Cupping is the term applied to a technique that uses glass, plastic or bamboo cups as a suction device that are placed on the skin. The suction in the cups cause the skin and superficial muscle layer to be drawn into the cup, so cupping is much like the inverse of massage – rather than applying pressure to muscles, it uses gentle pressure to pull them upward.
Cupping is an ancient healing technique originating in China and West Asia which loosens muscles and stretches the fascia. This encourages blood flow and sedates the nervous system and is most often used to relieve back and neck pain, stiffness, migraines and rheumatism. It can also help to reduce cellulite. Further benefits of cupping are that it increases range of motion and helps with common cold/flu and other respiratory conditions.
It’s important to be aware that cupping can produce petechiae (or bruise-like) markings for a period of time after the treatment, these marks are also used as diagnosis to see how stagnated or toxic the blood and tissues are. These are nothing to be concerned about and will fade over time.
Cupping may also be used during your Tuina or Acupuncture treatment as cupping will first loosen the muscles, enabling the massage of acupuncture treatment to be more effective.
If you’d like to find out more about cupping, ask your practitioner at your next appointment or get in touch!
