Cupping’ is an ancient Chinese therapy believed by practitioners to relieve sore or tight muscles, among other benefits, by mobilizing blood flow. It involves placing cups on the skin to create suction.

BENEFITS OF CUPPING

Drawing up the skin in the cup is believed to open up the skin’s pores, which helps to stimulate:

1. The flow of blood
2. Balances and realigns the flow of qi*
3. Breaks up obstructions
4. Creates an avenue for toxins to be drain out of the body
5. Helps with back and neck pain
6. Improving immune function

*Suction helps facilitate the flow of “qi” in the body. Qi is a Chinese world meaning life force. A famous Taoist herbalist and alchemist, Ge Hong (A.D. 281 to 341) reported first practiced cupping.

Cupping helps balance the yin and yang, or the negative and positive, within the body. Restoring balance between these two extremes helps with the body’s resistance to pathogens as well as the ability to increase blood flow and to reduce pain.

WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT DUING CUPPING THERAPY?

1. During the cupping treatment, cups are place on the skin and then heated or suctioned onto the skin. The cup is often heated with fire using alcohol, paper, or herbs that is placed inside the cup. Once the heat source is removed, the heated cup is placed with the open side directly on the skin. A more modern method uses rubber pumps to create suction instead of the traditional heat methods.
2. When the hot cup is placed on the skin, the air inside the cup cools and creates a vacuum which draws the skin and muscles upward into the cup. The skin turns red as a result of the change in pressure.
3. With dry cupping, the cup remains on the skin for a set time, usually 5 to 10 minutes. With wet cupping the cup is left on for a few minutes until the technician removes the cup and makes a small incision to draw blood.
4. After the cups are removed, ointment and bandages may be placed to prevent infection. Any bruising marks normally go away withing 10 days of the session.

1. The suction cups, usually glass or silicone, are affixed to the affected area, often the back or upper arms in the case of an athlete.
   
2. Using ether heat or a suction device, the skin is drawn upward by creating a vacuum in the cup over the target are.
   
3. The cups remain in place for up to 15 minutes as blood flows to the area, typically leaving a round, baseball-sized bruise.

IS CUPPING SAFE?

Most experts agree that cupping is safe. The only side effect are the circular discolourations from the skin that has been drawn to the cup, which faces away in about 10 days.

Looking for cupping therapy? Please fill out the form on our site and our technician will get back with you shortly to book your appointment or answer any questions you may have.