Cupping Therapy 101
Many people are familiar with the distinctive circular markings left behind by cupping but are you familiar with cupping therapy actually does, what it can help and how it is performed?
How is cupping performed?
Cupping is pretty simple in practice. Cups are applied with suction to certain areas of the body that are being treated. Sometimes this can be over specific acupuncture points but can also be use on local areas of stagnation. The means of obtaining the suction can be one of a couple ways. Traditionally a flame is quickly inserted and removed from a glass cup and then quickly placed on the treatment area. The flame removes the oxygen from the class and creates a vacuum. Another common way currently is using a hand pump to pull out the air. These cups are most often plastic or silicone. The last method that I would like to mention in called bleeding cupping. In this method the practitioner will prick the area to extract a little blood and then a cup will be place over the area to pull out stagnant blood and fluids to encourage the movement of fresh QI, blood and fluids.
Once the cups have been placed and allowed to set for 15-20 mins they will be removed and often you with “hickey” looking marks or what some people call bruise looking marks. These marks will disappear over the course of a few days to a week depending on how dark they are. Less common but can happen are small blisters or what may look like a burn. A good practitioner will put some ointment on it and a bandage and it will heal nicely no harm done. Once treatment it done the area should stay covered and warm and you should feel great.
how does cupping work?
Lets begin with a very old Chinese medical saying, “Where there’s stagnation, there will be pain. Remove the stagnation, and you remove the pain.” In this case stagnation means “stuck” QI, blood, lymph, phlegm or essential fluids. When any of these substances is no longer free flowing the result is pain. So first and foremost the goal of cupping is to help remove this stagnation or obstruction. In a westerns sense the vacuum pressure helps break up scar tissue, release fascial restriction, promote circulation, sedates the nervous system.
What would you use cupping to treat?
We commonly hear about it used to treat things like neck , back and hip pain but did you know it can also help with stress, anxiety, blood pressure, fatigue, even cellulite. Another older practice but is still relevant today is treating chest congestion, asthma and colds. Aside from chest conditions you can also use it on abdomen for digestion and menstrual cramps.
If you have never received cupping therapy check it out and experience it for yourself or if you have and just haven’t don’t it for awhile make an appointment. Book now!