About Cupping

Cupping is the term applied to a technique that uses small glass cups as suction devices that are placed on the skin to disperse and break up stagnation and congestion by drawing congested blood, energy or other blockages to the surface. 

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Suction is created by placing an inverted cup over a small flame. Flames are never used near the skin and are not lit throughout the process of cupping, but rather are a means to create the heat that causes the suction within the small cups.

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Once the suction has occurred, the cups can be gently moved across the skin (often referred to as “gliding cupping"). Massage oils are sometimes applied to improve the movement of the glass cups along the skin. The suction in the cups causes the skin and superficial muscle layer to be lightly drawn into the cup. Cupping is much like the inverse of massage – rather than applying pressure to muscles, it uses gentle pressure to pull them upward. For most patients, this is a particularly relaxing and relieving sensation. Once suctioned, the cups are generally left in place for about ten minutes while the patient relaxes.

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The side effects of cupping are fairly mild. A hickey-like mark should be expected, but the skin should return to looking normal within 10 days. Other potential side effects include mild tenderness after the treatment. The muscles and tissue have been worked to relieve any stagnation and discomfort that was originally causing the client pain.