CUPPING
Cupping is an ancient technique in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapy involving the placement of a heated glass, plastic, or bamboo cup on the skin which creates a vacuum. When a cup is applied to the skin and the pressure in the cup is reduced (by using a change in heat or by suctioning out air), so that the skin and superficial muscle layer is drawn into and held in the cup. It has been widely used to treat different disorders in its own right or in combination with acupuncture and blood-letting therapy in modern Chinese Medicine.
Cupping involves different techniques which are called: suction cup therapy; flash-fire cupping; gliding cupping; alcohol-fire cupping. The TCM practitioner will choose a different technique according to the patients condition and complaints.
Suction cup therapy uses a small cotton ball soaked in 95% alcohol. The cotton ball is lit, and then inserted into the glass cup to create the vacuum, the cotton ball is then removed and the cup is inverted and quickly applied to the area of skin or acu-point. A few cups are used within a single treatment.
Gliding cupping is when the cup may be moved while the suction on the skin is active, causing a regional pulling of the skin and muscle.
Flash-fire cupping (shanhuofa ) The glass cups are depressurized by providing some fire in the cup to heat up the air within just prior to placement. For example, a forceps is used to hold a cotton ball and the cotton ball is then dipped in alcohol. After that the cotton ball is ignited and held in the cup for few second, then rapidly applied to the skin and the process is repeated a few times, until the skin has acquired a red colour.
Alcohol-fire cupping (dijiufa) a small amount alcohol is put into the cup and lit; the cup is then rapidly applied to the skin and left for 5-10 minutes.
Generally, during all the kinds of cupping, the cup is left in place for about 10 minutes (typical range is 515 minutes). The skin becomes reddened due to the congestion of blood flow. The cup is removed by pressing the skin along side it to allow some outside air to leak into it, thus getting rid of the vacuum within the cup and releasing it. Some bruising along the site of the rim of the cup is expected.
 
Benefits from cupping:
Cupping is a safe, non-invasive, and inexpensive technique. It is used by practitioners of Chinese medicine to treat colds, gastro-intestinal disorders, lung diseases (especially chronic cough and asthma), lung infections, and problems in the internal organs. It is also used to treat muscle and joint pain and spasms, particularly on the back and paralysis, although it can be used for other disorders as well. For example, detox cupping is used to disperse and energize the qi (pronounced chi, meaning energy) that has become blocked and stagnated in the body, improving metabolism and clearing the body of toxins, to aid in weight loss. It is generally a painless procedure. Cupping promotes local blood supply that will nourish the muscles and skin and allow toxins to be carried away. Massage cupping is also effective in treating cellulite. A light suction provides drainage, while heavier application can be used to stimulate circulation and loosen adhesions. Cupping has no negative side effects.
Times when cupping should not be used:- cases where areas of skin are inflamed, cases of high fever, convulsions or cramping, cases of easy bleeding (i.e., pathological level of low platelets), or lower back during pregnancy. Movement of the cups is limited to fleshy areas: the movement should not cross bony ridges, such as the spine.
Conditions or disorders which have been treated by cupping:
One of the traditional uses of cupping is in the treatment of coldness in the body. Cupping is thought to dispel the coldness by virtue of its ability to release external pathogenic factors, including wind, damp, and cold. Following are some of the various disorders which can be treated:
Chronic bronchitis and asthma,
Paediatric bronchitis:
Paediatric acute bronchitis
Acute and chronic gastritis
Paediatric indigestion
Pain Syndromes:
Shoulder blade
Loins
Headache: chronic headaches and migraines;
parietal and occipital headaches;trigeminal neuralgia; toothache
All types of soft tissue injury: swollen joints, ankle sprains and spasms
Common cold
Insomnia
Facial paralysis
High blood pressure,
Anxiety
Fatigue
Fibromyalgia and neuralgia ,
Contracted and congested muscle tissue will soften quickly with only a few
minutes of Massage Cupping therapy.
Special cupping program:
1. Facial massage using cupping therapy:
Massage cupping bodywork therapy applications for the face have evolved with the discovery of wonderful MICRO-CUPS that can be used to vacuum across the skin, or mimic the pumping movements of lymphatic drainage. This procedure can easily be done in a few minutes, and is simply a manual method that mimics equipment currently in use today. The benefits include increased local circulation to the skin, bringing nutrition to the surface and enhancing absorption of ampules, masks and serums. Massage cupping bodywork therapy on the face will also drain stagnant fluids from reservoir areas of the face, and ease puffiness. The muscles of the face benefit greatly from reduced tension and tightness, easing expression lines and loosening rigid muscles associated with TMJ disorders. Lines, wrinkles and scar tissue will soften and plump from Massage Cupping bodywork therapy, making it a great prelude to dermabrasion treatments or peels. It is a wonderful, non-invasive cosmetic therapy.
2. Body detox cupping treatment program:
Adding massage cupping bodywork therapy into a body treatment not only enhances absorption of applied products, but assists in the drainage of stagnant fluids. A series of aromatherapeutic blends applied over eight treatments has been proving itself to be effective in dealing with the effects of current lifestyles and aid processes such as weight reduction, detoxification, smoking cessation and more. The blends determine the intent of the treatment. While it is not recommended to combine massage cupping bodywork therapy with aggressive exfoliation treatments, it is easily integrated into most other body treatment procedures.
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