History Cupping is a method found in ancient records dating back 3500 years. It was used by the Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Chinese, United Kingdom and it is still used today by many complimentary medicine practitioners. The Chinese have been doing this since ancient times by using heat inside glass or bamboo cups to create localized pressure by a partial vacuum.

What is it?

When injuries occur deep in the muscle, bleeding often occurs causing deep bruises. There will also be edema in the area involving the coagulation of sticky proteins. The combining presence of these elements usually results in stagnation of circulation to the area - resulting in pain, dysfunction, and chronic conditions.

Cupping is an ancient method of creating a partial vacuum in cups placed on the skin either by means of heat or suction. This draws up the underlying tissues. When the cup is left in place on the skin for a few minutes, blood stasis is formed and localized healing takes place.

The vacuum formed by Cupping draws up the old non-circulating stagnant blood and sticky fluids from the area, bringing them up to the surface and away from the injury. Circulation can be restored to the affected area, thus making space for oxygen, living cells and nutrients for a faster recovery.

Where there is dead, static blood, lymph, cellular debris, pathogenic factors and toxins present in the body, Cupping can leave marks. This indicates that the stagnation or disease has been moved from the deeper tissue layers to the surface.

The most common misunderstanding regarding one of the most powerful and beneficial after effects of cupping is the marks that sometimes result. These do not hurt like a bruise sustained from injury, they may look painful but often are accompanied by a sense of relief.

Benefits Cupping can affect the body up to four inches into the tissues, causing the tissues to release toxins, activate the lymphatic system, clear colon blockages, activate and clear the veins, arteries and capillaries, activate the skin, clear stretch marks and improve the appearance of varicose veins.

Looking like an octopus attacked you is a great result from a non-invasive treatment that does so much benefit.

The colour and pattern of the marks depend on the level of stagnation in the area: they range from a bright red to dark purple, usually lasting 3 days to a week - sometimes longer if the person is very sick or sedentary. If there is no stagnation present, there will be only a light pink mark, which disappears in a few minutes to a couple of hours. Sites where there is old trauma or injury may require multiple cupping treatments to remove all stagnation. You will find in follow up treatments the marks will be visibly lighter and lighter as the pathogens are systemically removed from the body.