In Amma massage, we work down specific energy meridians throughout your body. This style of massage is done on a massage table, and oils are only sometimes used for therapeutic purposes. By using tissue manipulation, vibration, and acupressure techniques, Amma massage is great for stimulating the body’s circulatory systems, and promoting healing to the body’s tissues.

Fire cupping is an ancient form of treatment most commonly used to break up adhesions and scar tissue and to release tense muscles. In fire cupping, glass cups are suctioned onto your skin, causing blood to rush to the area. To create the suction, an alcohol swab lit on fire and held with forceps is briefly held inside the cup exhausting all the oxygen. The flame is removed and the cup is quickly put onto the skin to create the suction.

Moxa is the burning of mugwort (a medicinal herb of many uses) over the skin or directly on the skin. The heat from burning mugwort penetrates deep into the body. This heat brings qi (energy) into the body from the outside, which then draws fresh blood to that area to speed up healing of tissues, or to break up blood stagnation or clotting. Moxa can be used to remedy many different symptoms depending on how and where on the body it is used.

In Gua Sha, various-shaped tools are used to “scrape” the skin. By repeatedly scraping the skin, stagnant qi and blood towards the surface of the body is moved and scars and adhesions are broken up. When done on the upper back, this is a very effective technique for lessening the duration of a cold or flu and releasing the exterior to break a fever. Gua Sha helps to release toxins, and although it is painless, may cause temporary bruising depending on the amount of toxins released.