Cupping Therapy... Is that a bruise?

Cupping has made it’s splash in the media! With celebrity sightings and an increasing number of news articles over the past few years it had seemed as though we'd missed the boat on joining the discussion. However, we are realizing that with the increasing popularity of this ancient modality comes an abundance of misinformation, questions, and fears.

In the hopes of answering some of these questions, we’ve decided that it’s not too late to join the conversation. This artful therapy has helped put acupuncturists on the map and we couldn’t be happier about it. Of course, other types of professionals may also provide cupping therapy. Perhaps you’ve seen it at your massage or physical therapist’s office. However, acupuncturists are proud to say that this healing modality heirs from east Asian practitioners who would use horns and bamboo jars to improve blood circulation and clear what they describe as a “bi-syndrome” or stuck and stagnant qi. Because of its roots in Chinese medicine, there is much more to cupping than is acknowledged from a Western medicine point of view - but we like what they have to say too!

Cupping is used primarily for muscle tension and does a wonderful job at moving stagnant blood out of stuck areas to allow for fresh, oxygenated blood to enter the newly vacated space. It is often sought after for muscle tissue soreness and pain. We frequently use it in the clinic to treat back pain, shoulder pain and IT band pain. It works similarly to a deep tissue massage but rather than pushing on the muscles, the suction of the cups pulls on the skin and fascia overlying the muscle to create space and movement. In our practice, we notice that relief is usually achieved quicker through cupping than by massage techniques alone.

So, what’s with the bruising? Well, actually those round spots you see popping up on the backs and shoulders of millennials aren’t bruises. They may look like a bruise, but they aren’t tender to the touch as a bruise would be. Bruising is caused by trauma to body tissues and the goal during cupping is to create just enough suction to break small capillaries so that blood can be pulled into the interstitial space while avoiding damage to the surrounding muscle, connective or epithelial tissue.

Different types of cupping have evolved in recent times and while the suction of the cups has traditionally been created by using fire to create a vacuum inside a glass cup, you may experience a similar result with silicone suction cups.

The color of the marks left after cupping may give your acupuncturist information on your underlying health. Dark purple marks indicate a lot of blood stagnation in the tissues. When blood sits in the muscles without adequate movement, it becomes deoxygenated. This deoxygenated blood has a darker color than freshly oxygenated blood, which will appear brighter red in color. For this reason, your acupuncturist can assess improvement in your overall condition based on the lightening of your cupping marks over multiple sessions. This can also help hone your provider in to the area that needs the most therapeutic attention.

While it is most common to use cupping for muscle pain, that’s not all it’s good for. The next time you come down with a cold or cough - call us up. Cupping has been shown to help with respiratory conditions and boosting the immune system. Some even find it can reduce their seasonal allergies. The cups can be left in one place for a few minutes, or you may feel your acupuncturist sliding the cups along your tissues to break up fascia and improve the movement of qi along a channel. Your acupuncturist may also use cupping to help with your overall pattern differentiation. Important acupuncture points lie on either side of the spine all along the back. These specific points relate to channels throughout the body which, when out of balance, can result in a set of predictable symptoms. By observing the cupping marks left after a 10-15 minute session, your acupuncturist can be better informed about your entire body’s constitution and state of balance.