What is Cupping Therapy?

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One of the earliest accounts of cupping dates all the way back to 300 AD in A Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies, by Ge Hong a Taoist herbalist. Cupping Therapy was established as an official therapeutic practice during the 1950’s in hospitals across China after research
confirmed its effectiveness. In recent years, Cupping Therapy has grown in popularity among Westerners with many celebrities and athletes in reducing pain and providing positive health benefits.

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How is Cupping Therapy performed?

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​Cupping is a technique that uses small cups as suction
devices that are placed on the skin to break up stagnation and congestion by drawing it to the surface. At Nature’s Healthway, we offer only noninvasive cupping techniques without the application of heat or incisions on the skin’s surface. We apply massage oils to improve the movement of the cups along the skin once the suction has occurred (aka: Gliding Cupping).

The suction causes the skin and superficial muscle layer to be lightly drawn into the cup. Cupping is similar to the inverse of massage – rather than applying pressure to muscles, it uses gentle pressure to pull them upward. For most patients, this is a particularly relaxing and relieving sensation. Once suctioned, the cups are generally left in place for a few minutes while the patient relaxes.

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What are the side effects of Cupping Therapy?

The side effects of cupping are typically very mild. Bruising can be expected, but skin should return to normal within 3-10 days.