Cupping Therapy

Cupping has been used for thousands of years around the world. Ancient Egyptians (1550 BC) and ancient Greeks (413BC) used cupping to remove foreign matter from the body, diminish pain, lessen inflammation and restore appetite. Interest in cupping has re-emerged and is gaining more acknowledgement and acceptance in Western medicine.

In Western cultures today, cupping is widely used in a variety of treatments, such as increasing circulation, reducing coughs, releasing toxins, promoting energy flow in areas of blockage, general aches, and muscle relaxation. Cupping is also used for aesthetic purposes, such as to reduce cellulite and aid in lymphatic drainage. Cupping is now recognized as an alternative method for the treatment of pain, and to create a calming effect on the body.

Cupping therapy can be described as a technique that places cups over the skin to create negative pressure through suction and are then left in place without being moved for several minutes. The cups may also be glided over the skin similar to the movement of a massage. Cupping draws out blood, cellular debris, and other waste and toxins from areas of injury or stagnation. The suction of the cups does not hurt. In fact most clients find the sensation relaxing.

The red circles that occur during the treatment are an end result of stretching and bursting of small capillary blood vessels which may leave a mark on your skin. The marks will eventually fade, usually within 2-10 days.