Cupping Therapy and Gua Sha in Vancouver
Quick answer: Cupping uses glass or silicone cups to create gentle suction on your skin, lifting the tissue underneath to ease muscle tension. Gua sha uses a smooth, round-edged tool in long strokes along the skin. At Electra Health, cupping is offered by all of our registered acupuncturists, including Jessica Von Sacken, Rudy Lee, River Fa, Greg Cheng and Elena (Hyun Joo) Lee, at 970 Burrard Street in downtown Vancouver, open 7 days a week, 7 AM–9 PM.
- First acupuncture visit: 50 minutes, $145
- Insurance: most extended health plans cover a registered acupuncturist (R.Ac.), and we direct bill many plans for acupuncture
- ICBC: after a car accident, ICBC pre-approves 12 acupuncture treatments in the first 12 weeks, with no user fee. See ICBC treatment
- Book: Jessica, Rudy, River, Greg, Elena or call 604-685-4325
What is cupping therapy?
Cupping creates suction inside a cup placed on your skin. The suction lifts the skin and the tissue underneath, which feels like a slow, deep stretch. Your acupuncturist leaves the cups in place for a few minutes or glides them across lightly oiled skin. People often book cupping for tight shoulders, a stiff back or sore muscles after training, and many combine it with acupuncture.
Gua sha (scraping)
Gua Sha involves palpation and cutaneous stimulation where the skin is pressured, in strokes, by a round-edged instrument; that results in the appearance of small red patches called ‘sha’ that will fade in 2 to 3 days.
Raising Sha removes blood stagnation which is considered pathogenic. This promotes normal circulation and metabolic processes.
Many people book gua sha for muscle tension, stiffness and soreness, and your acupuncturist will talk you through what to expect before you start.
Acupuncture Vancouver BC (downtown)
7 days a week – 7 am to 9 pm
604-685-4325
In classical Chinese practice, the Gua Sha technique is most commonly used to:
- Reduce fever (the technique was used to treat cholera).
- Treat fatigue caused by exposure to heat (often used to treat heat-stroke) or cold.
- Cough and dyspnea: bronchitis, asthma, emphysema.
- Treat muscle and tendon injuries.
- Push sluggish circulation, fibromyalgia.
- Treat headache.
- Treat sunstrokes / heat syncope and nausea.
- Treat stiffness, pain, immobility.
- Treat digestive disorders.
- Treat urinary, gynecological disorders
Cupping is a method of applying acupressure by creating a vacuum next to the patient’s skin. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) it involves placing glass, plastic, or bamboo cups on the skin with a vacuum. The therapy is used to relieve what is called “stagnation” in TCM terms, and is used in the treatment of respiratory diseases such as the common cold, pneumonia, and bronchitis. Cupping is also used to treat back, neck, shoulder, and other musculoskeletal pain.
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Cupping and gua sha questions, answered
Yes. Round red or purple marks are common and usually fade within a few days to a week. Gua sha leaves small red patches called sha that fade in 2 to 3 days. Let us know if you have an event coming up and we can plan around it.
No. Most people feel a tight, pulling sensation as the cups lift the skin. Tell your acupuncturist anytime and they can lighten the suction.
No. Skip cupping over broken, burned or irritated skin, and tell your acupuncturist if you are pregnant, take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder, so they can adjust your treatment or suggest another option.
Yes. Cupping is offered by all of our registered acupuncturists, so just mention it when you book or at the start of your appointment.
Yes, when a registered acupuncturist provides it as part of your treatment. Most extended health plans cover acupuncture, and we direct bill many plans for you.
Yes, as part of acupuncture treatment. If you were in a car accident, ICBC pre-approves 12 acupuncture treatments in the first 12 weeks, and there is no user fee when we bill ICBC directly.