Ask the Acupuncturist

By Tory Wegner, LAc

Question: “What is Cupping?”

Answer: Cupping is a technique that is often used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is a simple way to relieve local congestion and pain by creating a partial vacuum with a cup. Cupping therapy has been a popular therapy for thousands of years, utilized by Greek and Egyptian populations as well as Chinese. Historically, cups were fashioned using animal horns, but now we typically use glass or bamboo cups. There are 2 methods of cupping. The traditional way is called “fire cupping,” which is done by taking a cotton ball soaked in alcohol, putting it in a cup and quickly removing it, and then placing the cup on the skin (don’t worry, the flame never touches the skin or burns). This creates a vacuum and some of the skin is actually pulled up into the cup. The other method is called “suction cupping” and in this method instead of flame, air is suctioned manually from the cup after it’s been placed on the skin.

Cupping is a therapy that can be used alone or in conjunction with acupuncture needles. There are several different cupping techniques, a few of which are leaving the cup in place for 10-15 minutes, sliding the cups, or pulling the cups on and off the skin. Cupping usually leaves a reddish purple circle mark on the skin, which fades in a few hours to days. This really isn’t a bruise, it’s a sign of the local congestion that is present and the cup did its job by bringing the congestion to the surface, where the body can eliminate it. While this might sound intense, it’s not painful and actually feels like a strong massage. If you’ve seen the new version of the “Karate Kid” movie, they do cupping in it, but I’m sorry to disappoint you, the green flame is Hollywood drama!

Cupping is used for a variety of ailments including headache, back pain, joint and muscular pain, rheumatic diseases, hypertension, colds and flu, some digestive complaints, and even asthma and wheezing. It can be done on most areas of the body, but the back is most common. Acupuncture has stood the test of time, and I love it whenever it gets a good report in the news!