Cupping is the term applied to a technique that uses small glass cups, silicone cups or bamboo jars as suction devices.

They are placed on the skin to disperse and break up stagnation and congestion by drawing congested blood, energy or other ailments to the surface of the skin.

Once the suction has occurred, the cups can be gently moved across the skin (often referred to as “gliding cupping).

Massage oil is applied to improve movement of the cups along the skin. The suction in the cups causes the skin and superficial muscle layer to be lightly drawn into the cup.

Cupping is much like the inverse of massage – rather than applying pressure to muscles, it uses gentle pressure to pull them upward.

For most patients, this is a particularly relaxing a relieving sensation. Once suctioned, the cups are generally left in place for about ten minutes while the patient relaxes.

The side effects of cupping are fairly mild. Bruising should be expected, but skin should return to looking normal within 10 days.

“Where there’s stagnation, there will be pain. Remove the stagnation, and you remove the pain.”