What is Cupping Massage Therapy?

Cupping therapy is usually associated with Traditional Chinese Medicine, however it has also been used throughout the world in many cultures including Egypt and the Middle East for centuries and is now available from Attune Therapeutics.

We use a vacuum cupping method, also known as air cupping or dry cupping. The therapist will locate areas of tension and after warming up the tissues with massage, will then apply the cup to the skin and use a pump attached to the cup to draw out the air and create suction.

It can be added to most of our therapies and we are happy to let you have a trial run on a small area if you have never tried it before. Many of our clients have remarked that they had tried it before and not really liked it, but after one of our sessions they are hooked again!

How does cupping therapy work?

As the skin is moved away from the underlying tissues, blood flow is encouraged to the area which brings essential nutrients to areas of tension. As some capillaries are broken the body will naturally bring oxygenated blood and nutrients to heal the damaged tissue.

According to Stavrou et al16 “the suction of the cups rapidly facilitates rigid soft tissue release by stretching it up from underlying structures, thus loosening areas of adhesion or restriction, activating muscle spindle reflexes that relax contractile tissue and retraining the myofascial structures”.

Myofascial cupping is a method where a cup is applied with suction and then moved over the skin causing the skin, fascia and muscles to be pulled which leads to a reduction in fascial adhesions.

Clients with musculoskeletal aches and pains have found cupping to be beneficial in reducing their pain without the need for medication.

Is cupping therapy safe?

We don’t use flames or burning cotton buds like some people as this poses undue risk to both you and the therapist. There is no need for such extreme measures with a simple hand operated vacuum pump achieves the same results (or better) without the unnecessary risk!