The following is from my parent organization’s website. Click here for even more information about cupping therapy.
What is cupping therapy?
A – Negative pressure, rather than tissue compression is superior for bodywork for pain,stubborn conditions,repetitive strains,inflammation, toxicity, chronic fatigue, digestive problems and a slough of other issue we confront as we grow older.
Suction cups rapidly facilitate rigid soft tissue release, loosens & lifts connective tissue, breaks up and drains stagnation while increasing blood & lymph flow to skin & muscles in ways not possible using compression.
Another benefit of Cupping is that it can feel really great when done properly for your constitution and current physiology and/or condition. The pulling action engages the parasympathetic nervous system, thus allowing a deep relaxation to move through the entire body. It is not unusual to fall asleep when receiving this treatment. You will be surprised at how relaxed, warm and light you’ll feel –hours… sometimes even days afterwards.
What does it treat?
A – Cupping is a powerful detoxifying, pain relieving and energy building modality that people all over the world use for health maintenance. There are a huge number of conditions that respond positively to Cupping.
What can I expect as for physical effects after the first cupping therapy session?
A – The effects are greatly varied and may include:
• the need for sleep
• extreme hunger
• nausea
• euphoria
• feelings of being “hung over”
• increased bowel elimination
• no appetite
• “best nights’ sleep in a long time”
• inability to sleep
• etc.
What are the marks or discolorations that sometimes occur with cupping therapy?
A – One of the common and unfortunate misconceptions concerning cupping is the misinterpretation of the discoloration. “Bruising” is caused by impact trauma with breakage of capillaries and reactionary rush of fluids to the damaged area from the tissue compression/injury. There is no compression in properly employed suction cup therapy. Although it is quite common during Stationary Cupping (left static for 5 – 20 minutes) to achieve dramatic ‘marks’ or ‘discolourations’, the less aggressive action of moving the cups, minimizes the intensity and duration of the discolorations.
Wet Cupping involves the scarification (puncturing) or scoring of the tissue surface, for the purpose of draining out dredged up stagnation acheived during cupping treatments. Only licensed acupuncturists are qualified for wet cupping, so we do not break the skin in Negative Pressure Massage. That’s why the dissipation of these fluid deposits must be dispelled and flushed out via the body’s own circulatory systems.
Often, when a condition exists within deeper structures where sufficient pathologic factors and stagnant fluids (toxins, blood and lymph) are dredged up during treatment,discoloration will appear on the skin. This is the therapeutically desired effect –the more this is visible,the greater the level of stagnation and toxicity. The discoloration will fade over a few days. As treatments cummulate and the release of stagnation and buildup has been thixolated,dispursed and drained –(usually by the 3rd or 4th treatment) no discoloration is likely to occur at all. Even though each time the cupping may have been focused on the same area for the same duration and with the same amount of negative pressure. This is clearly the result of having internal unwanted toxins systematically purged.
What are the benefits?
– Clears stagnation
– Drains and moves fluids
– Relieves Inflammation
– Nervous System Sedation
– Expels Congestion
– Stretches Muscle & Connective Tissue
– Loosens Adhesions
– Nourishing Blood Supply to the Skin
Cupping Therapy by Joshua Gibbs 