What is cupping?

Cupping is a type of alternative therapy that originated in China. It involves placing cups on the skin to create suction. The suction may facilitate healing with blood flow.

 

What should I expect during a cupping treatment?

A modern dry Cupping  treatment include 2 techniques:

1. Static techniques, the plastic cups are suctioned onto the skin (painful area) using suction pumps for 15-20 min. per area with weak, medium or strong suction, without lubrication.

2. Gliding, sliding or moving silicon cup over tight fascia, spine, and joints for up to 2-30 min.

After the cups are removed, there can be some discoloration and swelling. Cupping marks can show up after first 24 hrs and last up to 2 weeks.

You may experience soreness after treatment similar to a deep tissue massage.

In some rare cases, blisters can appear during Cupping 

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Benefits:

• Pain relief

• Improving blood flow and increased supplements to stiff tendons and muscles

• Detoxication of the area

• Fascia tightness relief

 

It can be used with the following conditions:

• Sciatica

• Spine disc problems

• Decreased ROM

• Painful muscle or joints

• Chronic pain

• Arthritis

• Poor immune system

 

Things to keep in mind

Cupping therapy isn’t recommended for everyone. Extra caution should be taken for the following groups:

• Children. Children under 4 years old shouldn’t receive cupping therapy. Older children should only be treated for very short periods.

• Seniors. Our skin becomes more fragile as we age. Any medication you may be taking might have an effect as well.

• Pregnant people. Avoid cupping the abdomen and lower back.

• Those who are currently on blood thinners.

• Very hairy painful area

 

Also avoid cupping if you have:

• a sunburn, moles, injured skin

• a wound

• a skin ulcer

• varicose veins

• experienced recent trauma

• acute inflammation/ high fewer