Cupping Therapy

The below description is to Sam’s current best understanding and working knowledge of cupping + Gua sha as a practitioner with training and hands-on experience with both modalities. Always seek out secondary sources to confirm the information you intake is true, even from sources and people you’re inclined to trust.

Cupping therapy uses tools called cups to create suction, attaching to the body and lifting the tissue under it. Often, cupping ‘brings up’ redness, creating a false crisis for the body’s healing processes to address. This induced problem activates an anti-inflammatory marker, reducing inflammation in your body, and there is typically an analgesic effect / pain relief associated with treatment. Cupping can also support healthier immune system functioning, without triggering auto-immune responses. Cup marks should not be true bruises, though they can appear similar in nature due to capillary breakage (normal within treatment, should not be deep or widespread, and part of what activates the body’s healing process) and extravasation (blood cells pulled through vessel walls without damage to either). Throughout the cupping treatment and particularly at the end of it, we use the cups to support the lymph’s flow toward the heart. The suction of cupping moves all fluids under the cup, and the accumulation of lymph can be part of the puffy or rounded appearance left by stationary cupping, especially if left in that state. It is important to drain the lymph !

Cupping practitioners often talk about “stagnation” in the body. The way I currently understand and explain it is this: Within the body, from the skin through to deeper structures, there should be gliding space for nerves, blood vessels, muscle tissue, lymphatic fluid, and fascia (off the top of my head). When a muscle or region of the body gets ‘tight’ and ends up compressed toward the body, that gliding space no longer exists as efficiently. It becomes harder for lymph to flow, blood to move, and the body often ends up self-protecting the area of injury or tension by limiting range of motion and reinforcing the supporting fascia. When we suction tissue to relieve tension via cupping, we help bring that space back to your body, allowing the lymph to drain (it’s part of the waste removal process of the body and an important component to fluid regulation and protecting you from infection), and blood flows more easily to help nourish the tissue.

Cupping is not everyone’s cup of tea, and some people have contraindications that do not allow for safe cupping treatment. If that is the case, Sam will speak with you about more appropriate techniques based specifically on your body’s needs.

A Note on Cellulite

Cellulite can result from uneven muscle tension tightening toward the body + fat pushing through the tensioned fascia. Starting lightly, we progressively warm the tissue + increase suction level, releasing tension and draining lymph. If your body presents with cellulite and you’d like to treat it, we can absolutely cup the body specifically to reduce the appearance of cellulite and the tension therein. Select the “Cellulite Focus” Add-On in the service menu when booking.

Copy + paste the below links to read about cupping!

https://cuppingtherapy.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Cupping-for-Treating-Pain.pdf

https://cuppingtherapy.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Cupping-Biomechanical-Perspective.pdf

https://cuppingtherapy.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/The-Subtle-Cup.pdf

https://cuppingtherapy.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Proven-Benefits-to-Fibromyalgia.pdf