The Benefits of Cupping

Cupping is an ancient practice in traditional Chinese medicine and more than a fad gaining popularity by celebrities and famous athletes. This practice involves using a cup that creates a vacuum to be placed on the skin to draw toxins and stagnation out to promote proper qi flow and alleviate pain. Patients typically experience no pain during treatment, although it is normal to feel the skin being sucked into the glass because of the vacuum. Many patients experience a pleasant and relaxing sensation and state that it feels like a local deep tissue massage.

Cupping is traditionally associated with acupuncture, and the two treatments are often performed together. In fact, there iss a well known saying attributed to Ge Hong (281-341 AD) about the effectiveness of these two techniques: “Acupuncture and cupping, more than half of the ills cured” Hippocrates, the famous Greek physician, often referred to as “the father of medicine,” also used cupping in treatment.

Cupping is used to treat chronic pain and other conditions such as asthma, coughing, hypertension, fever, and varicose veins. It is most often used to treat muscle and joint pain, especially pain in the back, neck, shoulders, and legs.

There is more than one type of cupping treatment, including fixed or stationary, gliding or moving, and flash cupping. The stationary form of cupping is the most common – the glass cups are simply left on the skin for a few minutes. In a flash treatment, the cups are left on for less than a minute. A lubricant is used in a gliding treatment, and the cups are slid along the skin’s surface.

Acupuncturist Marc Gian offers both cupping and acupuncture services in the Flatiron District. To schedule a cupping or acupuncture treatment with Flatiron District acupuncturist Marc Gian, call 845-519-9256!