Cupping Therapy

Book a Cupping session 

Hours

WEDNESDAYS 11:00am – 3:00pm
FRIDAYS 3:00 – 7:00pm
Please note, last session available 45 minutes before the end of each shift.

Acupuncturists

David Gillese, R.Ac.

info@heartandhandscommunity.ca | 250-590-3185


About Cupping Therapy

Sessions are 30 minutes.
NEW clients, $50-80 sliding scale (includes $10 paperwork fee)
RETURNING clients, $40-70 sliding scale

Pay what you can afford, we prefer cash & debit,
BUT if you must, credit is OK too.
Contact us if you cannot afford our rates

Cupping therapy is an adjunct technique in which a local suction is created on the skin with the application of silicone cups. A provider places cups on your back, stomach, arms, legs or other parts of your body. Inside the cup, a vacuum or suction force pulls skin upward.

Ideal for chronically tight muscles, it helps to loosen layers of connective tissue (fascia) and relieves swelling, pain and tension. It is a great compliment to our Community Acupuncture service! Cupping Therapy at H&H is performed by a Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac.) or Practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (R.TCMP.).

Cupping is a therapy used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to remove stagnation and stimulate the flow of qi. Qi is the free flow of vital energy circulating through the body and the world around us, if the qi is disrupted or disturbed, it can create stagnation (blockages) or imbalances in the body.

In addition to cupping, if appropriate, David may incorporate acupressure and tui na style massage can be applied during the session to deepen the release of tension. “Tui na” (pronounced “twee naw”), which literally means “pinch and pull,” refers to a wide range of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapeutic massage and body work. The gentle mobilization of joints and kneading of muscles of tui na to address specific patterns of disharmony while complementing the benefits of cupping.

PLEASE NOTE: bruising and small raised blood spots (ecchymosis) are common side effects following cupping as the suction force may break small blood vessels below the surface of the skin (capillaries) as well as drawing stagnant, trapped blood within muscle layers. The bruising is temporary and part of the healing process that stimulates new circulation in the surrounding tissues.


Cancellation polices

We are accepting cancellations up to 12 HOURS BEFORE your appointment.
No shows/cancellations with less than 12 hrs is subject to a $35 fee (for Acupuncture/Cupping) or $10 fee (for NADA).

Exceptions granted to the following unforeseen and/or emergency situations:

  • Illness or accident
  • Personal or family emergencies
  • Childcare conflicts
  • If you have been exposed to COVID-19 or awaiting test results

Up to 12 HOURS BEFORE, you may cancel your appointment via:

  • Online through heartandhands.janeapp.com (preferred)
  • Email, heartandhands.acu@gmail.com
  • Phone, 250-590-3185 – at this time, our capacity to answer the phone will be limited

Our JaneApp system sends email appointment reminders 36 hours before.
If you do not use or regularly check your email, please put systems in place to remind yourself of the appointment you have booked.

PLEASE NOTE: we always do our due diligence to contact you if you miss an appointment. Failure to follow-up with us will result in your online booking being disabled until your $35 fee is paid.

Be accountable for the timeslot you have booked, as our scheduling is limited.
Help us help you get the acupuncture you need.


Will my health insurance cover the cost of Cupping?

YES! Cupping is within the scope of Acupuncture and TCM, which is covered by most extended health plans in BC. Please contact your employer or extended health provider to find out about your coverage. The UVic Student Health Plan and Camosun College student plan also covers acupuncture fees.

However, due to the high volume nature of practice, we do not direct bill to Extend Health Providers. Our $40-70 sliding scale is also intended to be affordable to individuals who do not have extended health coverage and need to pay out of pockets for such expenses.

Direct Billing to MSP

For B.C. residents who qualify for premium assistance (an income of $30,000 or less) Medical Services Plan (MSP) will cover $23 per visit to a maximum of 10 visits of Community Acupuncture per calendar year. Find out more  

For more information, visit FAQ  


How to use our sliding scale

Our sliding scale is in place so we can treat people from a wide spectrum of financial situations, which is why we want to keep the bottom end of our sliding scale as accessible as possible. If you are tight for money, pay at the low end of the sliding scale, but those of you who have extended healthcare benefits or those of you that find the higher end of the sliding scale within your means, we encourage you to pay more.

We ask our client-base to participate in the following so that we are able to continue offering our affordable, accessible rates:

  • Book online – we may not always be available to answer the phone. If you are able to make that little extra effort to book your appointment online, this reduces the amount of time spent on the phone if the acupuncturist on-shift is also juggling client care.
  • Leave a voicemail – as previously mentioned, we are not always available by phone. If you want us to return your call, please make the effort to leave a voicemail.
  • Be punctual – we rely on high volume to keep our rates affordable, therefore, we rely on everyone arriving on time so that the acupuncturist on-shift can stay on track. Commencing Nov 1, 2021, clients arriving 5+ minutes past their appointment time will be subject to a $2 late fee.
  • Be accountable to the appointment you have booked – remembering our cancellation policies and ensuring you keep track of the appointment(s) you have booked. When you book an appointment and not show, you are taking a timeslot away from a client in need of care.
  • Paying it forward – if it is within your means, esp individuals who have extended benefits, paying on the higher end of the scale helps to pay it forward for the individuals who are on a tighter budget and need to pay out of pocket.

To learn more, READ HERE.

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