What is Cupping?

Cupping therapy is an Ancient Oriental practice that goes back thousands of years. It is an art often practiced by Acupuncturists, and is a usual part of Acupuncture treatments, alongside massage therapy. It can also be requested as a stand-alone treatment.

Various types of cupping take place for example:

• Traditional Fire Cupping which uses glass goblet type cups where fire is used to create suction on the skin.
• Vacuum Suction cups can be used in the same way as the glass but fire is omitted and the vacuum is created by using a pump on the cup to draw the skin up.
• Silicone cupping which has the same effect as the previous but does not require fire or pump.

What does it treat?

Cupping is used to relieve back and neck pains, stiff muscles, anxiety, fatigue, migraines, rheumatism, and even cellulite.

How does it work?

It is thought where there is stagnation there is pain and if you remove the stagnation or congestion you will remove the pain.

Pain is experienced when blood and Qi (energy) are not flowing correctly.  The cups are instrumental in dispersing stagnation and bringing toxins to the surface, for relieving colds/fevers within the acute stage of diseases, in order to help restore balance and wellness.

For muscular disorders the cups work by pulling blood to the surface almost like a deep tissue massage. Cupping and slide cupping may be used to relieve muscular tension and stimulate blood flow. Like Acupuncture, the back has 5 meridians (channels) by targeting these meridians cupping strives to clear the channels creating a smoother and more free-flowing qi (life force).