What is cupping therapy?

What is cupping therapy?

Cupping has become popular, especially after all of the images of swimmers with red circles on their bodies during the past several summer Olympic games.  So, what is cupping, exactly?

Cupping is a form of therapy that has been around for thousands of years.  You may have seen dramatic images of cups on a person, where the skin looks like it is bubbling up.  Although the pictures may seem jarring, this type of therapy can leave you feeling fantastic!  With cupping, we create suction and it lifts up the skin, helping blood and fluids to flow through the area.  It also helps to clear out local stagnation that may be causing discomfort or pain.

What does cupping treat?

Cupping can:

• Relieve pain (like back, shoulder, and neck pain)

• Allow tense muscles to relax

• Help with digestive issues like constipation and IBS

• Help move phlegm

• Ease asthma

What are the marks that cupping leaves?

Now, about those marks.  Cupping creates local congestion, and pulls stagnation from injuries and chronic conditions to the surface.  As a result, you may end up with petechiae (“bruising” and discoloration), depending on the extent of the stagnation under your skin.  These are therapeutic, and not causing an injury or actual bruise. Marks can be anywhere from light pink to dark brown or purple, and help your acupuncturist to understand and interpret what is happening in your body.  The marks go away within a week or two. 

After your cupping session, it is important to keep the area covered and protected from sunlight, extreme heat or cold including air conditioning.  This will help to keep the area healthy and allow the healing to continue.

Cupping is just one of the many therapies that I can offer as part of your acupuncture sessions.A lot of patients are surprised by how relaxed they feel once the cups are released, and tend to ask for it again in follow-up treatments.

Curious? Schedule an appointment and we’ll talk about whether cupping can help you!