Cupping Therapy is an ancient Chinese form of alternative medicine commonly used in conjunction with acupuncture treatments. Cupping is a popular and painless therapy that involves placing glass, bamboo, or plastic cups to the skin to create suction. The suction mobilizes blow flow to an area which promotes healing.

Types of Cupping Therapy

• Dry cupping – suction only
• Wet cupping – combines suction with controlled medicinal bleeding. After the cup has been on for a few minutes, the practitioner removes the cup and uses a sterile pin tool to make superficial punctures – similar to that done on the tip of a finger in a medical setting for a blood test such as a test for blood-sugar levels. Then the practitioner does a second section to draw out a small quantity of blood.

Cups are generally left on for five to ten minutes.