Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine has many different modalities that can help a variety of conditions without needles. A few of these modalities are Cupping, Gua Sha and Moxa(Moxabustion). Robbin, our acupuncturist practices all of these modlatites. Listed below are descriptions of these treatments:
Cupping:
Cupping (Ba Huo or Xi Fong) is a method of treating disease by moving local congestion. A partial vacuum is created by a fire in a jar, or cup, which is then applied to the skin. The negative pressure causes the underlying tissue to draw up in to the cup causing the old blood to move to the surface of the skin. This will help bring new blood to the area, which is full of oxygen and nutrients that we need for healing. Cups are left 1-15 minutes, which often leaves a purplish mark that will fade over the course of 5-7 days without special treatment.
Gua Sha:
“Sha” therapy or “Gua Sha” is a technique of scrathing or scrapping the skin with a smooth edged insturment (often a Chinese spoon) in order to elicit a redness of the skin. “Sha” means “sand” and, in this context, it refers to the sand-like appearance of the skin when scratched. The benefits are exactly the same as what cupping provides. However, gua sha can get to other parts of the body that a cup would normally not be able to get to.
Moxa (Smokeless):
Moxa or Moxibustion (Jiu) is made from dried mugwort. Smokeless moxa is the charcoal produced from burnt moxa wich will not emit smoke when lit. Indirect moxa is pictured above…the moxa stick is held above the skin to directly warm the area and meridian which promotes circulation.
Contact Heritage Health for your next acupuncture appointment and request any or all of these modalities! Call (303) 694-1245.
Labor day is around the corner and all of us here are Heritage Health wish you a safe and healthy holiday weekend!
Best in Health,
Robbin Tallow-Ajilo, L.Ac.
