Cupping is a highly effective treatment for reducing pain, treating sprains, and enhancing circulation.

Glass cups are heated from the inside to create a vacuum and then placed on the painful area of the body. The vacuum created by the heat dispels dampness from the body, has a warming effect, and reduces swelling. Cupping may be applied to neck, shoulders, upper arms, back, sacral area, hip, thigh and calves.

 

Cupping commonly causes superficial bruising due to capillary breakage. The temporary discoloration that results is not painful. Traditional Chinese Medicine regards the appearance of this bruising as an indication that toxins and stagnation are being pulled to the surface of the body, restoring healthy qi  and blood flow.

 

The experience of cupping can be described as an “inverse massage.” Using suction to create negative pressure, it improves circulation by bringing fresh, oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood to replenish the tissues and accelerate the healing process.