Cupping Therapy: What to expect

Cupping Massage is a Traditional Chinese Medicine therapy, the use of which has been documented as far back as 2,000 years. It is often used in conjunction with Acupuncture, but can also be used in its own right, as a deep-tissue massage therapy. During cupping, an alcohol soaked piece of cotton wool is lit and placed into the cup for a second, creating a vaccuum which then anchors the cup as it is placed on the skin. Any acupuncture treatment for painful muscular conditions will usually be followed up with some cupping, in which either glass or bamboo cups can be used. What's the difference? Well for me it's a practical one...if I want the cup to remain stationary for some time, particularly on the shoulders, say, I will use bamboo so that if it falls off, apart from the sudden noise, the cup won't cause my client any harm. The glass cups though, have a nicer surface for sliding across the skin and these I will use on larger surface areas like the back. In China, cups are often placed over needles and left to sit for 10- 20 mins. There can be bruising from this practice, but the theory behind it is that the bruising is a release of stagnant blood, and therefore a good thing. Here in the west though, people can find this alarming and a stationary cup which is well anchored to the skin can become a bit painful, so we tend to take a softer approach. I will usually begin with flashing cupping, where the cups are placed over the points of the bladder channel on either side of the spine. Using about six cups I will work my way along these points , skipping the cups along so that each one is stationary for only a few seconds. The Back-Shu Points of the bladder channel can treat each of the organs of the body, and have a very powerful effect. This is a gentle way to stimulate them, which benefits the entire body. It is a good treatment for children, especially at bedtime to help them wind down, and helps to  build their resistance to illness. Sliding cupping is used in painful areas to relieve tight, stiff muscles. Oil is first applied to the area, then one or two glass cups are moved around in circular motion. This is a very pleasant sensation and a great way to relieve tension, and usually lasts 5-10 mins. There can be some bruising from sliding cupping, but nothing that will cause any harm. Other areas which can benefit from cupping are areas of poor lymphatic drainage, such as cellulite or swollen ankles. Cupping increases blood circulation in the area to improve the body's transport mechanisms. If the idea of acupuncture treatment seems a little daunting, cupping is a great therapy to try for starters. And who knows, while you are there, you might just find out that acupuncture needles are not nearly as scary as you imagined!

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