Oriental Therapies

Oriental Therapies is a heading given to extra techniques that may be used within a shiatsu treatment should they be considered to be of benefit at the time. These techniques – moxibustion, cupping, and guasha  – are also considered to be practices in their own right; such is the therapeutic benefit that may be gained from their use.

Moxibustion

Moxibustion, or moxa, is another traditional and highly effective technique that can be applied to many different parts of the body. This technique involves the burning of a herb – a variety of mugwort (artemesia vulgaris) – on the back, belly or at selected acu-points in order to deeply warm the body, activate the meridians, promote blood circulation and disperse symptoms of cold and damp.

The mugwort is often applied in cones that are rolled, placed directly on the skin before being burned a third to half of the way down and then removed. Cones may be burned at a particular point more than once, and a sensation of warmth and well being is often felt. Other applications of moxibustion come through indirect methods. One method is using stick of compressed mugwort that is lit and held close to the area requiring treatment until the skin reddens slightly and warmth is sensed.

Another is through the use of a handheld tool commonly called an elephant warmer. A stick of compressed mugwort is lit and inserted into this broad bottomed tool, which is then used to massage, warm and relieve areas of muscular tension effectively.

Cupping

Cupping is a therapy applied most often on the back. The cups are made from glass, and by removing the oxygen from the space inside of the cups using a flame, a vacuum is created. The cups are then placed on the bare back and left for a time range of 1 – 10 minutes. Cupping has the effect of promoting blood and energy circulation and can assist in relieving congestion in the chest, which can be particularly beneficial for resolving cold and flu symptoms

Cupping can also be applied to relieve muscular tension and pain. In this instance, a small amount of oil may be applied to the skin before the cups are placed on the body, which will allow the cups to be moved along the muscles. This technique of sliding cups can also be applies to specific energy meridians of the body.

Guasha

Guasha is a traditional technique that has been used in many different forms and for hundreds of years in Asian countries. Though a range of implements can be used to perform this therapy, guasha is commonly referred to as spooning due to the general use of a round-edged spoon.

A spoon, or other guasha tool, is run along major muscles of the back, neck and/or shoulders in a repetitive fashion, often raising tiny blood spots in problematic areas. This spotting or petechiae is referred to as ‘sha’ and the raising of ‘sha’ is often seen as confirmation that the guasha is being applied in the area most requiring treatment.

The benefits of guasha are similar to that of cupping, in that it encourages blood circulation and is excellent for relieving muscular tension and pain.