rounded object (a ceramic Chinese style soup spoon is ideal) is used to scrape the skin. Long gentle strokes are repeated until bruising appears on the skin.  It is a technique very similar to cupping in that it creates deliberate skin rash, to bring heat and wind pathologies (TCM terms) to the surface.

Gua Sha is effective for treating upper neck ailments where cups are almost impossible to use. The therapy is not a painful one, as the reddening of the skin is simply the heat and toxins coming to the surface. It is useful for treating muscle aches and pains as it restores the flow of qi and blood to an area, as well as strengthening the immune system.

As our Eastern massage therapist Gill Staples is qualified in all three of these disciplines. Amanda Ferguson is qualified in Cupping. To book a Moxibustion, Cupping or Gua Sha treatment or to add this to a Remedial or Eastern Massage please phone the clinic on 6247 0662.