What is Cupping Therapy?

Cupping Therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine whereby, through a cup attached to the skin using a vacuum suction, a range of health issues can be treated through the movement of blood and lymph - which in layman's terms - can aid an abundance of ailments of the body in itself.
It can however, result in skin pigmentation reaction, which is perfectly normal, and can at times be used as the basis for diagnosis of conditions by certain practitioners.

photo credit - Pinterest
Skin Reactions after Cupping

Varying methods of cupping has been used for many thousands of years in the East and has become more popular in the West in recent times, thanks to likes of elite athletes such as Michael Phelps, as well as Hollywood actresses Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston, to name but a few.

Cupping Therapy, as part of Traditional East Asian Medicine, is one of approximately 70 adjunctive therapies to Acupuncture and Moxibustion and can help with 60-70% of all diseases in the arms, legs, shoulders, waist and muscles - except internal organ disease.

So, why have Cupping Therapy?
The benefits of this incredible therapy are overwhelming to say the least, some of which are:

* aids relaxation and wellbeing
* deep tissue work without discomfort
* relieves inflammation
* aids pain
* increases blood and lymphatic flow
* releases tension / knots
* relieves stagnation of blood (stagnation causes various issues within the body)
* can aid with relief from headaches
* strengthens the immune system
* helps aid the flow of qi and blood, systemically and locally

As mentioned there are varying methods of Cupping Therapy - Dry Cupping, Fire Cupping, Wet Cupping and Cupping Massage - as a therapist I currently offer Dry Cupping Therapy and Cupping Massage.

Dry Cupping Kit
photo credit - Medikore 

An alternate method to Dry Cupping, with similar benefits, would be that of Fire Cupping (coming soon) which incorporates heat from a flame and suction. Wet Cupping involves vacuum and blood letting, which is not widely used within the UK mainly due to health and safety reasons and insurance purposes regarding the release of blood into the cup used, despite being very popular and effective in the East.

Cupping Massage is the combination of massage movements and pressure with the use of the suction device on the skin. A cup is positioned on the area to be treated, a vacuum is created, which draws the skin into the said cup, the massage then increases blood and lymphatic circulation - systemically and locally - relaxes muscles, draws stagnation, pathogenic factors and toxins out of the body which in turn releases a great number of pain causing factors. The appearance of the skin will become reddened, similar to that of Body Gua Sha, called 'petechiae', however, this will vary from person to person.