Cupping is an ancient art, gaining new popularity in the Western world. While massage is performed by applying pressure, cupping instead uses negative pressure (suction) to pull, lift, open, and expand the body’s soft tissues. I first experienced cupping in 2006, in Malaysia, and I am so glad to be able to provide this amazing modality to my clients. I perform dry cupping using soft silicone cups (baguanfa) or harder plastic cups (kangzu), with or without magnets. I do NOT do wet (involving bloodletting) or fire (using fire to produce suction) cupping methods. 

Cupping Therapy isn't for everybody. Cupping is absolutely contraindicated for people who have conditions such as:

• organ failure (i.e. hepatic, renal, heart)
• hemorrhagic diseases (i.e. allergic purpura, hemophilia, leukemia)
• has a pacemaker
• compromised skin (i.e. dermatosis, allergic dermatitis, aged skin)

If you have any of the following, or similar, conditions, a cupping session might still be possible; make sure to let me know so we can identify the best and safest massage for you!  

• pregnancy -- no cupping of the lower abdomen, medial leg and lumbosacral region. NOTE: I will only cup established & regular cupping clients who happen to be pregnant
• hernia -- no cups on current or past hernia location 
• insulin pump -- cupping is ok in general, but absolutely no magnet work
• varicose veins -- absolutely no lower body work (except feet)

 

What to expect in a cupping therapy session

Cupping Therapy is essentially a therapeutic massage therapy session with a $30 add-on for use of cups to address some problem spots. Which cups used, and how they are used, depends on the client and situation. The most common use of cups in my practice is to provide a 20 minute biomagnetic blanket on the upper back, neck and shoulders, using the hard plastic cups with magnets. In this case, the tissue is warmed up with regular massage before the cups are applied. Massage to the legs and feet can then occur while letting the biomagnetic blanket do its magic. 

The marks that may result from cupping are not bruises. The suction pulls toxins, pathogenic factors, blood poison, dead lymph and cellular debris from deep within the tissues to the surface. The more discoloration that surfaces, the greater level of stagnation and toxicity being purged from the body. These marks may fade in as soon as two days, or as long as two weeks. I can adjust the session to minimize the marks, up to a point. If you are not keen on sporting these marks, then cupping therapy is not for you, and that's okay.

 

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