Above: Punta Serena, Pacific Ocean, Mexico
Cupping Benefits
Cupping has been used since 1550 BC in Egypt and spread to worldwide use. Hippocrates and Galen were known for supporting and using cupping. Cupping was used fairly often in even in Western medicine until the 20th century. Today, it is considered an alternative therapy, but is recognized by many nations and the World Health Organization as an effective treatment. Most recently it has seen use at the summer Olympics, notably on swimmers. Cupping is a technique where a vacuum is created in a cup, drawing skin up into the cup and separating the layers of superficial fascia. The suction draws the blood (neovascularization) to the level of the skin, creating a vacuum (negative pressure) below the skin. This causes new blood to rush in below, removing stagnation. The skin can be left with ecchymosis (blood between skin layers caused by a ruptured vessel) which looks similar to a bruise but is painless and will fade between 1 to 2 weeks. While this may look damaging, it is actually healing the tissues and does not always occur, depending on the person's skin type, condition and whether static cupping or moving cupping is used. Moving cupping can also cause a reddening of the whole area that will fade gradually. We use flexible soft silicone cups, and hard plastic cups and not fire cupping with glass cups often used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). There is no chance of being burnt by the hot glass cup as can sometimes happen with fire cupping. Your comfort level is always the most important aspect of this therapy.
Effects
Skin
Soft Tissues
Fascia – from Latin meaning a band
References: College of Acupuncture & Therapeutics Inc, Kitchener, Ontario 2009; Traditional Chinese Medicine Cupping Therapy, Chirali, I.Z. 1999
Effects
Skin
- Stimulates the hair roots, brings fresh blood to the surface
- Increases temperature of the skin via blood circulation and neovascularization
- Increases function of sebaceous and sweat glands allowing skin to breath
- Increases secretion of poisons: sebaceous matter, salts, water
Soft Tissues
Fascia – from Latin meaning a band
- It permeates the entire body, providing support, protection, integrity, shock absorption and creates the web for cellular communication, and the network for tissue repair
- Ground Substance provides a matrix for the body’s cells – made up of mostly water and proteins. It is a gel like substance and provides lubrication between the layers of fascia.
- Cupping increases the extracellular fluids and ground substance between the layers of fascia
- The patient will usually feel an immediate increase in ROM relative to fascial restrictions.
- Muscles respond to the increase in fresh blood to the area.
- Golgi Tendon organs respond to cupping much the same way they respond to slow and continuous pressure (autogenic inhibition reflex)
- Applications of cupping to the origin and insertion (each end) of muscle is indicated in muscle hypertonicity (tightness)
- Respond well to cupping
- Cupping mechanically separates the tissue layers, draws fluid into the adhesion allowing for more mobility and softens the fibrin network
- All joints respond well to cupping
- Increase in new blood vessels and separation of fascial layers provides instantaneous increases in range of motion
- Effective for chronic joint problems especially when the joint seems to respond to barometric pressure changes
- Provides extensive movement of fluid through and around spinal joints
- Movement of fresh blood into the fascial restricted areas, increase in interstitial fluid helps to decompress spinal joints
- Strong suction action helps to separate fascial and muscle layers between the ribs while not compressing them
- Works well on disc or joint problems in spine, increases fluid in facet joints
- Cupping over digestive organs has long been known to increase appetite, peristalsis, and stimulates digestive fluids
- Over lungs during most respiratory conditions has proven very effective.
- Negative pressure created by cupping creates more space and fluid movement in/around lungs causing an immediate sense of relief during a congestive lung problem.
- Causes a very strong circulatory response
- Old blood vessels are destroyed and new ones created. In this process, the body increased the histamine response and leukocytosis. This process changes the acidity and composition of blood thereby creating a challenge to the body to recreate homeostasis, sometimes referred to as purification.
- Very strong effect on the sensory nerves
- Strong sedation effect; many feel sleepy if the cups are on for a period of time
- Many studies have shown cupping effective for high blood pressure
- Chronic unresolved inflammation responds very well to cupping
- The process of neovascularization helps to remove stagnation of the tissue and supply a new more effective blood supply
- Areas that were matted down due to chronic overuse become filled with interstitial fluid which provides space for new capillary growth and movement of fluid
References: College of Acupuncture & Therapeutics Inc, Kitchener, Ontario 2009; Traditional Chinese Medicine Cupping Therapy, Chirali, I.Z. 1999
Cupping Contraindications
A contraindication is a specific situation in which a drug, procedure, or surgery should not be used because it may be harmful to the person. Please alert us to any of these situations at each visit.
- No heavy cupping over loose skin
- Never apply during a fever
- If patient uses a puffer, make sure it is available during treatment (lung treatment)
- Strong suction application: Not used on face, stomach / abdomen, children under 14 (generally have stronger reactions), weaker and older patients
- High fever
- Cramps
- Spasms
- Skin allergies
- Open, recently healing wounds
- Unknown skin rashes
- Swelling – can use proximal (closer to trunk) to edema
- Pregnancy: not on low back, abdomen
- Caution around bony prominences, areas where skin is thin
- Overall health concerns
- Elderly: less fatty tissue in skin, less elasticity – low back acceptable, likely not arms
- Over incompetent lymph area, lymphoedema, lymph nodes removed in groin – no treatment on affected leg, axilla/armpit - no treatment on affect arm
- Breast tissue due to sagging skin, breasts are only held on with Coopers ligament
- Hypermobile joints where scar tissue is supporting joint
- Acute inflammation
- Medications: pain meds (patient can't determine pain level); cortisone (breaks down tissue, increases possible damage)