Cupping and Gua Sha Therapy Sandringham
Treatments ~ Cupping and Gua Sha
Cupping and Gua Sha Treatment in Bayside Melbourne
Needle-Free Chinese Medicine Therapy
Cupping and Gua Sha are Traditional Chinese Medicine therapies that work directly on your body, using gentle suction and deliberate pressure to support circulation, ease muscular tension, and encourage your body's natural recovery.
Available as a standalone 30-minute session, or woven into your regular acupuncture appointment.
What is Cupping and Gua Sha
Two Therapies, One Goal: Supporting Your Body's Natural Flow
Cupping and Gua Sha have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. Both work on similar principles: encouraging circulation, releasing stagnation, and supporting the body to move and feel better. The experience of each is quite different, though both are deeply hands-on and grounding. Which therapy I use depends entirely on your presentation on the day. Often, both are incorporated into the same session, where it makes sense for your body.
Cupping
Cupping uses glass cups and gentle heat or silicone cups to create a vacuum seal on the skin, most commonly across the back, shoulders, and neck, though it can be applied anywhere on the body. Rather than pressing down into the muscle (as a massage does), cupping works by lifting the tissue upward. This suction encourages blood flow to the area, softens tight muscles, and supports the body's recovery.
Many people describe the sensation as a deep, warm pressure, which is noticeable but not painful.
Gua Sha
Gua Sha uses a smooth ceramic spoon or stone tool to apply gentle, repeated strokes along the skin's surface. The pressure is controlled and deliberate, working along the body's meridian pathways to move stagnation and improve circulation.
While it may look intense from the outside, most people find Gua Sha more comfortable than a deep tissue massage, and the release it offers can be significant.
Yes, you might have some marks after Cupping and Gua Sha
The most common question I hear about Cupping and Gua Sha is will I be left with red marks?
Yes, and that's completely normal.
The temporary discolouration you see after Cupping or Gua Sha is a natural response to increased blood flow at the surface of the skin. It is not bruising in the traditional sense and generally fades away after a few days. In Chinese Medicine philosophy, their colour and pattern offer useful diagnostic information about what's happening in your body.
I will always explain what I am observing as I go along. Understanding what your body is showing is part of how this process works, and why my patients leave my clinic feeling more informed, not just more relaxed.
Depending on your circulation and the area being worked on, marks typically fade within a few days to a week.
Cupping and Gua Sha might be right for you if…
You're curious about Chinese medicine, but the idea of needles has held you back.
You carry a lot of tension in your neck, shoulders, or back, and want more than a surface-level release.
You're an existing patient who wants to add Cupping or Gua Sha to your acupuncture session for a more comprehensive treatment.
You've been dealing with recurring headaches, sinus congestion, or jaw tension, and want a gentle, non-invasive option to explore.
Already seeing me for acupuncture?
Cupping and Gua Sha can be incorporated into your regular 60 or 90-minute appointment. Just let me know what you'd like to focus on when you book.
What to expect during Cupping and Gua Sha?
Every Session Is Different, because Every Body Is Different.
Cupping and Gua Sha are not prescriptive procedures. Which therapy, which areas, and how much pressure, these are all determined by your presentation on the day, and in consultation with you.
Before You Begin
Before we begin our session, I will ask about what's been happening in your body, where you're holding tension, how you've been sleeping, and what's brought you in today. I will likely look at your tongue or feel your wrist pulses, which in Chinese medicine offer a broader picture of what is likely happening internally.
During Your Treatment
You'll be comfortably positioned on the treatment table. I always work at your pace, and if something does not feel right at any point, I can adjust immediately.
For Cupping, the glass cups are applied using gentle heat and left in place for a period of time, or moved slowly across the areas being targeted.
For Gua Sha, I use a stone tool to apply firm, deliberate strokes along meridian pathways.
Both therapies are grounding and surprisingly restful. It's not unusual for people to drift off.
After Your Treatment
You may notice some visible red-purplish marks, which may feel slightly warm or tender to the touch. This is normal and temporary. I will let you know what to expect and may suggest a few simple aftercare steps. These include staying well hydrated, avoiding vigorous exercise, and keeping the area warm in the hours that follow.
When I ask my patients what brought them to Embrace Complementary Medicine (and what keeps them coming back), a few things come up consistently:
A practitioner who truly listens
Your experience matters. There’s no minimising, no rushing through symptoms, and no leaving with more questions than you arrived with. I believe that being genuinely heard is part of the healing process.
A calm, private home clinic
Tucked away on a quiet Bayside street in Sandringham, my clinic is a world away from busy shopping strips and noisy waiting rooms. From the moment you arrive, the environment is designed to help you exhale.
Education is part of every session
Understanding why your body is doing what it’s doing, and what you can do to support it between appointments, is something I consider central to my practice. An informed patient makes progress faster.
Why Embrace Complementary Medicine?
About Dr Nikki Hills
I’m an AHPRA-registered Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbal Medicine practitioner, held to the same nationally recognised professional standards as doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists in Australia.
I truly care about my patients, and I am passionate about improving your overall health and wellbeing. No matter your challenge or stage in life, I will listen to you and work with you to create a treatment plan that best supports you and your needs.
Qualifications:
Bachelor of Health Science in Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine (Southern School of Natural Therapies)
Diploma of Remedial Massage Therapy (Sage Massage)
Paediatric certification - Child and Teen Health (Rebecca Avern)
Mental Health Conference (NeedlePro)
Level 2 Senior First Aid
Working with Children Check
Registered with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) registered for Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner and Chinese Herbal Dispensing
Professional Member of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS)
Covered by all major health funds for eligible treatment
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Most people are pleasantly surprised. The sensation is more of a deep, warm pressure than pain. I always start gently and adjust based on your feedback throughout.
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Anywhere from a day to around a week, depending on your individual circulation, the amount of stagnation present in your body and the area treated. They're not bruises in the traditional sense and they fade on their own without any special treatment.
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Yes. The 30-minute session is completely standalone and needle-free. You don't need to be an existing patient to book.
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Cupping uses glass or silicon cups and suction to lift the tissue upward and encourage blood flow.
Gua Sha uses a smooth ceramic spoon or stone tool to apply firm, repeated strokes along the skin's surface.
Both aim to move stagnation and support circulation, but the tools and sensations are quite different. I may use one or both in your session, depending on what your body needs.
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Cupping and Gua Sha are not eligible for private health insurance rebate as a standalone 30-minute session.
If you have an eligible Acupuncture cover, you can claim for your Acupuncture appointment, including Cupping and Gua Sha.
Check with your health fund for your specific policy details.
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The short answer is Yes!
Many women seek Cupping and Gua Sha during pregnancy, as a form of supportive care, drawing on its long history of traditional use in women's health.
It is commonly sought during pregnancy for a range of concerns including morning sickness, nausea, heartburn, fatigue, pelvic girdle discomfort, and emotional wellbeing, as well as preparation for labour in the final weeks.
At Embrace Complementary Medicine, I tailor every treatment to your stage of pregnancy. Certain points are avoided during pregnancy as a precaution, and I can work collaboratively with your existing maternity care team, especially in the case of high-risk pregnancy or any complications.
If you would like to find out whether Cupping and Gua Sha might be a good fit for where you are in your pregnancy journey, feel free to book an Exploratory Chat with me.
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Embrace Complementary Medicine is located in Bayside Melbourne, servicing Hampton, Black Rock, Highett, Beaumaris, Brighton, and surrounding suburbs.
I see my patients for Acupuncture, Cupping and Gua Sha, Chinese Herbal Medicine appointment, Moxibustion (heat therapy) and Remedial massage from my private home clinic in Sandringham.
The exact address is provided in your booking confirmation after you book online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not sure what’s right for you? I am happy to help.
Ready to give it a go?
Cupping and Gua Sha are low-commitment, high-impact therapies, just 30 minutes can genuinely shift how your body feels.
Book online, or reach out if you'd like to ask something first.