Cupping

General Information


Cupping is a practice that has been documented as far back as 1550BC in North Africa. It is the practice of creating a vacuum on the skin to assist with detox and muscle release. By using special cups typically made of glass on specific points of the body that go along the spine. This will increase blood flow to that area and assist with the autonomic nervous system. Overall it decreases inflammation throughout the body.

woman cupping a man s back

What Does it Assist With?


Pain – By increasing blood flow to the muscles that there is pain in, will help with any; tear, tightness, or pulled muscles.
Skin Diseases – Through cupping, we can decrease acne and hives that a patient may have.
Lowering cholesterol – We accomplish this by increasing blood flow, getting rid of toxins which in turn improve the blood vessels, and improving the health of the liver.
Migraines – Tension headaches happen due to lack of blood to the brain, increasing the blood flow to the neck and face (if needed) can relax the blood vessels and alleviate the migraine.
Fibromyalgia, Joint Pain, and Arthritis – The cups are applied to the specific area which lifts the skin and increases the blood flow to that area acting as an infusion. This decreases the inflammation and carries away the toxins such as Cytokines and others.
Weight-Loss – Cupping improves your metabolism by removing stagnation in your blood.

Common Questions


Is Cupping Painful?
The cups are applied fairly tight and cause some discomfort with the suction-like feeling. It is a quick treatment overall.

Who Performs Cupping?
Cupping requires a certification, so it will either be a licensed acupuncturist or a certified professional.

What Causes the Circle Bruises?
Lactic Acid builds up in muscles over time even when one doesn’t feel achy or tight. The Cupping bruises occur because it is causing something called hyperemia (blood flow) where the small blood vessels break and release lactic acid and carbon dioxide.

How Long Do the Bruises Last?
It can stay for a few days to a couple of weeks.

Any Reason to Not Get Cupping?
If a patient has fragile skin or a compromised immune system.