What is Cupping?

The long history of cupping use in conjunction with acupuncture has been well documented; however, it is also used as a therapy of its own. The purpose is to affect the flow of both qi and blood through the body, allowing better circulation. Cupping is used to treat conditions like colds and flu as well as problems related to the internal organs. Recently, cupping has been noticed for its use in treating muscular pain, bone pain and spasms, particularly in the back and shoulders.

Cupping is used when the qi is inhibited at certain points; Qi stagnation needs to be drawn to the surface from deep within. The therapy disperses and moves qi and blood by exerting suction and pressure on the prescribed area.

How cupping is done is a burning cotton ball, held in forceps, is placed in and out of an inverted cup to create a heat vacuum. When the oxygen in the cup is exhausted, the cup is placed directly onto the skin. It is held in place by strong suction by the vacuum created by the heat. Often, the skin inside the cup visibly rises with the suction. There are also cupping techniques available that use manual hand pumping instead of the flame to create the vacuum. Multiple cups of various sizes are used to cover an area thoroughly. They may be left in place for several minutes, or removed quickly and placed elsewhere. Moving or sliding cupping may also be performed, first by rubbing the skin with a small amount of oil or skin adhesive, which enables the cups to slide easily and cause a greater effect towards recuperation.

While cupping may be considered painless, red marks, swelling, and bruises can appear since the treatment causes blood to be drawn to the surface of the skin. These marks typically disappear within a few hours or days. The treatment will have different effects, ranging from patient to patient, but nothing severe.