Cupping Therapy
What is Cupping Therapy?
Cupping therapy is a Traditional Chinese Medicine technique used to promote healing and detoxification. It is best known for providing relief for acute and chronic muscle pain and tension, but traditionally has been used for an array of ailments from common colds to digestive disorders. In TCM cupping opens up meridians, which allows our qi (energy) to flow.
How does Cupping Therapy Work?
Cupping treatment uses cups to create a vacuum like suction on the skin which helps stimulate the flow of lymph and blood to the surface. This helps enhance circulation, promote lymphatic drainage (detoxification), reduce inflammation, release muscle tension, and circulate qi.
Two popular techniques are stationary and sliding. Stationary keeps the cups in place; while sliding uses massage oil on the skin so that cups can be moved along meridians and muscles giving a massage like feeling.
What does Cupping Therapy Help with?
Cupping is most frequently used for muscle pain. But can benefit different conditions like arthritis, sleep, anxiety, asthma, migraines, TMJ, digestive disorders and menstrual irregularities. Using smaller cups, facial cupping can also be performed to give you a natural face lift.
The following are some benefits of cupping:
– Release tight muscles/ reduce muscle pain
– Clear congestion
– Improve joint mobility
– Reduce cellulite
– Encourage collagen production
– Promote lymphatic drainage
– Promote circulation
What Can I Expect from a Treatment?
Cupping is generally safe and painless. It can often leave circular marks on the body that can disappear within hours but darker marks can last longer, this usually indicates areas of concern.
Cupping therapy is very relaxing and you can experience benefits in the first treatment. As with all treatments for best results, regular sessions can help prevent reoccurrence.
An initial naturopathic assessment needs to be conducted before performing cupping.
Come in or book a virtual appointment with Dr. Janna Fung, ND to determine your specific needs.
Dr. Janna Fung, ND, Oakville