Acute Acupuncture: Cupping

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Cupping Therapy is an ancient technique that has been recently made famous in the news by professional athletes and Olympians such as Michael Phelps.

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The cupping technique involves using small glass cups and using a heat source that is then placed on the skin for a few minutes to create suction. Cupping is similar to a deep tissue massage but less force or pressure is used to create the same effects. Cupping relaxes Muscle tension, pulls out toxins that are embedded into the musculature, helps relieve pain, helps remove inflammation, and increases circulation by improving the flow of blood and Qi.

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Body cupping can be used alone however it is best used alongside Acupuncture and or Tuina to maximize positive results for the patient.

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What Is Cupping Body Therapy? 

 

Cupping is an ancient technique that has been recently made famous in the news by professional athletes and Olympians such as Michael Phelps. 

 

The practice of Cupping Body Therapy is older than acupuncture. However, it was first published in The Ebers Papyrus, one of the oldest medical manuals, referring to ancient Egyptians using Cupping Body Therapy in 1,550 B.C. But cupping is older than this as it would have had to travel through the Silk Road from China There are also ancient records of the Chinese, the Middle Eastern, and other cultures using this type of cupping and massage therapeutic treatment as well. The cups used in cupping may be made of different materials such as glass, bamboo, plastic, earthenware, and or silicone. At Acute Acupuncture Wellington, we only use glass cupping, also referred to as fired cupping. This is a more hygienic practice than the alternatives and more durable than the plastic ones. 

 

How Does Cupping Body Therapy And Massage Treatment Work?

 

The cupping technique involves using small glass cups and using a heat source that is then placed on the skin for a few minutes to create suction. Cupping is similar to a deep tissue massage, but less force or pressure is used to create the same effects. Cupping relaxes muscle tension and pulls out toxins that are embedded in the musculature, it may help relieve pain, remove inflammation, and increase circulation by improving the flow of blood and Chi. 

 

Cupping at Acute Acupuncture can be used alone; however, it is best used alongside Acupuncture and/or Tuina to maximize positive results for the patient. 

 

The cups can be placed on:

• your back, 

• stomach, 

• arms, 

• legs, or 

• other parts of your body.  

 

The vacuum or suction force pulls your skin upwards into the cup, and this is how it achieves the above. Learn more about cupping in this Blog Post.

 

What is Acupuncture And Tuina? 

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See our description of acupuncture therapy here in the What Is Acupuncture paragraph in the new content created. 

 

Tuina (pronounced twee-nah) massage body therapy treatment is believed to have evolved in China as an ancient system of body treatment.  

 

Like acupuncture, its philosophy addresses the imbalances or stagnation. When you have inflammation or are unbalanced from an injury, illness, or any environmental impact, stagnation/blockages may occur that lead to the manifestation of pain, inflammation, and swelling. 

 

The Tuina massage methodology stimulates the body's acupuncture points and brings about balance to improve your health by using the same treatment principles of acupuncture as it addresses the neural pathways or meridian networks. 

 

Like acupuncture, tuina or body massage treatment targets specific acupuncture points or acupoints. The stimulation of these points may be done via fingers, elbow, and or hands. The application or use of pressure to stimulate the points, not needles. However, tuina massage may be more effective when used with acupuncture and cupping. 

 

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Do you want cupping massage therapy and cupping treatment in Wellington?  Contact acute acupuncture we offer acupuncture cupping, and cupping massage services in Wellington. If you have any more questions or concerns check out our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), as we find these answer most people's questions.