As an acupuncturist who practices cupping, I’ve been hearing lots of comments and reading lots of articles about it since several athletes sported their marks in the Olympics. I’ve heard some myths and misconceptions, and curiosity. So I thought I’d add my 2 cents to the hype!
What is Cupping and How does it work?
Cupping is a technique that has been used all over the world for many hundreds or thousands of years. It involved applying hollow objects to the skin from which the air has been removed, creating a vacuum or suction effect.
The idea is to pull from deep within the tissues to remove stuck waste products and toxins, and to bring them to the superficial layers of the skin where the body’s metabolic pathways are able to easily flush it away.
Is Cupping harmful?
I read an article that quoted medical professionals who doubted the efficacy of cupping and who even called it harmful. Of course many helpful modalities in medicine can be harmful if done incorrectly or applied inappropriately or for the wrong reasons. When done properly, cupping is a harmless technique.
what are those circular marks all about?
First of all, not everyone will get marks like you saw on the Olympic athletes. It depends on why you are getting cupped. Also, cupping can be diagnostic, in that the darker the mark the more severe the stagnation of energy and blood in that area. Sometimes I use cups to confirm if someone’s pain is due to severe stasis of qi and blood or another reason.
Who can Benefit from cupping?
There are several reasons that people receive cupping. Here are the most common: to loosen tight sore muscles, to reduce pain, to lessen the symptoms of a cold or flu, to knock out a cold in the very early stage, and to help resolve coughs.
I hope this has shed some light on the subject. Cupping really is a simple great way to promote circulation and detoxification of our tissues. I am happy to work it into the treatment plans for my patients when appropriate.
