Cupping is a technique that uses glass, plastic or silicone cups that are used as a suction device. As it is placed onto the skin it creates a vacuum or suction.
Once the suction has occurred, the cups can be be kept in place(stationary) or gently moved across the skin (sliding). The suction in the cups causes the skin and superficial muscle layer to be drawn into the cup. Cupping is much like the inverse of massage – rather than applying downward pressure to the muscles, it pulls the fascia and skin away from the body. For most patients, this is a particularly relaxing and relieving sensation. Stationary cups can be left in place for 10-20 min.
Generally, cupping is combined with acupuncture, but it can also be used alone. Cupping is one of the best deep-tissue therapies available. It is thought to affect tissues up to four inches deep from the external skin. Toxins can be released, blockages can be cleared, and veins and arteries can be refreshed. The suction and negative pressure provided by cupping can loosen muscles, increase blood flow, and sedate the nervous system.
It is also a valuable treatment for the lungs, and can clear congestion from a common cold or help to control a person’s asthma.
The benefits of cupping are diverse and can include back and neck pains, stiff muscles, anxiety, fatigue, migraines, rheumatism, and even cellulite!