Gua Sha

or Therapeutic Scraping

Gua sha is a healing technique of traditional East Asian medicine. Sometimes called ‘coining, spooning or scraping’, Gua sha is defined as instrument-assisted unidirectional press-stroking of a lubricated area of the body surface to intentionally create transitory therapeutic petechiae called ‘sha’ representing extravasation of blood in the subcutis.

Modern research shows Gua sha produces an anti-inflammatory and immune protective effect that persists for days following a single Gua sha treatment. This accounts for its effect on pain, stiffness, fever, chill, cough, wheeze, nausea and vomiting etc., and why Gua sha is effective in acute and chronic internal organ disorders including liver inflammation in hepatitis.

The technique is useful in any licensed therapeutic practice and of particular interest to acupuncturists, massage therapists, physical therapists, physicians and nurses who work directly with patients. (thank you to Arya Neilsen, phd for this explanation.)

 

Showing the red marks from Gua Sha

 

Gua Sha can look quite horrendous because the red marks raised by the Gua Sha tool appear so bright and red! This is actually the purpose of the treatment and the marks do go but if you don't want to end up with red marks, please don't have the treatment. Here are some typical Gua Sha tools, Traditionally they were made out of things like Turtle shell or even Ivory but I made mine from thick, smooth perspex as I don't agree with using animal products.

Gua Sha tools

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Cupping or "Fire Cups"

  

Cupping is the art of placing suction cups on Acupuncture points all over the body. The cups can be made from bamboo, glass or plastic. Mine are made of a very hard plastic with a suction valve on the back. A suction gun is placed against this and a small amount of suction is produced to pull the cup onto the skin. The cups are left on for about 20 minutes and can sometimes be drawn along the skin if it is coated with a light oil such as Grapeseed. Cupping can be used for treating many problems as an alternative to Acupuncture or with Acupuncture. Cup on a Patient's armI personally use it to treat colds and flu, stress and painful joints. It could even be used on the tummy for painful periods.

In the hands of a skilled Practitioner the amount of suction produced by the cups can be varied to suit the patient. For instance you would not want to use heavy cupping on an M.E. Patient but, a stressed, healthy Patient would be quite suitable. Cupping produces the tell tail marks that make it look as if you have been attacked by a giant Octopus! This is normal with heavy cupping and may take a while to go but while the marks are visable Cups on a Patient's back for stressthe therapy is still progressing. This therapy has been a part of Chinese Medicine for thousands of years but has also been part of many European folk medicines including England where it seems to have died out about 100 years ago. It is still used in Turkey and Poland. Cupping was often applied by the Mother or Grandmother to clear disease in their family.

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Magnets used to align the body or

Bio-magnetic Therapy

How does it work?

By placing small magnets on specific points to alter your posture enabling your spine to line up vertically. If you are not aligned then there is uneven wear on the facets of the vertebra. This is linked to slipped disks and problems such as arthritis and spondalitis.

Diagnosis

When you first come to see me and possibly at subsequent sessions you will be asked to undress to your underwear and stand on a special board that holds your feet in a good position. Then I will look at the way you are standing, how your spine lines up, if your shoulders and hips are level and if your neck is straight. I may also measure your legs when you are laying down to see if one is longer than the other. You would be surprised at how often this happens.                     

  What Happens?

Bio_Magnetic Therapy Back DiagramDuring the session small magnets may be placed on your back, neck, feet and hands, these will slowly align your body by producing a small electrical current between the magnets, this in turn tightens and loosens particular muscles. At the end of the session you may go away with smal l pieces of metal taped to your back. Don't worry you would not know that they are there and the tape is waterproof for protection. The pieces of metal also work on your muscles but at a more gentle level so that you are receiving treatment even when you are not in the Clinic!

Kim has been trained in Musculoskeletal assessment and so will be able to tell where your problem originates then place the magnets as needed for the best effect.

 

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Tuina

Often called Chinese Acupressure Massage

 

Tuina is thousands of years old, It is part of Chinese Medicine and needs a good knowledge of the theory of Chinese Medicine to practice it. It is sometimes referred to as "Chinese Acupressure Massage" but should not be confused with the "Acupressure Massage" often taught as evening classes at the local College. 

There are over 20 techniques used in Tuina and these use the fingers, palms, wrists, and elbows to invigorate Acupuncture points and Meridians. I mainly use it as an adjunctive therapy, that is alongside for instance, Acupuncture. If I have a Patient who's musculoskeletal problem is not getting better then I will often turn to Tuina to get things started. I have very occasionally just used Tuina but that is with Patients who are scared of needles. These days I usually use Tui Na as an adjunctive Therapy instead of on it's own. 

To learn Tuina from scratch with no knowledge of Chinese Medicine will take at least 3 years.

Me giving a Patient Tuina

 

 

 

 

 

Me giving a Patient Tuina for a sore lower back.

 

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Herbal medicine

Patent Herbal Remedies

Patent Herbs are herbs that are formed into tablets. I used a concentrated form that was made from herbal powder. They are formulated to Augment the 'syndromes' recognised in Traditional Chinese Medicine. See TCM page. An example would be Xiao Yao Wan which is used to tonify Yin and Blood and to move Liver Qi. There are thousands of different Patent Herbal formulas, I used only those from reputable suppliers who I knew didn't use things such as endangered species in the tablets. If you go to a Chinese shop there is the chance the Patents will have endangered species or chemicals such as steroids in them so be aware. One example of this is the use of Seahorses in some remedies, they can be substituted for in the tablets but the Chinese shops may use real Seahorses!

Patent Herbs are not like 'western' medicines, you often take 4 three times a day and they can take over a month to start working. They work at a deep level in our bodies and are often repairing the cause of our problems rather than masking the symptoms like a lot of 'western' medicines do.

I used Patents sometimes to work away in the background whilst I addressed other problems with Acupuncture

STOP PRESSpatent Herbal Remedies

Unfortunately Patent Herbal remedies are now outlawed for the use of Acupuncturists by the EU, although we have used them for many years and many of us have done courses on the subject. There are many lobbyists who are sponsored by the Pharmaceutical Industry who pushed for this. They want Patent Herbs to be Patented (seems like a play on words!) This will mean only companies like those in Pharmaceuticals will be able to afford the licensing process and the cost of the herbs will skyrocket in price.I hope when we finally cast off the chains of the EU we can get back to common sense and allow these types of medicine again. I take them personally and I have to get them from a Chinese company that flouts the rules!

I am just getting a small line of Food Supplements that are designed on the lines of Chinese Patents so there is still hope!!! Don't you just love these useless regulations!

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