Cupping therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine in which special cups are placed on your skin for a few minutes to create vasodialation (widening of the blood vessels) within underlying tissues.  According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) blood stasis is formed on the skin, drawing stagnant blood away from meridians that are causing pain, thus allowing the Qi to flow freely.

In traditional Chinese culture, qi or ch’i is believed to be a vital force forming part of any living entity.  Qi translates as “air” and figuratively as “material energy”, “life force”, or “energy flow.”

Clients receive cupping for many purposes:

• Decreasing muscle discomfort, fascia pain and adhesions
• Relieves chronic pain patterns and conditions
• Stimulates oxygen flow
• Calms central nervous system
• Improving muscle relaxation
• Disperses stagnant blood
• Heals scar tissue
• Reduces inflammation or ‘heat’
• Promotes stress relief
• Reduces overall anxiety
• Counteracts insomnia

Static or Stationary Cupping is used when the cup(s) are placed in a certain area(s) of the skin, causing tissues to release toxins, activate the lymphatic system, clear vein, artery, and capillary pathways.  Cupping may produce temporary discoloration of the skin, depending on the severity of the condition.  Light-Medium pink equates to normal, healthy blood flow, dark purple would indicate injury or stagnant blood flow, and gray would mean smoke inhalation (camp fires, fire fighters, cigarettes).

Waste products from the deep tissues into the superficial layers of the skin, can be quickly expelled out of the body. These marks include:

• Toxins
• Dead lymph
• Cellular debris
• Pathogenic factors
• Congestions
• Poisoning factors in the blood
• Stagnant blood

Dynamic Cupping is used to move lymph and blood through the deeper tissue layers, and affect up to 4 inches into the body’s tissues.  Rather than the typical deep pressure, the underlying soft tissue, or fascia is pulled into the cup, releasing precise areas of discomfort or stagnation.  Cupping pools oxygenated blood to a region to stimulate healing while lymph pathways carry the toxins away.  It is effective at loosening tight fascia and helps the tissues develop new blood flow.