What is cupping?
Cupping has been performed on every continent in the world. With the many different cultural influences there are many variations to the procedure. Over the last 2 decades cupping has made a resurgence due to celebrity endorsement, but it has been used for centuries to alleviate a variety of conditions. Overall cupping is a technique used to stimulate blood flow to the surface of the body. It achieves this through negative pressure or suction. The cups can be made of glass, bamboo, rubber or plastic.
Benefits of cupping
During the cupping procedure blood and lymph fluid are brought to the skin surface and simultaneously activated. While the blood is collecting and distributing oxygen and other compounds like nutrients and hormones, the lymphatic system is responsible for removing waste products. All forms of massage that involve stimulation of the skin surface produces an improvement of blood and lymph circulation.
What to expect during and after cupping therapy
The patient experiences a warm, pulling or stretching sensation in the skin but the patient should feel no pain. If pain does persist the patient is instructed to alert the practitioner and the practitioner adjusts the technique to fit the tolerance of the patient. After each cupping application there will be a reddening or a ring mark. Normally the ring or cupping mark will fade away within 10 days.
Motion-style cupping: targeting these large muscle groups in this way allows for more access to blood flow and stimulation to underlying structures.
