By utilizing fire, cups create a vacuum on the skin to increase circulation locally. Similar to deep tissue massage: this method increases blood and lymphatic circulation, relieves muscular tension, promotes cell repair, forms new connective tissue, and creates new blood vessels within the tissue.

Bruises will be left on the skin and will disappear in 3 days to a week.

The cups will feel warm, but not hot, and no fire is applied to the skin. Depending on the nature of your complaint I may leave the cups stationary or move them rhythmically around your back. Cupping is said to restore the flow of “Qi (氣Qì)”[1] and is an effective pain relief remedy for sore, aching shoulders and back. If your feeling sore from exercise, or need to relax tense back muscles and are not too sure about Acupuncture: Cupping is a minimally invasive, safe, and pain free service. There may be soreness afterward, however, this is a sign the treatment moved and released blockages in the body and it will resolve shortly.

There are a few different methods of cupping.

In serious cases of toxic build-up, wet-cupping is utilized where a small incision is made in the skin and a cup is placed over top. Blood is extracted safely and in a sanitary manner*. This method is the origin of Cupping, where Practitioners utilized the cups to suck out toxins from wounds. Fire (or ‘dry’) Cups can assist as a regular muscle relaxing treatment (In lieu or tandem with a massage), for pain in the shoulders, lower back, and entire back, speeding up recovery from colds, GI problems, respiratory conditions and allergies, skin diseases (eczema, acne, shingles, hives), Gynaecological issues, mental health, sleep disorders, and weight loss[2].

*I will not be providing this method in my practice. I will be offering Fire Cupping only.

[1]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4488563/#:~:text=In%20traditional%20Chinese%20medicine%2C%20cupping,role%20of%20leak%20or%20purging.&text=Cupping%20is%20the%20best%20deep%20tissue%20massage.&text=It%20is%20able%20to%20provide,massage%20stroke)%20to%20the%20body.

[2]https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3170477/what-cupping-therapy-traditional-chinese-medicine-tcm-why