Cupping Therapy

 

It’s not unusual to see celebrities walking around with round bruises on their backs and necks these days. But the ‘giant hickey’ phenomenon is far from new, and don't worry, it's not painful or damaging! For thousands of years traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners have applied vacuums to the skin to help loosen tension and removing pathogenic influences. It has benefits on circulation, the lymphatic system and the energy state of the body.

 

What to expect from cupping

 

Cupping involves placing a glass or plastic cup on the skin and creating a vacuum by sucking out the air. 

The cups will be directly applied to the affected areas for musculoskeletal aches and pains. For other treatments the back and neck tend to be used. Cupping is normally an adjunct to acupuncture. It can also open up areas of deep tightness before massage. There are several techniques. The two most common are "fixed cupping" and "moving cupping." Fixed cups typically stay in place from 5 to 25 minutes. Moving cupping is like a massage with cups. Oil is applied to the skin so the practitioner can slide them to different areas while suction is maintained.