WHAT IS CUPPING?

CUPPING is as old as Acupuncture and is an essential part of Chinese Medicine.  Popularized by Michael Phelps in the last Olympics when he displayed the distinctive cupping mark during his gold winning races, cupping has quickly become very popular.  Cupping, however, has been relaxing tight ropey muscles for the last 2,000 years.  Cupping tricks the body into relaxing muscles that have become stagnant and tight to the touch.

HOW DOES CUPPING WORK?

Cupping creates suction with a pump in a glass "cup."  It creates a surface bruise in appearance without actually doing much to damage the underlying tissues.  The body is effectively tricked into relaxing the muscles and moving fresh blood into what was otherwise a very stagnant, tight and painful area.  Patient have told me many that times something similar to "Cupping is 2 hours of massage in 5 minutes!"

HOW LONG WILL THE MARKS LAST?

Depending on the client's circulation, overall health and length of the issue, the cupping marks can last up to a week.  Some people show no cupping marks at all.  More and more often my clients are stopped and asked where they can get cupping done.  

CAN I GO BACK TO WORK RIGHT AWAY?

Yes, you can go right back to work after the treatment.  It is suggested that you only do a very light exercise the rest of the day so the relaxed state of the muscles has time to set in.

DOES IT REALLY WORK?

 While cupping looks medieval when the marks are strong, most reservations go away immediately when the client feels the powerful relief that cupping gives.  Cupping is a great adjunct to acupuncture because it relaxes the muscles so the new circulation that acupuncture directs can get in deeper requiring less treatments.