Cupping is a bit like a massage in reverse: instead of applying pressure, glass cups are used to gently lift and pull muscle and fascia. Much like massage, cupping has a broad range of uses including pain reduction, improved digestion, relieving cough and cold and promoting relaxation.
Cupping involves the use of cups applied to a patient’s back in a series of positions in order to produce suction. The vacuum effect targets areas of skin and deep tissue within the back, which is beneficial for dulling pain, breaking up deep scar tissue, and relaxing tender muscles or connective tissue.
Cupping and acupuncture are similar because they both promote optimal “Qi” by drawing energy and blood flow to areas of the body that are experiencing inflammation, prone to low lymphatic circulation or experiencing poor blood flow. Sometimes both practices are done together by placing an acupuncture needle into the patient’s skin and then covering the needle with a cup. Cupping can be incorporated in to any Acupuncture treatment or it can be a treatment on its own. If you’d like a cupping session please book in with our Acupuncturist R.Ac Lacy Brandt.