Cupping
Plastic or glass balls (cups) are placed on certain points on your body. A vacuum develops in these areas, which strongly stimulates blood flow. Cupping is a good way to eliminate energy blockages, waste products and swellings. Cupping has a huge depth effect and is especially effective for rheumatic complaints and sprains. After the cupping, a red spot will appear on the treated area. This is a normal phenomenon that disappears after a few days.
Moxa
A burning, smoldering stick or other carrier is used to heat body parts or acupuncture points. The goal is to stimulate the blood and energy circulation in the heated body parts or between specific acupuncture points and to increase the Qi and Yang. Moxa is made from the spice Mugwort, the Artemisia Vulgaris, which burns slowly and very hot when ignited. Treatment with moxa takes 5 to 20 minutes at a time and can be performed 1-3 times a day.
Gua Sha
Gua means ‘scraping’ or ‘rubbing’ in Chinese and Sha refers to the toxic energy that is released during treatment and that causes red spots on the skin surface. During a Gua Sha treatment, the therapist scrapes or rubs the skin with a special Gua Sha stone or other hard object with a round edge. Scraping the skin opens the surface of the skin and stimulates the circulation of Qi and Blood and removes the waste. The treatment looks painful because of the discoloration of the skin, but it is not.
Complaints that can be treated well with Gua Sha include cold, flu, (high) fever, muscle stains, neck complaints, shoulder complaints, stress, carpal tunnel syndrome, numb and tingling fingers, cough, migraine, tension around the sacrum and pelvic area.