Cupping is an ancient therapy that is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat select types of conditions. Cups are generally made of glass and applied to the back or abdomen. Cupping is typically used to treat certain types of pain, lung congestion and gastrointestinal problems.

To apply a cup to a problem area, a practitioner will create a vacuum inside the cup either by using a pump to withdraw the oxygen or using a flame which uses up the oxygen to form a vacuum. The cup then adheres to the skin surface and will either remain in place over an acupuncture point or it is moved up and down an acupuncture meridian to stimulate the entire area and multiple acupuncture points at once.

This last technique is called running cups. It is excellent for reducing muscle tension and pain. Cups can bring blood flow and thus nutrients to the area to promote healing. It can help flush out toxins from the skin’s surface.

You may have seen the effects of cupping as they may create a round red spot on the body where the vacuum has pulled the blood to the surface of the skin. This effect usually only lasts a day or two.

I often use cupping in cases of pain where the client is wary of needles. It can be used alone as a therapy or along with an acupuncture treatment.

If you are interested in learning more about cupping, or would like to experience it yourself, you can reach me at 310-367-1564 and we can set up an appointment time so that you may experience cupping yourself.