What is cupping?
Cupping is a complementary therapy used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine which helps promote good health and wellbeing. Today it is common practice and may be applied during a massage to further increase muscle relaxation.
Cupping involves the use of silicon or glass cups of varying sizes placed on the skin on areas of pain or discomfort or on specific acupuncture points. The cups are placed on by suction, either with the use of flame, squeezing the silicon cup or with a little suction device. The suction action pulls the skin and fascia into the cup creating a little dome. The cups are generally used to facilitate movement of blood into the fascia and tense muscles and may be left on for 5 to 15 minutes.
The suction pressure under the cup, stimulates blood flow to the area being cupped. This can often leave bruised discolouration which disappears within a few days. It is generally not painful but certainly has a sensation. The cups assist the muscles to relax and the increase blood flow reduces inflammation and stimulates healing. The pressure exerted under the cup also stretches the fascia below relieving tension and stimulating tissue repair.
Cupping is a deeply relaxing and therapeutic treatment as an add on to your massage.
Benefits of Cupping
Cupping may be beneficial for treating the symptoms of musculoskeletal problems including tense and sore muscles, as well as injures and frozen shoulder. It is an effective, safe method of helping your own body to prevent, heal and cure itself of symptoms associated with illnesses including aches and pains.
