Where did cupping originate?

Variations of cupping have been used by ancient Egyptians and Greeks, the Chinese, and all over Europe, it only fell out of common practice as Western Medicine began to rise. 

How does cupping work?

Cupping pulls stagnation out of the tissue and to the skin level, allowing the pores to eliminate cellular waste and other toxins. What the body is unable to remove through the skin, is then processed through either the circulatory or lymphatic system. The suction provided by the cups helps to activate muscle spindle reflexes and separate myofascial structures, allowing for a loosening in affected areas where adhesions and other restrictions may exist.

What does cupping do for the body?

Effects the skin by expanding the blood vessels of the skin resulting in the increase of:  

• Circulation

• Skin temperature

• Metabolism within the tissues

• Sweat and sebaceous gland functions

• Nutrition supply to the issues

 Effect to the Muscles:

• Stimulation of the subcutaneous capillary vessels activates and expand blood vessels with the muscles

• Which causes the increase in blood flow, removal of congestion within joints, attachments and other musculoskeletal structures

• Facilitates the excretions of lactic acids and toxins from within the muscles and its surrounding supporting

• After cupping muscles maintain increased temp and fluid facilitation for much longer than with traditional massage therapy

Effects to Circulatory System:

• Cleanses the blood, which improves circulation, increasing red and white cell count/activity as well as altering PH chemistry to a more neutral/alkaline level

• Increases circulation of blood and lymph

 Effects to the Digestive System:

• Stimulates the inside and walls of the digestive organs, peristalsis, and secretion of digestive fluids

Effects to the Joints:

• Many chronic joint conditions can be reduced and or resolved

• Stretching of connective tissues can lead to increased range of motion  

What to expect during your session?

When you receive cupping it can feel mildly uncomfortable or deeply pleasurable, it varies from one person to the next and the results received from a series of cupping sessions often have a cumulative effect and the individual results from each session tend to last longer than those of traditional massage therapy.

Discolorations or Cupping Marks

Cupping marks are not bruises, Western medicine would refer to them as petechia, or the slight discharge of blood from the vessels as the negative pressure of the cups causes ecchymosis. As this is not a rupture of the capillary the marks or discolorations can fade in a little as a few hours or last as long as a couple of weeks. The length of time depends on the amount of stagnation and how severe the condition, as well as the after care and daily activities of each client. As sessions accumulate, the marks will fade faster and occur less and less. 

Who should not receive cupping? Contraindications

 You should not receive cupping if you have/are:

• Hernias

• Dislocations

• Skin Damage

• Inflammation

• Infection

• Fractures

• Bleeding (internal or external)

• Acute injuries (24 hours)

• In the 1st trimester of pregnancy, unless you have been receiving ongoing cupping prior to pregnancy

• Varicose (3D) veins

• Systemic cancers

• Over recent surgical incisions

• Visibly exhausted, hungry or emotionally upset

For more information visit www.cuppingtherapy.org