You've likely seen the marks left by cupping, or maybe even had some of your own. It has received a lot of recent attention in the media due to its use by world-class athletes for injury relief.  But patients new and old are often curious about cupping, how it works and why we use it.

Cupping is an ancient therapeutic technique used in alternative medicine, which involves placing cups over meridians of the body to create suction. This promotes the movement of qi (energy) and blood, as well as aids in detoxification. Historians believe that cupping is the most ancient technique in Chinese medicine, predating acupuncture.

The suction induced by cupping facilitates the release of soft tissues, loosens and lifts connective tissues, breaks up and drains stagnation, and increases blood and lymph flow to skin, muscles, and connective tissues. 

To understand why is it so effective for pain, imagine that all pain in the body is the result of energy (qi) and/or blood stagnation. When proper flow is interrupted, it is like a traffic jam occurring in the body. Movement wants to happen, but cannot, leading to more and more back up over time (like cells hitting a wall over and over because they can’t go where they’re supposed to… sounds painful, doesn’t it?) To paint a better picture of what is happening in the body when there is musculoskeletal pain, I like to start with some basics of human anatomy. Each muscle in the body is surrounded by a layer of tissue called the myofascial layer (myo = muscle, fascia = type of connective tissue). This fascia should be a soft, pliable, jelly-like consistency which has flexibility when healthy; however, due to overuse, underuse, dehydration, injury, trauma, etc. this tissue can tighten and harden around the muscle which creates what we feel as “knots” or tight band like muscles that feel taught and stringy when we massage them. Due to this “tightening”, blood, lymph, and energy/qi cannot flow freely like they are meant to. There will be impaired micro-circulation in that area which can lead to the accumulation of cellular waste. 

Massage therapy addresses this stagnation by warming the tissue and then manipulating it, or stretching it back out to relieve pressure/tension/stagnation. With cupping therapy we are essentially doing the same thing - stretching and loosening the myofascial and other connective tissues - except this is done with suction instead of with pressure. There are several added benefits to this. First, when we use fire cupping, the heated air inside the cup which creates the suction, additionally warms and softens the fascial tissue making it more pliable. Second, by suctioning the skin up it also pulls stagnant blood and toxins to the surface, where the lymphatic system can then help drain and release them. In fact, the darker the cupping marks, the more stagnation, the older the blood, and the more potential for accumulated toxins in that area. For this reason it is very important to drink a lot of water after a cupping treatment (to help flush toxins), and to rest so that your lymphatic and immune system can take over, flush out the old cells, and promote new beginnings. This process also makes space for oxygen, living cells, and nutrients that are needed for healing. 

​

What causes cupping marks?

​Although the marks left by cupping can look a lot like bruises, they are not so. The suction/vacuum action of cupping pulls stagnation from deeper tissue layers to the surface. The color of the marks can tell us a lot about the level of stagnation in that area. They can range from bright red to dark purple. Generally speaking, the darker the marks, the more serious the condition/blockage. It shows that there are old dead blood cells that have been stuck here for some time, and most likely a build up of cellular debris and toxins along with them.  For patients with old trauma or injury, several cupping treatments may be needed, and you should see an improvement in color with each session (the marks getting lighter) as the pathogens are systemically removed from the body. 

What can I expect after a cupping treatment?

The marks left by cupping typically fade within 1-5 days in an individual with adequate blood flow to the area which has been cupped. It can take longer in an individual who is sick or sedentary, or in older individuals with less active micro-circulation. It is not abnormal for these marks to be a bit tender, especially after your first cupping treatment. You can facilitate faster healing by staying hydrated, rested, and engaging in gentle stretching and movement. It is important to keep the marks covered right after treatment and not expose them to any severe weather such as wind and cold for at least 3 days. Avoid hot tubs, swimming pools, and drafty environments. This is because cupping powerfully opens the surface area of the body, which can then allow pathogens to enter if not well protected. Pathogenic factors can cause spasms, tightness, and stagnation to return. 

How do I know if I would benefit from cupping?

Cupping can be utilized on many areas of the body where there is pain, or can initiate general wellness and overall cleansing of toxins in the organs by cupping the back alongside the spine. It can also boost the immune system and speed up healing time. I have also seen it work wonders for people with shoulder pain or pain around the scapular region, neck pain, back pain, tight IT bands, and plantar fasciitis. It can also be done on the abdomen for digestive issues, or on the face to increase blood flow and promote collagen and elastin production.  A technique called flash cupping is commonly used on the upper back for cold and flu symptoms to “expel the pathogen”, bringing it to the surface once again so that your immune system can better fight it off. It also helps to break up phlegm in the lungs so that it can be expelled.