How to Use Cupping

Cupping is a technique used in Chinese acupuncture and is designed to get qui flowing through the body's meridians and to ultimately stop pain.  Cupping involves strong suction of the skin, so care must be taken when doing this technique to avoid excessive marking of the skin.

• Decide whether you want to pursue either air cupping or water cupping.  If you're going for an air cupping session, flame will be used to heat the cup before it is applied to the skin.  A suction pump is then attached to the end of the cup.  Those opting for a wet cupping treatment session will have portions of their skin punctured before the treatment.  A small amount of blood is extracted from where the skin is punctured through the suction created by the cups.  This practice is done to help remove harmful toxins from the patient's body.


• Decide how much skin discomfort you are willing to endure.  Although cupping is safe, it does result in skin discoloration as well as bruising.  Usually these skin blemishes as well as bruises clear up within a few days.  In general, the longer the suction cup is applied to your skin, the more pronounced bruising you will have in that area.


• Avoid cupping in certain areas if you have certain medical conditions.  Those patients who have skin problems or who bleed easily should not have their skin cup.  Women who are pregnant should not have cupping done on their stomach or their lower back.  In general, the cups should only be placed where there are not any injuries on your body.