Cupping Therapy 101
There is nothing quite like cupping.
I have a tendency to repeat this statement to friends and clients who have never experienced it. Cupping is not like acupuncture and unlike massage. It can be slightly uncomfortable but also feel really good. It is rather simple in its application and how it works but is profound in its ability to transform the body. And, yes, it looks a bit strange and you may have to explain the marks on your back to your lover but its therapeutic effects are immediate. And once you experience it you will understand… there’s nothing quite like it.
So, what is it?!
At the clinic we use two glass cups. Glass cups (also known as “fire cups”) use heat to create a vacuum that enables the cups to suction on to one’s body. The attached cups create a "pulling" sensation that may feel stronger when first applied. The entire cupping session lasts about 10-15 minutes with the initial tightening or pulling feeling dissipating over the course of the treatment.
In general, there are two methods used when cupping. The first, and more common, is to leave the cups in place once they are attached. The second, called “moving” cupping is when massage oil is placed on the skin to create a slicker surface, which allows the cups to move. This method is usually done on the back where there is ample room to move the cups. Moving cupping is also used on the face and is the preferred method in order to prevent dark marks from forming. Clients have told me over the years that moving cupping has a soothing and massage-like feeling.
How does cupping work and what does it help?
Cupping works in several ways but its main function is to encourage smooth Qi and blood flow. In Chinese medicine theory, the primary cause of pain comes from blood and Qi not flowing properly and creating stagnation. Cupping therapy is able to clear these blockages and allow for more circulation in the affected areas as well as open the channels/meridians of the body. It is one of the best deep tissue therapies available and can penetrate areas that are unable to be reached by massage. Placing cups on one’s skin also has the ability to detoxify and, similar to a sauna, can open the pores of the skin to help remove metabolic waste and toxins from the body. I have witnessed on several occasions, a grey-colored substance come out of patients who are heavy or habitual smokers. Another way cupping is used is when someone is in the initial stages of a cold. Cups are placed around the cervical area of the neck to “pull out” the cold and “wind” that is causing them to be sick. Cupping the face has gotten some buzz lately and its popularity is due to its ability to reduce swelling and puffiness, smooth the skin and relax tight muscles.
If you were watching Michael Phelps during the 2016 summer Olympics or keep up with Gwyneth Paltrow’s red carpet appearances, you may have seen several purple marks on their back and shoulders. The marks left by the cups are dependent on how tight the cups are applied and how much stagnation is present in the cupped area. In this sense, the cups marks are used diagnostically as well. If a certain area is darker than another, it may be an indication of more congestion or stagnation and can give us practitioners a better sense of where to focus the treatment.
It is important to note that the cup marks are not, in fact, bruises as I have seen them being described time and time again (they are more like hickies!). The marks take about one week to fade away. The most common areas on the body to be cupped are the neck, shoulders, back and chest. Cupping is not recommended on areas of the body that are affected by inflammation, irritation, have open-wounds and directly on veins.
Are you ready to try cupping therapy?!
By Yume Takeuchi, L.Ac.
Acupuncturist at Universal Family Wellness Clinic