Cupping Therapy

Nope! The dark circles that you see are not from a monster octopus attack. Those are cupping marks! Cupping feels like massage (only in reverse!) By gently pulling the muscles & fascia upward, it draws toxins to the surface of the skin helping you to detox, reduce pain, improve quality of motion, & can help speed up muscle recovery after intense training. Cupping can also help alleviate some breastfeeding problems like engorgement, mastitis, & even increase milk supply.

Cupping is an ancient modality of Chinese medicine documented being used over 3,000 years ago! Cupping is excellent at reinforcing your acupuncture treatment by creating a suction on the body to disperse & break up stagnation by drawing out congested blood, energy, or other humors to the surface.

Traditional cupping techniques use fire to heat the interior of a glass cup. A more modernized method utilizes a pump attachment to a cup that creates suction to: stimulate blood circulation, move lymph, detoxify the body, relieve muscle spasms, improve metabolism, decrease pain, cramps, & lessen the appearance of cellulite.

Increased blood flow helps the body more efficiently to get rid of waste products & lactic acid, bringing in fresh, oxygen-rich blood. The body uses oxygen & nutrients from the blood to function & it does this at a higher rate when we exercise intensely. Therefore, cupping is excellent for strenuous activity & increasing performance.

Cupping therapy is incredible for soothing menstrual disorders, emotional stress, asthma relief, & digestive upsets.

Fun Facts About Cupping

  • The earliest pictorial records date back to the ancient Egyptians around 1500 B.C. Translations of hieroglyphics in the Ebers Papyrus, the oldest medical text book, detail the use of cupping for treating fever, pain, vertigo, menstrual imbalances, poor appetite, & helping to accelerate the healing process.

  • The earliest use of cupping that is recorded is from the famous Taoist alchemist & herbalist, Ge Hong (281–341 A.D.).  The method was described in his book A Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies, in which the cups were actually animal horns used for draining pustules, snakebites, & skin lesions.

  • In the 1950’s, China established cupping as an official therapeutic practice by conducting research from the Chinese & former Soviet Union acupuncturists which confirmed cupping’s effectiveness.

  • In recent years, cupping has been growing in popularity with celebrities around the world using it to achieve pain relief, injury rehabilitation, & maintaining wellness. To name a few: the phenomenal tennis star Serena Williams, Anthony Joshua- a professional British boxer, Jennifer Aniston- the talented actress, Stephen Curry- the reigning NBA MVP, & Neymar- a Brazilian professional PSG soccer player.