Cupping

Cupping is an ancient Chinese practice used to treat various ailments including all types of pain, digestive issues and various respiratory conditions.

Cups can be made of different materials including bamboo, silicone, plastic, stone, or glass. They are applied to the body using suction, with or without heat, to draw the skin and surrounding tissues up into the cup.

This regional pulling of the skin can help places that have become stagnant or that could benefit from extra movement and circulation beneath the surface. It has been said that cups can affect underlying tissues up to four inches deep in the body having an impact on the vessels, connective tissues, muscles and scar tissue.

Cupping is famous for the marks it leaves behind, but it isn't always the case. This "bruise" can indicate a level of qi and blood stagnation or other pathogenic accumulations in the body. The color and quality of the marks left behind speak to the underlying condition and your practitioner can use this information to refine your treatment further.

Most people enjoy cupping and report an overall state of relaxation from it. Benefits aside from relaxation include pain relief, stress relief, improvement in digestion, increase in circulation and range of motion, as well as improved sleep and general well-being.