Cupping

Cupping is a technique used within Chinese medicine and has recently grown in popularity throughout the West, especially after Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps was seen with the round marks that often develop after a cupping session (more on that later).

At first cupping was used by applying cattle horns to the skin but nowadays people most commonly use glass or plastic cups.

A cupping therapy treatment may leave you with temporary skin discolouration which typically disappears within a few days.

Cupping is a safe therapy many people find very relaxing.

In order to place the cup on the surface of the skin, a practitioner creates a vacuum within the cup either using fire or a pump (depending on the type of cups being used). This draws the skin into the cup and creates space between the fascia and the muscle.

Sometimes a practitioner will put oil on the back of the patient and move the cup along the muscle, which creates a similar effect to massage, but through a pulling, rather than a kneading technique.

Cupping releases muscle tension, relieves pain and helps to activate the body’s fluid and  lymphatic system so it can greatly assist in muscle recovery.  Less commonly known uses for cupping include:

For skin: cupping increases blood circulation in the skin, regulates sweat and sebaceous glands in the skin and can be used to remove poisons from the surface of the skin. It helps with the regeneration of skin and skin hair.

For joints: increases circulation in joints, benefits the movement of synovial fluid and has been observed to provide a complete cure to mild rheumatism.

Digestive: Stimulates secretion of digestive fluids, stimulates peristalsis of digestive organs and has a good effect on chronic gastroenteritis and constipation.

Nervous system: cupping has an inhibitory effect on the nervous system, treats hypersensitivity of nerves, is indicated for general malaise, high blood pressure, fatigue and chronic dizziness.

Cupping is generally used to help move qi, and is also commonly used to help treat common colds, flus or coughs. Cupping can also be used in conjunction with blood letting.