Cupping
Cupping is a traditional therapy used in Chinese medicine in which cups are placed on the skin to create gentle suction, affecting the underlying tissues and local circulation.
In Chinese medicine, cupping is traditionally used to move Qi and Blood, release tension, open the channels and help disperse areas of stagnation. It is particularly associated with the treatment of muscular tightness, pain and restricted movement, although its use within traditional practice extends beyond musculoskeletal conditions.
Different techniques can be used depending on the individual and the therapeutic aim. Cups may remain stationary, be moved across the skin with oil, or be used briefly over specific areas. The strength and duration of suction are always adapted to the person.
Cupping commonly leaves temporary circular marks on the skin. These result from the effect of suction on the superficial tissues and small blood vessels and usually disappear gradually over several days. From Traditional Chinese medicine perspective their appearance may form part of the clinical interpretation of local stagnation.
I usually use cupping as part of a broader Chinese medicine treatment rather than as an isolated technique.
It can be particularly useful when examination reveals muscular tension, restricted movement or areas of channel and sinew-channel involvement, and I often combine it with acupuncture or TuiNa.
As with acupuncture and TuiNa, the technique is selected according to the clinical presentation rather than applied as a standard treatment for a particular diagnosis.
