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The website CuppingTherapy notes that:
Cupping therapy was used in Egypt dating back some 3,500 years, where its use is represented in hieroglyphic writing. The earliest recorded use of Cupping is from the famous Taoist alchemist and herbalist, Ge Hong (281–341 A.D.). In ancient Greece, Hippocrates recommended the use of cups for a variety of ailments, while in the early 1900’s eminent British physician, Sir Arthur Keith, wrote how he witnessed cupping performed with excellent success. Suction Cup Therapies remained a constant in professional medical treatment
The Chinese have used cupping as part of their Chinese Medicine system for thousands of years. Nowadays it has gained much acceptance and notoriety among elite athletes such as Olympic swimmer Wang Qun whose Bejing pics of her cupping marks are now quite famous. And then there are those back-baring celebrities, such as Britney Spears, Geri Haliwell, Paris Hilton, and Gwyneth Paltrow, who regularly show off round cupping marks as if they were elite tattoos.
Massage cupping and Chinese cupping are definitely not the same in technique or visual results.
Chinese cupping is tends to be more of a stationary method, with the cups placed over acupuncture points for up to 15 minutes, or more, to clear stagnant energy. Cups are moved when dredging meridians or ashi points (same or similar to trigger points) or when getting the chi moving. The moving cups are often used with strong negative pressure.
Massage cupping is more of
Visually, the Chinese method can result in cupping marks or circles, especially with moderate or strong negative pressure. These marks are much less common with massage cupping because of the continual movement of the cup over muscles and the lighter pressure. However cupping marks can still occur, especially if the cup is positioned for few minutes over an extremely tight area to allow for deeper and/or trigger point release or when working over a thinner skinned area.
The book Traditional Chinese Medicine Cupping Therapy
has a great
chapter on cupping for trigger point release.
How do the cups work? The website A Youthful Reflection
says, ‘By creating suction and negative pressure, Massage Cupping is used to release rigid soft tissue, drain excess fluids and toxins, loosen adhesions and lift connective tissue, and bring blood flow to stagnant skin and muscles.’
Not to say that cupping doesn’t have its own ‘pain’ sensations. Clients describe cupping over problem areas as having a ‘pins and needles’ feeling. And occasionally, as a chronically tight locked-down area releases over a few sessions, the releasing muscles can feel ‘achy’ in a over-exercised sort of way. Even so, the muscles lengthen rather than shorten and range of motion improves during this transition time.
Not just for muscles, massage cupping is also valuable for moving lymph fluid, so reducing swelling. And it’s great for minimizing the effects of scar tissue, as well for smoothing out dimpled cellulite. Specific cups designed for use on the face can be used to reduce facial puffiness, lines, and wrinkles.
There are many types of cups that can be used including silicone or rubber squeeze cups, traditional glass fire cups, pump system cups made of glass or plastic, Pyrex cups with rubber bulbs, and the numerous other variations available on the worldwide market.
For specific instructions for ordering highly recommended sets check out the lower portion of my Appointments Page.
CuppingTherapy.org gives the following contraindications: Cupping is contraindicated in cases of severe diseases, i.e. cardiac failure, renal failure, ascites due to hepato-cirrhosis and severe edema, as well as hemorrhagic diseases such as allergic pupura, hemophilia and leukemia, and clients with dermatosis, destruction of skin, or allergic dermatitis. Cupping should not be applied on the portion where hernia exists or has occurred in the past. For pregnant women, the lower abdomen, medial leg and lumbosacral region should be avoided. [As this seems to be predominantly talking about acupuncture contraindicated areas for pregnant women, I’d also add the top of the shoulders GB 21 and the hands at LGI 4 as contraindicated cupping areas].
And common sense applies. Don’t cup over fragile body areas, such as the eyes.
As the testimonials mount and more people experience a massage cupping session, feeling the great results for themselves, I find it likely this therapy will become the most sought after massage modality, especially when dealing with pain issues.
And for me? No more the Buckley’s-style trigger point motto: It hurts but it works.
Now it’s: Lovin the cuppin!
Resource Links
Articles
- Massage Today article ‘Massage Cupping Therapy for Health Care Professionals’
- Massage Magazine article ‘The Art of Massage Cupping’ by Anita J. Shannon
- ZenHealth article ‘Massage Cupping’
- WoodTigerMassage ‘A Therapist’s View of Cupping’
- Institute for Integrative Healthcare Studies Article ‘TCM, Cupping and Massage Part I, Part II, Part III’
- Health Traditions ‘Traditional Cupping’
- Therapy of the Week: ‘Cupping to Ease Back Pain’
- TCM Health Centre: ‘Cupping’
- ISPUB.com study: An investigation into the effect of Cupping Therapy as a treatment for Anterior Knee Pain and its potential role in Health Promotion.
- Exploring the Use of Cupping Therapy for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Physiotherapy advert on Cupping
- Massage Cupping Workshop Brochure
- Bruce Bentley’s Health Traditions: Cupping Workshops
- Cupping Therapy Website
- BodyworkOnline Forum ‘Cupping Equipment Review’
- LhasaOms.com ‘Massage Bodywork Therapy Vol 1 & 2 DVD’
- MassageCupping.com ‘Massage Bodywork Therapy Vol 1 & 2 DVD’
- Morning Star Health ‘Massage Bodywork Therapy Vol 1 & 2 DVD’
- YCY Better Health ‘Massage Bodywork Therapy Vol 1 & 2 DVD’
- Vaccups home of the Silicone Squeeze Cup
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