CUPPING THERAPY

CUPPING TREATMENTS

What is Cupping Therapy?

What is cupping?
Traumas, injuries, repetitive strain, and even a sedentary lifestyle can lead to an accumulation of metabolic waste and old blood cells deep within the tissues—what Chinese medicine refers to as stagnant blood. Over time, the body’s fascia (the connective tissue surrounding muscles and organs) can also become dehydrated and adhesive, restricting movement and contributing to pain.

While massage therapy uses compression to relieve discomfort and promote healing, cupping works through gentle decompression. This lifting action helps rehydrate and mobilize the fascia, improves lymphatic and vascular flow, and draws cellular debris toward the surface where the body can naturally clear it.

Cupping is not only a therapeutic technique but also a valuable diagnostic tool. The circular marks that may appear after a session highlight areas with greater stagnation or fascial restriction, giving your massage therapist a clear roadmap for future treatments. These marks typically fade within a few days as the body processes the released waste, allowing fresh, oxygenated blood to nourish previously compromised tissues.

For many people, cupping is able to relieve tension and restore mobility in areas where other therapies may not be as effective.

How is it performed?
In a cupping treatment, your massage therapist applies a moisturizer to your skin then places silicone and/or plastic cups on specific areas of the body, creating a pleasant suction feeling. In Static Cupping, a number of cups are positioned on the body and remain in one location for up to 10 minutes before being repositioned. This allows the therapist to treat a large area of the body within one session. Slide Cupping is a variation in which the therapist slowly and gently slides the cups across specific muscle groups. These techniques are often used in tandem in our clinic and may be combined with a full body massage, anti-inflammatory hemp oil, or performed as a stand-alone treatment. This therapy is also incorporated into acupuncture sessions if deemed necessary.

How do I prepare for a cupping session"?

1. Hydrate. Water is essential for your health, especially for your lymphatic system. Cupping supports your lymphatic system. Your lymphatic system clears away cellular waste from your body and it needs plenty of water to do this effectively. Make sure you are hydrated, but not overly so.

1. Eat an hour or so before your appointment.

2. Don’t shave the area within four hours of your appointment. Your therapist really doesn’t mind stubble and your skin will thank you.

3. Recover from sunburn. When you receive cupping, it will feel like that area is warmer than normal. Neither the cup nor the extra heat will feel good on sunburned skin. Apply some soothing aloe and wait until your skin has recovered before your next cupping appointment.

4. Don’t exfoliate aggressively. Exfoliating removes a layer of dead skin, which makes your skin extra sensitive. Wait a couple days after any aggressive exfoliation treatment before receiving cupping.