Cupping Massage

What is Cupping Therapy and Cupping Massage?

Cupping therapy – also known as cupping massage or myofascial decompression – involves placing specialized cups on targeted areas of the skin to create suction. This ancient Chinese technique is an alternative form of therapy that has been used historically to complement traditional forms of care for various chronic illnesses and conditions.

This alternative form of therapy became popular in the mainstream media when Michael Phelps showed up to a swim meet at the 2016 Olympics with bruising and redness on his back – which is a normal and expected side effect of a cupping therapy session.

However, this form of treatment has been around for thousands of years and can be traced back to ancient Chinese and Egyptian medicine to flush out toxins and improve local circulation.

What Does Cupping Therapy Do and How Does It Work?

The cups used in cupping therapy were historically made of bamboo or ceramic. Now, the cups used are made of glass or rubber with a big, glass-like ball on top. Your practitioner will use negative pressure directly on soft tissues to suction, creating an environment that will draw the skin and muscles upward into the cup. The cups used are typically warmed up prior to being placed on your skin. Once they cool, the suction effect will begin.

This suction effect facilitates healing by increasing blood flow and blood circulation throughout the body. This effect has many health benefits and that is why so many people use cupping therapy and myofascial decompression to help ease the symptoms of conditions such as (but not limited to):

• Arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
• Back and neck pain
• Shoulder pain and knee pain
• Asthma
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Headaches and migraines
• High blood pressure and blood circulation
  
  

After your cupping therapy treatment session, you can expect to see some minor bruises. Don’t worry! This is a common and expected side effect of cupping therapy. The bruises won’t be painful and will only take a week or two to fade completely.

The Benefits of Cupping Therapy

There are many benefits of cupping therapy, especially when it comes to helping ease the symptoms of many chronic illnesses and various health conditions. Cupping therapy is often used in conjunction with traditional therapies. For that reason, it is heavily recommended that you reach out to any doctors who are currently treating your ailments to make him or her aware of your plans to include cupping therapy as part of your treatment plan.

• Cupping therapy promotes the uninterrupted flow of Qi (pronounced chi) throughout the body. This free flow of Qi will help revitalize your body’s energy sources.
• Cupping therapy aids in balancing the yin and yang (positive and negative energy sources) throughout your body.
• Cupping therapy increases blood circulation by clearing up the blood vessels that carry blood throughout your body.
• Cupping therapy can relieve muscle tension and promote cellular repair to ease any remaining tension.
• Cupping therapy can send more blood to a designated area to stimulate the healing process.
• Cupping therapy brings vital nutrients and oxygen to areas that are being worked on.
• Cupping therapy will draw out metabolic by-products that can inhibit healing and also cause inflammation. These by-products might include ammonia, urea, uric acid and creatinine.
  
  

Chinese Cupping Therapy in Downtown Kelowna

Many patients report feeling immediate relief from a cupping therapy session. Like any type of treatment, it’s important to choose a trained and licensed therapist.

Sarah Jenkins has been trained in traditional Chinese medicine, including cupping therapy and myofascial decompression, and is licensed as both a Registered Acupuncturist and a Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner.

If you are interested in scheduling a cupping therapy session with Sarah Jenkins at the Core Health Centre of Health in Downtown Kelowna, please click here for our online booking portal.