Cupping Therapy

Cupping Therapy is a modality within the scope of Chinese medicine. It’s a practice where suction is applied to the skin, creating a vacuum which causes your skin to rise and blood vessels to expand.

In recent years, cupping has become very popular in the Western world. Historically, cupping was first recorded in 1550 BC in one of the oldest Egyptian medical textbooks in the world, the Ebers Papyrus. Scientists have found evidence of cupping in China as far back as 1000 BC.

How is it Performed?

Cupping is usually performed with glass cups, using fire as a way of creating suction. Sometimes, it’s performed with plastic cups where a hand pump creates the suction. Whether with glass or plastic, the skin is gently drawn upwards into the cup creating a vacuum thereby affecting the skin, muscle, meridian and blood and Qi flow locally.

For large, painful areas like the back, we also use a technique called “walking cupping”. Prior to placement of the cups, the practitioner applies coconut oil or lotion on the skin. The oil or lotion allows for moving of the cups up and down the back while keeping the suction intact. It’s a more efficient way to impact large areas.

A number of studies have been done on cupping, but unfortunately nothing yet has validated it’s efficacy. One issue is that the best studies are blind, placebo controlled trials, where neither the patient or the researcher knows which treatment they are receiving. In the research world, it’s near impossible to create a placebo comparator for cupping, from our clinical experience at Tao to Wellness in Berkeley, CA, we can attest to it’s efficacy and consider it an important tool in Chinese medicine.

What is it Used For?

At Tao to Wellness we usually use cupping to treat the following:

• Neck Pain
• Back Pain
• Respiratory issues like
• asthma
• High blood pressure
• Cholesterol
• Headaches and migraines

The Benefits Include:

• Decreasing inflammation
• Increasing blood flow
• Enhancing breathing
• Increases range of motion
• Removal of toxins
• Stimulate the peripheral nervous system
• Promoting relaxation throughout the entire body

Is it Safe?

While there are no risks to cupping, it does leave a temporary mark similar to a bruise, the darkness of the bruising is dependent on each individual’s response to this therapy. For example, patients who have severe back pain will typically have darker bruising. Similar to a regular bruise, it fades in 1-2 weeks.

At Tao to Wellness in Berkeley, we offer cupping therapy as an add on service to our acupuncture appointments, we do not offer cupping as a stand alone service at this time.