Kirstienne Lim, Std. Class Acupuncturist
Cupping therapy has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. It is the healing art of small glass or bamboo cups used as suction devices to pull stagnation, congestion and energy through the body, thus releasing toxins. The cups can be stationery or they can be moved (with the aid of oil) over the body. This is known as running cupping.
When asked about cupping therapy, I like to explain to my patients that it is similar to a massage. A massage treatment is the movement and stretching of muscles, tissue and fascia up and down, and left to right, whereas cupping is pulling upward to create space in-between those layers to move stagnant blood, if any, and make room for fresh blood to nourish that space in between.
“Where there’s stagnation, there will be pain.
Remove the stagnation, and you remove the pain.” – Chinese Proverb
Much like acupuncture, cupping also has the ability to open meridians, unblock passages and redirect Qi (energy) to achieve harmony and flow. In practice, I have utilized cupping therapy to help heal various ailments. Whether injury related – both acute and chronic – mental and emotional pain and stagnation, to relieving the onset of cough, colds and flus, headaches and migraines and even to enhance relaxation treatments. Cupping is great for back, neck and shoulder pain but can also relieve muscle tension, soreness and recovery all over the body.
Why the “bruises”?
Just like any other treatment, everyone reacts differently. The dark circles that some individuals get with cupping depends on the level of stagnation their body is experiencing at that time. The dark pigment is the stagnated blood (old blood) that has moved to the surface, thus created space for fresh blood to nourish the layers in that specific area. So the marking is not a bruise, rather blood movement and detoxification. The markings may last 2-5 days but I assure you the pain relief is immediate.
Does it hurt?
The feeling of skin being suctioned can be ticklish to some, intense to others but mostly a feeling similar to stretching. The suction of the cups are also easily adjusted by the amount of suctioned air within the glass cup. That said, it is always great to communicate your level of comfort with your practitioner.
How do I know if I need cupping?
Cupping can be a complementary treatment to any ailment, injury and holistic healing journey. It has the capability of providing deep tissue relief for sore and tense muscles, detoxifying the body to encourage flow and movement from the inside out, and provide an overall reset for the mind, body and spirit.