Cupping Therapy

What is Cupping Therapy? Cupping requires only simple and inexpensive instruments and it is relatively easy to learn. The treatment is time and energy efficient and achieves excellent results. Massaging with the cups helps to alleviate pain, decrease swelling, increase range of motion and speed up the healing process. The objective is to create a negative pressure above the surface of the tissues that decreases the pressure on the tissue themselves. This allows the tissue to be lifted upwards, changing the pressure on tissue structures such as the nerves, capillaries and muscle fascia. Vacuum is created in the cups when they are placed on the skin by using heat to remove the oxygen inside the cup to create a vacuum suction effect. When the cup is left in place on the skin for a few minutes, blood stasis is formed, and localised healing takes place. Cupping has been further developed to open the meridians of the body. Meridians are the conduits in the body through which energy flows to every part of the body and through every organ and tissue. There are five meridians on the back that when opened allow invigorating energy to travel the whole length of the body. Cupping has proven as the most efficient way to open up these meridians. Cupping has been found to treat the body up to 4 inches deep into the tissue, causing tissues to release toxins, activate the lymphatic system and clear colon blockages. It can help to activate and clear the veins, arteries and capillaries, activate the skin and improve varicose veins. It is quite literally the best deep tissue massage available and is perfect for therapists to reduce pressure or repetitive strain injury to their hands. Both medical and household practitioners have recognised the ability of cupping to move vital energy and correct internal imbalances as well as clearing the effects of external injury for thousands of years. There are a few methods of cupping in use. The first is with the use of glass dome shaped cups that with the use of a flame to remove oxygen, are then placed on the body to create suction. Plastic cups are now more widely used whereby the cup is placed on the body and then the air is removed via a pump to create a vacuum. These come in two forms, reusable and deposable cups. However, the effect of the plastic cups seems to be less effective than that of the use of glass cups.