Cupping

Cupping has been traditionally practiced by both the Eastern and Western cultures for centuries. It was practiced by the Egyptians around 1500BC and the earliest pictorial record of this has been found on the north wall of the Temple of Kom Ombo in Egypt. Textual evidence on cupping can also be found in the writing of Hippocrates (C.460-377BC), who is known as the father of modern medicine. Cupping is still practiced today throughout Europe and Asia and has a seen a resurgence in clinical practice.

How does cupping work?

Cupping is usually performed by introducing heat into a glass cup or similar object and placing it immediately on the skin.

The vacuum created produces a suction effect that,

• Increases blood circulation to the local area
• Relaxes muscle tissue
• Releases the factors causing pain.

Another popular cupping method is to withdraw the air from inside the cup with a suction pump.

Cup Marks

Rounded Marks are sometimes left after cupping. These usually fade and disappear 3-7 days after treatment, but occasionally some markings may take up to two weeks.

To the untrained eye cup marks are often mistaken for bruises. The fading of a cup mark follows a similar process of a bruise, with the exception that there is no tissue damage and no tenderness when touched.