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Other types of Chinese Medicine treatment
Cupping
Restores Flow And Releases Tension
Cupping therapy is a deeply grounding technique rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and used today across a wide range of therapeutic settings.
At JG Alternative Healthcare, we have cupping as a standalone treatment or as part of a personalised acupuncture session.
This is particularly useful when addressing persistent tension, post-training soreness, or areas that feel “stuck.”
This ancient practice uses glass, plastic or silicone cups placed on the skin to create gentle suction. The effect is like a reverse massage.
Instead of compressing tissue, the suction lifts and decompresses layers of fascia, encouraging circulation in areas that may feel tight, stagnant or fatigued.
What Does Cupping Do?
Cupping’ s circular marks are now a regular sight on athletes bodies and is used to help with their training and recovery and it is now widely used for all people who want to explore other treatments for muscle soreness.
The vacuum created by the cup draws fresh blood, lymph and Qi to the area, helping the body notice, nourish and re-pattern the tissue.
This is especially useful in cases of:
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Post-exercise muscular tension
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Repetitive strain or sedentary fatigue (e.g. desk posture patterns)
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Tight shoulders, hips or lower back
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Scar tissue desensitisation or soft tissue congestion
Cupping can be done alongside other TCM treatments.
What Does It Feel Like?
Most people describe cupping as a pulling sensation, often followed by a wave of release. Some clients feel warmth, tingling, or a dull ache as tension releases, followed by a surprising lightness or freedom in the area.
Static cupping involves leaving cups in one place, while mobile cupping glides the cups along oiled skin for a broader release. Jesse will talk you through each step and check in regularly to ensure comfort.
Any temporary marks left behind are not bruises, they’re signs of local circulation shifts, and typically fade within a few days.
Gua Sha
A TCM Technique for Modern Tension and Circulatory Flow
Gua Sha is a traditional manual therapy used to gently stimulate the skin and fascia through rhythmic strokes along specific areas of the body. Often described as “scraping” in English, this technique involves using a smooth-edged tool to apply pressure and movement along the surface of the skin.
Jesse uses Gua Sha to support circulation, fascia release, and the body’s innate ability to clear tension, especially when it has built up slowly over time.
Gua Sha works alongside cupping therapy, Tuina-style massage, and acupuncture, offering a tactile, grounding experience that many people find both deeply soothing and physically clarifying.
What Is Gua Sha Used For?
Gua Sha is commonly explored by people looking to:
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Ease muscle tightness or stiffness
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Improve lymphatic flow and localised circulation
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Address stress-related physical holding patterns
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Support recovery from fatigue, overwork, or postural tension
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Relieve tightness around the neck, shoulders, upper back or jaw
Jesse offers Gua Sha either as a stand-alone treatment or as part of a broader manual therapy session. His approach blends traditional Chinese Medicine diagnostics with practical insight from his background in sports recovery and nerve-related tension.
What Does a Gua Sha Session Involve?
Gua Sha is performed using a smooth-edged tool, typically made of jade, ceramic, or metal. It is applied to the skin with a light oil or balm and the tool is gently stroked across specific areas of the body, using varying pressure and rhythm based on your comfort and tissue response.
Sessions may focus on a specific area like the neck or jaw, or be integrated into a full-body treatment. Jesse often combines Gua Sha with other therapies such as cupping, Chinese massage (Tuina), or acupuncture and moxibustion, creating a layered, personalised treatment designed to release tension, restore flow, and support your body’s natural rhythms.
Moxibustion (Moxa)
Smokeless Moxibustion Therapy for Warmth, Circulation and Balance
Jesse offers a modern, smokeless form of moxibustion. A traditional Chinese Medicine technique that uses heat to gently support the body’s energy systems. Moxibustion, often called moxa, involves the application of therapeutic warmth to specific acupuncture points or areas of the body.
Traditional moxa, is made from dried mugwort leaves, produces a lot of smoke and a strong odor when burned.
Jesse uses smokeless moxa, a form of moxibustion that undergoes a carbonisation process that reduces the smoke and smell, making it more suitable for indoor use, poorly ventilated areas and for individuals sensitive to smoke.
Why Use Smokeless Moxa?
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No smoke or strong smell — ideal for sensitive lungs or shared clinic settings
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Clean, modern delivery — with the same traditional warming effect
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More comfortable experience for clients new to Chinese Medicine
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Precise application to specific points without excess heat
It allows Jesse to honour tradition while maintaining a calm, low-irritant treatment space, especially important for clients with asthma, migraines, or allergies.
When Might Moxa Be Used?
Jesse may include moxibustion when clients present with patterns of:
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Cold hands and feet
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Digestive sluggishness or bloating
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Menstrual discomfort with a cold or heavy sensation
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Fatigue, burnout, or exhaustion
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Muscle tension that doesn’t respond well to manual pressure
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Post-viral fatigue or low resilience (informed by Chinese Medicine principles)
Moxa is often used in combination with acupuncture, cupping, gua sha, or Chinese herbal support, depending on what your body is showing on the day.
What Does Moxa Feel Like?
Most people describe the sensation as soothing, penetrating warmth that helps them feel calm and grounded. Unlike direct heat therapies, the aim isn’t to “blast” the area but to deliver a slow, steady nourishing warmth, encouraging movement, relaxation, and tissue responsiveness.
The warmth is always monitored and adjusted to your comfort. You should never feel burned or overheated. Jesse checks in continuously and adapts placement, timing, and intensity to your body’s feedback.
Wagga Osteopathy
Wagga Osteopathy is locally owned. We are family friendly and happy to help every family member free themselves from aches and pains
Contact Us
Chinese Medicine Opening Hours
Mon - Fri: Closed
Sat: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Sun: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Melbourne Expert available one weekend per month, right here in Wagga!