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Manual Therapies

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) includes a range of hands-on therapies designed to promote healing, improve circulation, and relieve pain. These techniques work with the body’s musculoskeletal and nervous systems to encourage natural repair and relaxation.

At True Acupuncture & Wellness, we commonly use three core manual therapies:

Cupping Therapy – Uses gentle suction to draw blood flow to the skin and muscle layers, easing tension and promoting tissue recovery.
Tui Na – A therapeutic Chinese medical bodywork therapy that applies pressure, kneading, and stretching to reduce pain, release tight muscles, and improve joint mobility.
Gua Sha – Involves using a smooth-edged tool to lightly scrape the skin, increasing circulation and supporting recovery from inflammation, pain, or congestion.

These therapies are often combined with acupuncture or herbal medicine to enhance results - especially for chronic pain, stress, and fatigue.

Cupping Therapy

"Cupping helps jumpstart the body’s natural healing process by increasing blood flow within the treatment area. This has the effect of speeding up the healing process and soothing sore joints and muscles." -Houman Danesh, MD

Cupping therapy is a traditional treatment that uses suction cups placed on the skin to gently draw circulation to the surface. Cups may be made of glass, bamboo, or silicone and can be applied using either fire-cupping (to create suction through heat) or pump-cupping (using mechanical suction).

This process helps bring oxygen and nutrients to tissues while aiding the removal of metabolic waste. Cupping is often used to:

Relieve muscle tension and soreness
Improve circulation and lymphatic flow
Support immune function
Decrease inflammation and pain

The marks that sometimes appear afterward are not bruises but a normal response to increased circulation, usually fading within a few days.

Cupping is safe when performed by a trained practitioner and can be used for pain, headaches, respiratory issues, digestive discomfort, and recovery from stress or overuse.

Tuin Na (Ch. Bodywork Therapy)

"The most effective authentic techniques as currently used in Chinese clinics for fast injury repair, lengthening of muscles and releasing tightness."

Tui Na (pronounced twee-nah) is a form of Chinese medical bodywork therapy used for pain, muscle recovery, and mobility. It combines deep tissue massage, acupressure, joint mobilization, and stretching to restore healthy movement in the muscles and fascia.

In modern terms, Tui Na enhances circulation, nerve signaling, and musculoskeletal coordination, helping the body recover from injury and chronic tension. It is particularly effective for:

Back, neck, and shoulder pain
Sports or overuse injuries
Tension headaches
Musculoskeletal stiffness
Joint dysfunction

Tui Na may also influence pain-processing centers in the brain, helping the body release endorphins and relax deeply.

Gua Sha Therapy (Myofascial Scraping)

"The benefits of Gua sha are numerous. It resolves spasms and pain, and promotes normal circulation to the muscles, tissues and organs, as seen in Gua sha’s immediate effect on coughing and wheezing. Research has shown that Gua sha causes a four-fold increase in microcirculation of surface tissue and can reduce inflammation and stimulate the immune system". -Nielsen & Chan

Gua Sha is a gentle scraping technique used to relieve muscle tightness and inflammation. A smooth-edged tool (often jade, horn, or metal) is pressed along lubricated skin to improve circulation in muscles, connective tissue, and the superficial fascia.

This technique helps the body clear waste metabolites, reduce inflammation, and ease pain by increasing local blood flow and activating natural healing pathways.

Common uses include:

Neck and shoulder pain
Chronic muscle tension
Headaches and jaw tightness
Respiratory congestion
Post-exercise recovery

Most people feel an immediate release of tension and warmth after Gua Sha. Any redness (petechiae) that appears fades within a few days and is part of the normal healing process.

Safety and Professional Care

All manual therapies are performed by a licensed acupuncturist trained in traditional Chinese and modern anatomy-based techniques. Treatments are customized to your individual condition and comfort level.

While temporary redness, mild soreness, or skin sensitivity may occur, these effects are brief and part of the body’s healing response. Before starting any therapy, your practitioner will review your health history to ensure safety and optimal results.

Summary

Cupping, Tui Na, and Gua Sha each activate the body’s natural repair mechanisms in distinct but complementary ways, reducing pain, improving mobility, and promoting recovery from stress and injury.

When used alongside acupuncture and herbal medicine, these therapies provide a comprehensive approach to restoring comfort, circulation, and resilience throughout the body.