What is Suction Cupping?

Suction Cupping Explained

Suction Cupping involves creating a vacuum over various parts of the body for therapeutic effects. The original classic method of cupping involved briefly heating the air in an inverted cup, which then produces a vacuum when the air cools after the cup is applied to the skin. The resultant low pressure under the cup causes a localized expansion of tissue.

Suction Cupping is used therapeutically to draw blood
flow to areas of pain, thus flushing capillary beds and
re-supplying vital nutrients. Suction also mobilizes and
stretches soft tissue thus loosening areas of restriction.
Suction cups are usually placed over disease/injury sites
for 5 – 10 minutes.



Applying an oil based lubricant to the skin just prior
to cup application facilitates a tight seal, and allows
for sliding cups around in the treatment area. Cups of
all sizes are used to treat a wide range of disorders.
For example, small cups may be applied to the face to
treat facial paralysis, whereas larger cups placed in
the lumbar region can be used to treat lumbago.

Dry Cupping and Wet Cupping
There are two main types of cupping: dry cupping and wet cupping. Dry cupping involves stimulation of the skin by suction. Wet cupping includes blood-letting, achieved by puncturing the skin with tiny needles before the cups are applied. Wet cupping has a stronger stimulatory action on the skin, muscles and corresponding organs.

This type of cupping is usually used for areas of congestion
to reduce inflammation, pain, and cramping. Wet cupping
is helpful for patients with a tendency for high blood
pressure and weight gain. Patients suffering from anemia
would benefit more with dry cupping.

How does Suction Cupping work?

Suction cupping should always be performed by a qualified
health care professional. Cupping is almost solely practiced
on the back, often on either side of the spine, though
cups can be used on the abdomen and upper arms and legs.




Cups are available with elastic knobs that provide a sucking
action when pumped. When placed on the skin, the cups
can be pumped until the skin has reached the desired height
inside the glass. A more traditional method uses plain
glass cups where a small flame creates a vacuum inside
the glass which sucks the skin into the glass. Both of
these techniques are very popular today.

In either method, several cups are applied one after another
and then left on the skin for ten to thirty minutes. This
stimulation increases circulation and in response, the skin
discolors and bruising occurs. This bruising doesn’t
last long unless the person bruises easily. Cupping may
feel uncomfortable but it is not painful.

A cupping-massage technique can be achieved using a suction
cup with the pump and gliding it slowly along the skin.
Before the massage, a massage oil is applied to ease the
gliding of the cup along the skin. Cupping-massage is
useful for relief of muscle spasms and pain. This type
of technique is more painful so the massage should only
take three or four minutes after which the patient should
rest for fifteen minutes. Again, temporary skin discoloration
and bruising typically occurs where the massage took place.



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