Cupping Therapy
by Melinda Burris

You may have noticed your favorite sports celebrity or even the “gym rats” that always seem to be at your favorite workout spot no matter what day or time you show up, with what appear to be strange, red circular markings on their bodies. You’d be forgiven for thinking it must be part of the newest “get fit easy scheme” going as in the sports world, athletes, coaches and trainers are always looking for the next big discovery that will increase performance ability. These circular marks come from a form of massage known as cupping. As you’ll discover after reading this article, when it comes to cupping, a very ancient form of alternative medicine first practiced by the Chinese and championed by the ancient Greeks, what is old—very old in this case—has now become new again. 

[am4show not_have=’g5;’]

[/am4show][am4guest]

[/am4guest][am4show have=’g5;’]

What Exactly Is Cupping Therapy?          

First things first, experts agree that cupping is a therapy that should only be performed by a properly trained and licensed acupuncturist or other professional, such as a massage therapist who is duly certified.  The treatment garners its name from the fact that the process involves the practitioner strategically placing warmed cups on your skin for a matter of minutes until suction forms. A primary purpose of cupping is to alleviate pain and inflammation. This form of deep-tissue massage is also believed to improve relaxation and overall well-being.1

Cupping is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy believed “to remove stagnation and stimulate the flow of qi.” This is important because qi refers to “the free flow of vital energy circulating through the body and the world around us.” Chinese medical theory holds that if a person’s qi is unable to flow unrestricted, blockages are formed, and the body is in a state of imbalance.2 Even though the practice of cupping goes back centuries, the techniques used have advanced in modern times. Today, cupping is done primarily with cups made of glass. The first cups used in this technique were fashioned from the natural materials available, including bamboo, clay and even animal horns.1

Michelle Casco is a licensed acupuncturist who specializes in traditional Chinese medicine. Casco explains that the traditional cupping method was known as ba guan zi, which means “fire or dry cupping.”1 The treatment calls for a warm cup to be placed over an ashi point, a reference to the area of the body where the patient is experiencing pain. A vacuum or suction effect occurs as the warm air in the cup cools and the cup continues to adhere to the skin as it is “drawn up into the cup.”2 Once the cups have cooled and been left in place for a sufficient amount of time, each cup is removed by carefully lifting an edge. The suction of the skin into the cup leaves the circular marks associated with this treatment.  The marks are red because the vacuum effect of cupping causes the blood vessels to expand, which makes the skin redden.2

Side Effects Associated with Cupping

For the most part, cupping is painless, although more aggressive sessions can cause discomfort. The red, circular marks or bruises may cause soreness, but this is mild, and the bruising and tenderness do not last long. It should be noted, that according to traditional Chinese medical theory, these red bruises are actually considered “a favorable outcome” as the appearance of these marks is seen as evidence that the cupping treatment “has successfully removed toxins and [the] stagnation” believed to be blocking free blood flow or qi.2 Therefore, practitioners see the mild bruising as proof that the patient’s body is responding, and proper balance is being restored. 

The Benefits of Cupping

The treatment gives the patient pain relief because the increase in blood flow that cupping creates loosens the body’s connective tissue, the fascia. When the body experiences stress, the fascia, which runs throughout the body, tightens and can cause swelling and pain. By loosening the fascia, the nerves of the body relax and this is believed to facilitate healing and ease pain.2 It is thought that athletes benefit from having cupping done when it is targeted to a specific group of muscles that are fatigued or causing pain. The relaxing effect cupping provides can accelerate recovery rates. The tell-tell circular bruising cupping causes could clearly be seen on the bodies of members of the U.S. Olympic swim team during the 2016 games in Rio.3 Inevitably, this led to questions about what caused these marks and helped the practice of cupping enter mainstream consciousness.

While Western medical providers may or may not subscribe to a belief in qi as the source of vital life energy in keeping with traditional Chinese medical philosophy, cupping is recognized as an effective therapy that improves “cell-to-cell communication while promoting relaxation.” Helene Langevin, an American physiologist and acupuncturist, has conducted extensive research including utilizing ultrasound imaging to demonstrate changes in patients on a cell-level when therapies including acupuncture, cupping and massage are used. Langevin’s research has produced images that demonstrate the markers indicating inflammatory cytokines, chemical messengers that alert the body to painful inflammation, are noticeably decreased while “cytokines that promote healing and relaxation are increased” when these treatments are used.1

The length of cupping treatment is determined by each patient’s condition. To be successful, cupping requires a series of sessions, commonly 4-6 treatments are performed. It is necessary to space out these treatments; generally, there should be a 3–10-day interval between cupping sessions.1

There are numerous forms of cupping, including wet or dry, a sliding cups technique that includes the use of oil and is often used to treat large areas such as the back when the injury is causing severe pain and spasms. Air cupping, as the name suggests, relies on air rather than heat to create the suction effect. Some patients find this type of cupping more comfortable. There is also a form known as stationary cupping and yet another known as twinkle or pop cupping.1

Because cupping should only be performed by an experienced professional and there are so many variations of this treatment based on the individual patient’s symptoms and expectations from treatment, consult with a health care provider before trying cupping so you can learn exactly what to expect and make an informed decision as to whether cupping will be beneficial for you.

References:

1. Guarneri, M., et al. (12 December 2019). Cupping Therapy.
2. WebMD. (15 September 2020). Cupping Therapy.
3. Korfe, J. (11 February 2019). Cupping Therapy: Your Top 10 Questions, Answered.

 
[/am4show]