What to Expect from a Cupping Massage

Cupping has been used for thousands of years and all over the world to treat health conditions. It’s recently been making a comeback here in the States, thanks to prominent athletes and health-conscious celebrities. You have probably seen people with red circular marks (not bruises!) from cupping on their shoulders and backs. You may even be thinking of trying it out for yourself! Plenty of people have questions about the benefits of cupping and wonder what it’s like.

At Resolution, we use dry cupping to help professionals, athletes, students, retirees and moms-to-be experience relief from muscle pain, edema, and digestive complaints. (You can book a cupping massage in Madison, Deforest and surrounding areas right here.)

We practice dry cupping using Negative Pressure Massage Cupping. This is done by using smooth cups made of either glass or silicone. Your therapist will place cups on your skin along acupuncture meridian points and then create a gentle suction that draws your skin upward into the cup. (Your skin is not broken at any time in the process.)

What does cupping feel like? Will it hurt?

Your therapist will use a tool to gently draw out the air from the glass cup - this creates the suction.

The suction will feel tight at first (not painful) while it draws your skin up into the cup. That sensation passes quickly as your therapist moves on to place the next cup. After placing each cup on your back, shoulder, abdomen, etc, your therapist will repeat the suction process. They’ll always check to make sure you’re still comfortable.

Interested in scheduling a cupping appointment with a certified, licensed practitioner? Click the link or call us at 608-665-0392.

Book a cupping appointment now

When using glass cups, some therapists use heat (“fire cupping”) to create a vacuum, but with silicone cups we use a tool that simply draws the air out of the cup. You’ll hear it make a small clicking sound as we use it to create the suction.

Pretty soon, your body will acclimate to the feeling of the cups. You probably won’t even feel every cup that has been placed! The number of cups your therapist uses will depend on what is being treated. If it’s your first time trying cupping, your therapist will probably use fewer cups for a less intense treatment. 

Depending on your specific need, your therapist will leave the cups in place for 5-20 minutes. When it’s time to remove the cups, your therapist will release the pressure from the cup and set it aside. The release of pressure often feels calming, or like your body is lighter and less tense.

Sometimes, your therapist will apply lotion or oil to your skin and create a lesser pressure so the cups can glide across your skin. This technique is called “moving cupping” and is often used for treating digestion, inflammation, and congestion. Your therapist will glide the cups toward your lymph glands, as a way of helping your body expel toxins and waste through your lymphatic system.

What do the suction cups do?

While the cups are on your skin, they increase blood and lymph flow to your skin and muscles by loosening and lifting your connective tissues. The targeted blood flow brings oxygen rich blood and lymph to the affected area. Your lymphatic system is responsible for clearing the cellular waste and toxins from your body - cupping gives your body an extra boost in clearing those toxins! You can read about more some of the different benefits of cupping in our blog post here.

What are those red marks?

We want to highlight the importance of understanding that the red circular marks left behind by the cups are NOT bruises. They very rarely hurt. Bruises are caused by impact trauma that breaks capillaries in the injured area. With cupping there is NO compression or impact trauma when cupping is done correctly. In fact, cupping does the opposite. Instead of compressing/pushing your skin and muscles, it lifts/pulls your skin and tissues.

The red marks are a result of the blood being pulled into that area. The darker the mark, the more stagnant fluids (toxins, blood and lymph) were brought up during treatment. The marks can last anywhere from a few hours to several days. The more often you receive cupping for the same issue, the lighter the marks will be.

Cupping after-care

Your therapist will give you a more detailed after-care guide at the end of your session or you can read our Cupping Aftercare blog for more detailed information!. But here’s the general gist:

Make sure to hydrate! Give your lymphatic system the extra fluids it needs to flush your body of the toxins

Don’t shower immediately after cupping.

Keep the areas that were treated covered and warm.

Avoid alcohol.

Rest! It is normal to feel fatigued or experience flu-like symptoms the next day. This is your body processing and expelling those toxins that were released during your cupping session. Take it easy, get extra rest, and practice good self-care. Your body will thank you!

Wondering if cupping could help you? Ask your therapist at your next massage session, or give us a call. Our therapists have been trained and certified in safe and effective cupping techniques. You can choose to have a cupping-only session, or add cupping on to your massage.

The benefits of cupping increase over time—consider making cupping a regular addition to your self care routine. Schedule with us to enjoy the health benefits of regular massage, cupping, infrared sauna, and acupuncture - all in one place!.

Ready to try it for yourself? You can book a cupping massage here.

Source: http://www.cuppingtherapy.org/pages/faqs.html

(Cupping isn’t for everyone in every situation. Be sure to let your therapist know if you’re pregnant or breast-feeding, if you use blood-thinning medication, have certain skin conditions, or are undergoing cancer treatments.)