Have you tried Cupping Yet?
By now, you've probably heard of or experienced cupping. Celebrities show off their cupping, Hollywood movies have cupping scenes, and celebrities have exposed their cupping marks on the red carpet. If you have relatives from other parts of the world, you could experience the benefits in childhood. Or maybe your first encounter with cupping was (or will be!) on your acupuncturist's treatment table.
Cupping therapy has continued for some years, but the staying power remains. Cupping treatment spread throughout Europe during the Renaissance period. It dates back to ancient Egyptian, Greek, Asian, and Middle Eastern cultures. One of the oldest medical textbooks in the world, the Ebers Papyrus, describes how the ancient Egyptians used cupping therapy in 1,550 B.C.
China is famous for cupping, and its use dates back thousands of years. The earliest record of cupping in China was from the Han Dynasty (206 BC- 220 AD). Back then, cupping was applied using cattle horns or cross sections of bamboo. Now, Chinese Medicine Practitioners generally use round glass or plastic cups.
Traditionally, all cupping involved a flammable substance set on fire and placed in a cup. As the fire goes out, the cup is turned upside down on your skin, creating a vacuum. Wet cupping involves bloodletting enhanced by the suction of the cups. This draws out thick, stagnant blood, generating healing through improved blood flow. Dry cupping is the more commonly used method in most modern clinics today and is any cupping that doesn't involve a puncture to draw blood. During stationary cupping, the cup is generally left in place for up to 3 minutes. Moving (aka sliding) cupping is where the skin is lubricated with oil to allow for massage-like strokes with the cups as they create a gliding suction over body areas such as the back muscles. A convenient cupping tool used by many acupuncturists today uses a pump instead of fire to create a vacuum. This style allows for the use of smaller cups to work with bony joints and even facial muscles. Some therapists also use silicone cups, which are easily maneuvered with a squeeze of the hand to create the desired suction level.
Cupping is understood in TCM to assist with qi and blood flow. It also opens the pores to draw out pathogenic factors such as wind, cold, dampness, and heat. Biomedical research has found that cupping does increase local blood flow through microcirculation and capillary cell repair, and wet cupping helps to remove toxins from the blood.
One of the reasons it has stood the test of time is because it is safe and beneficial for so many conditions. Here are some examples of uses where research supports effectiveness :
Muscular Pain
Immune support
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Cholesterol management
Asthma
Cellulitis
Migraines
Facial Paralysis
Osteoarthritis
Insomnia
Depression
So, the big question is: How does it feel?
Like a massage! (especially the sliding cups) but instead of a push, you feel a pull. Patients sometimes describe it as "a good hurt" followed by a release of pressure. A good practitioner will communicate with you to find your balance point to ensure a relaxing, comfortable experience. And yes, you may leave with the famous 'cupping marks,' but these are not bruises, as they are not caused by injury or hurt; they are evidence that stagnation has been released.
While it is generally considered a very safe technique, ensuring your practitioner is skilled and taking proper precautions is essential. Licensed Acupuncturists have extensive training in cupping.
Call or email Marc Gian in Flatiron, NYC, and Brooklyn to experience the benefits yourself!
marcgian@gmail.com
845.519.9256