CUPPING
Cupping is a technique that uses negative pressure to create space within the tissue layers. Cupping addresses the skin, fascia, and lymph.
Cupping is used to treat a variety of conditions, some of which include: muscular-skeletal conditions (tension, stiffness, pain, injury recovery), headaches, painful menstruation, calming stress, digestive complaints, etc.
Cupping improves:
- Local circulation of blood
- Stimulates the lymphatic system
- Elicits an anti-inflammatory effect
- Correlation with somatovisceral relationships.
Somatovisceral relationships involve the somatic (physical body) and viscera (organs). This concept states that internal organs communicate through reflex arcs to specific areas of the body, and can correlate with physical pain. Thereby applying cups to an area associated with an organ, can aid in the organs function.
Cupping can be done with cups of various materials. Common sources are: glass, plastic, or silicone. Glass cups achieve the suction by using the flame made from alcohol and a cotton ball. The flame is placed inside the cup, away from the client, then placed upside down on the skin. Silicone or plastic cups obtain suction from the manual application, or a hand suction pump that attaches to the cup.