Cupping is a therapy used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to stimulate the flow of blood, ‘Qi’ and to help remove stagnation. It is extraordinarily effective for a range of health conditions including muscle stiffness, pain and arthritis.
It helps stimulate the blood flow to the tissues of the body thereby optimising circulation and allowing toxins to be released. The benefits of cupping include local pain relief, softening tight muscles and muscle relaxation. Cupping helps to improve overall health
Cupping Benefits also include:
- Helping speed up and assist the body’s natural detoxification process
- Stretches out the lymphatic vessels facilitating movement and drainage of lymph
- Helps accelerate the general metabolism and assist waste and toxin elimination.
- Helps relieve tension and loosens tight muscles (stretching out tight fascia and connective tissue)
- The vacuum creates a negative pressure (suction)which lift up and separate layers of tissue, helping breakdown adhesions and knots.
The more traditional method is used here creating a suction by applying heat to the cup (glass cups) from a lighted instrument hence the name ‘fire cupping’. The cups are left in place anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes depending on the nature of the individuals condition.
*Cupping is also used here for treating Athletes as it may help increase blood flow to a particular muscle region or help reduce pain. Numerous athletes in the Olympics in Rio 2016 used cupping – as seen on some of the US Swim Team.
Cupping can cause bruising and the cupping marks may be alarming to look at, which can last a few days to a couple of weeks. This is very common and the colour and pattern of the marks depend on the level of stagnation in the area and range from a bright red to a dark purple. Light pink shows no stagnation present. The redder/darker discolouration shows moderate to severe stagnation and can vary again depending on skin type and skin sensitivities.
“It is important to let your Acupuncturist know what is comfortable when applying the Cupping, suction is needed not pain.”
The vacuum formed by Cupping draws up non circulating stagnant blood and sticky fluids (lymph, toxins, static blood etc) from the area bringing them to the surface to be released so healthy circulation can be restored. With regular cupping bruising decreases as the stagnation resolves. If you want to check it out or if you have any questions / concerns please feel free to ask me.
Ultimately, fire cupping can give wonderful relief from body aches and pains and in relatively quick time, can be very effective in loosening tight, stiff and relieving taut muscles pinching on nerves.
