Cupping, Moxibustion and Gua Sha Geelong
Cupping, moxibustion, and gua sha are hands-on treatments we use alongside acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. Sometimes they’re part of a broader treatment session, sometimes they’re the main event. It depends on what your body needs on the day.
Cupping
Cupping uses suction cups placed on the skin to lift and stretch the underlying tissue. It relieves muscle tension, improves circulation, and helps shift stagnation in areas that feel tight, stuck, or painful.
We use two main methods. Fixed cupping is where cups are placed on a specific area and left in position. Sliding cupping is where oil is applied to the skin and the cups are moved across a broader area — this works well for the back, shoulders, and larger muscle groups.
Cupping isn’t painful, but it can leave temporary round marks on the skin that look like bruises. They’re not — there’s no tissue damage. The marks show where circulation has shifted and typically fade within a few days to a couple of weeks.
Moxibustion
Moxibustion is a warming therapy. In Chinese medicine, some conditions are cold in nature — think poor circulation, certain types of pain that feel worse in cold weather, digestive sluggishness, or fatigue. Moxibustion uses the herb mugwort (ai ye) to generate a penetrating warmth over acupuncture points or areas of the body.
We also use TDP infrared heat lamps, which produce a similar therapeutic warmth. These are particularly useful when we want sustained, even heat over a larger area during treatment.
Gua sha
Gua sha involves using a smooth-edged tool to press and stroke across the skin, usually over the back, neck, or shoulders. It releases muscle tension, moves blood, and clears stagnation. Like cupping, it can leave temporary redness or marks on the skin — this is normal and fades quickly.
Gua sha is especially useful for tight, knotted muscles, headaches driven by neck tension, and the early stages of a cold.
All of these treatments are delivered as part of a Chinese medicine consultation. We’ll assess your presentation and choose the approach that fits. Find out what to expect at your first appointment.
How cupping and moxibustion works
We use both dry and wet cupping. Dry cupping uses suction only, while wet cupping involves a small amount of controlled bleeding to clear stagnation — some of our practitioners use this with disposable cups for specific conditions. There are two main methods of application:
Fixed cupping is where cups are placed on a specific area and left in position for several minutes. This works well for targeted tension or stagnation.
Sliding cupping is where oil is applied to the skin and the cups are moved across a larger area. This is particularly effective across the back and shoulders.
We use glass, silicone, and disposable cups depending on the technique and what we’re treating.
Cupping is most commonly used for musculoskeletal pain and tension — tight backs, stiff necks, sore shoulders. But because cups can also be placed over acupuncture points, we use cupping for a broader range of presentations including respiratory issues, digestive sluggishness, headaches, and menstrual pain.
We choose whether to cup based on your presentation on the day. All of our practitioners are AHPRA-registered and experienced in cupping techniques.
Moxibustion is a warming therapy used when a condition has a cold nature — poor circulation, certain types of pain that worsen in cold weather, digestive weakness, or fatigue. It uses the herb mugwort (ai ye) to generate a deep, penetrating warmth over acupuncture points or affected areas.
We also use TDP infrared heat lamps, which produce a similar therapeutic warmth over a broader area. Unlike a standard heat pack, TDP lamps emit a specific infrared light spectrum believed to support healing and reduce inflammation
Gua sha uses a smooth-edged tool pressed and stroked firmly across the skin to release muscle tension and move blood. It’s most commonly applied to the back, neck, and shoulders. It can leave temporary redness or marks — this is normal and fades within a few days. Gua sha is especially useful for tight, knotted muscles, tension headaches, and the early stages of a cold. A mild version is used for cosmetic acupuncture.
