Cupping Therapy

Cupping has been a part of Chinese Medicine for over 2,500 years. It relieves aches and pains, improves circulation, and also helps with respiratory and digestive issues. I simply place a specialized “cup” onto specific points on your body, and then use suction to draw your skin up into the cups. It doesn’t hurt — it simply draws fresh blood to that area of your body, which facilitates the cleansing and strengthening of your Qi (energy). The end result is a greater overall sense of health and well-being.

By creating suction and negative pressure, cupping therapy lifts connective tissue, releases rigid tissue and loosens adhesions. Cupping pulls stagnation, waste, and toxins to the skin level where it can be easily flushed out by the lymphatic and circulatory system.

Cupping techniques bring blood flow and nutrition to stagnant areas. The pulling action engages the parasympathetic nervous system, thus allowing deep relaxation throughout the entire body. It has been explained to me that there is the possibility of discolorations that can occur from the release and clearing of stagnation and toxins from my body. I also understand that this reaction is not bruising, but due to cellular debris, pathogenic factors and toxins being drawn to the surface to be flushed out my lymphatic & circulatory systems. 

They are metabolic waste, toxins, and other stagnant material that have been freed from the underlying tissue and brought to the surface where they can more easily be flushed away. These marks can last anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks and are not tender to the touch. Drinking water and taking Vitamin C has been reported to relieve these symptoms quickly. In some cases headaches and minor body aches may be experienced. As treatments continue, the marks will occur less and less as a result of stagnation and toxicity being expelled from the body. 

Just to note, the first time you experience Cupping, your body’s immune system can temporarily react to this toxin/waste release – producing flu-like effects like nausea, headache, aches, that will subside in time with rest and water. Intaking adequate amounts of water after treatment helps to dilute the intensity of the release.

Aftercare from Cupping Therapy: After this type of treatment should not be combined with aggressive exfoliation, 4 hrs after shaving, after sunburn or when I’m hungry or thirsty. It is encouraged that you should avoid exposure to cold, wet, and/or windy weather conditions, hot showers, baths, saunas, hot tubs and aggressive exercise all for a period of 4 – 6 hours.

Avoid caffeine, alcohol, sugary foods and drinks, dairy and processed meats which can prolong the progress of treatment results. It is suggested to consume an abundance of clean water along with Vitamin C supplement to boost the patient’s immune system, and to relieve these symptoms quickly.