Cupping uses a cup to pull an area of skin into a suction that decompresses muscles and connective tissue. This promotes blood flow to the compromised area, enhances circulation, and helps to increase the body’s own healing processes. There are different ways cupping can be done. I use a suction method that is comfortable and just as effective as the traditional way with a flame.
The suction in the cups causes the skin and superficial muscle layer to be lightly drawn into the cup. Cupping is much like the inverse of massage – rather than applying pressure to muscles, it uses gentle pressure to pull them upward. For most patients, this is a particularly relaxing and relieving sensation. Once suctioned, the cups are generally left in place while the patient relaxes. Another type of cupping is called sliding cupping which is gliding the cup along the muscle or area of restriction to reduce the tension.
The side effects of cupping are fairly mild. Bruising can be expected, but the skin should return to looking normal within 5-10 days.