Chinese cupping massage

Cupping is an ancient traditional Chinese method (dating back to 1550 BC) of alleviating congestion and stagnation of blood flow. It is a safe, comfortable and effective treatment for many health conditions. Cupping can help alleviate pain, decrease swelling, increase range of movement and speed up healing processes. Clients of this service have also reported a reduction of chronic migraines.

By creating a vacuum above the surface of the tissues, pressure is decreased on the tissues themselves, allowing the connective tissue to be lifted upwards, thus changing the pressure on tissue structures such as nerves, capillaries and muscle fascia.

The main principle behind Chinese Cupping Massage is to aid the removal of blood stagnation:

• Food stagnation — can cause abdomen problems like constipation or diarrhoea.
• Fluid stagnation — can cause oedema in the hands and feet.
• Qi (energy) stagnation — can cause pain and depression.

Benefits

Chinese Cupping massage can help increase peristaltic (digestion) movements and secretion of digestive fluids when treating the abdomen. It is also beneficial after pregnancy to return organs, joints and ligaments back to their original body position, as during pregnancy organs naturally move to facilitate the growing foetus.

• Skin — the skin is the largest organ of the body containing blood, lymph supply as well as the nerves. Cupping will stimulate all these processes.
• Meridians — the 14 main energy channels are connected to the organs. When particular points are stimulated it will affect the organs, stagnant blood and body fluids.
• Bones — cupping helps to realign and balance ligaments and bones. This has a profound effect on stiff and aching muscles, activating the secretion of synovial fluids thereby alleviating joint stiffness.
• Spine — treatment of the spine can have a positive impact on the performance and action of the internal organs, affecting the spinal, parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves. When treating the spine, in theory, we are treating the whole body.
• Internal organs — cupping can help with the function of internal organs i.e., digestion, blood flow and lymph movement. Cupping addresses this by means of the vacuum increasing blood circulation, encouraging metabolism within the skin tissue, a rise in skin temperature, getting rid of old stagnant blood and increasing the efficiency of sweat and sebaceous glands.

To note

One of the common and unfortunate misconceptions about cupping is the round circles left on the body after a cupping treatment. It should be noted that these are not bruises. These marks or discolourations occur when the process has drawn pathologic factors to the skin's surface. The marks rapidly fade away — generally there is a noticeable change within 24 hours and the marks disappear within a few days. Bruises or haematomas are a result of trauma to the skin and tissues are tender to touch. Cupping marks are not sensitive when touched.

It is not advisable to take alcohol or unprescribed drugs in the 24 hours before or after the therapy takes place. It is possible that the liver and kidneys could be affected. The therapy will aid these organs to release toxins and they will have more to cope with if there are substances in the system.

Some people with conditions such as cancer will need to obtain consent from their GP before any treatment can take place. This therapy is also not advisable if the client is in their first trimester of pregnancy. Please contact us for further advice.