Cupping Therapy
Deep Dive & Aftercare

Cupping uses specialized cups placed on the skin to create a vacuum suction. This suction lifts the skin, superficial muscle layers, and local connective tissues — promoting various therapeutic effects.

There are several techniques in cupping which fall into one of two primary categories: Dry or Wet cupping.

In dry cupping, no blood is drawn. The term "dry" refers to the absence of blood, not the lack of lubricants such as lotion or oil, which are used to facilitate movement of the cups.

We utilize "Dry Cupping" exclusively — mostly dynamic (or "gliding") and stationary (or "parking") techniques with silicone cups.

Safety & Hygiene

If any bodily fluids, such as sweat, serous drainage (plasma), blood, or fluids associated with skin conditions like acne, are present or expressed during a session, we are equipped with medical-grade disinfectants and follow strict hygiene protocols promptly and professionally, ensuring a clean and safe environment for every client, every time.

Dynamic Cupping (Gliding) involves gliding cups over the skin and soft tissues, pulling and twisting through muscle and fascial layers. This technique is often used as a warm-up, allowing for quicker access to deeper tissues. Dynamic cupping also aids in releasing regional tension, unraveling layered muscle and fascia, and influencing lymphatic flow and absorption, which are crucial components of the immune system.

Stationary Cupping (Parking) involves placing cups on specific anatomical structures and leaving them in place for a duration. The negative pressure within the cup holds and separates tissues. This technique tends to cause more pronounced skin coloration due to the sustained pulling of blood and circulatory fluids to the surface. Over time, even a few minutes, the local fluids will resettle, and the tissue will return to its normal color and sensitivity.

Stationary cupping is particularly effective for pinning tissue to allow for more specific and effective stretching around joints, breaking up adhesions, reducing soft tissue restrictions, regulating inflammation, and improving regional range of motion (ROM) with active or passive joint movement. The vacuum created splays tissues, allowing for the unraveling of fibers and facilitating cross-fiber friction.

Important Considerations for Cupping

Adequate hydration is crucial for optimizing the benefits of cupping therapy. It is recommended to consume at least 20 ounces of water in the three hours preceding your session and at least 40 ounces in the six hours following it.

While some skin coloration and tenderness are normal after cupping, marks should fade within a couple of weeks, and should not feel like a traumatic bruise (which involves breaking of blood vessel walls from blunt trauma, while cupping does not).

Potential Side Effects and Recovery

Common side effects often include mild discomfort or tenderness at the cupping sites due to pressure or skin pulling.  These symptoms typically resolve within 24-48 hours and can be mitigated by adjusting vacuum pressure or with sufficient superficial tissue warm-up before cup application.  The circular marks left by the cups, which can range from pink to deep red or purple, are a normal physiological response to increased blood flow and temporary pooling of blood and cellular waste under the skin.

Less common side effects can include lightheadedness, dizziness, or fatigue, often described as a "flu-like" sensation.  This is generally a temporary reaction as the body adjusts to changes in blood flow and lymphatic movement, and processes cellular waste.  These symptoms are often reduced with extra hydration and by favoring shorter, more frequent bursts of stationary cupping over extensive dynamic cupping.  In very rare cases, burns (from heated cups), blisters, skin infections, or scarring may occur, especially if proper hygiene or technique is not followed.

Aftercare recommendations for Cupping include:

• Keeping the treated areas clean.

• Avoiding exposure to extreme temperatures (e.g., hot showers, ice without a protective layer like a towel) for at least 24 hours.

• Avoiding strenuous activities for at least 24 hours to allow connective tissue to recover fully.

• Continuing adequate hydration.

• Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, excessive sugar, dairy, and processed meats for 4-6 hours post-treatment, as these may hinder the body's processing of the treatment.

If you experience persistent or severe pain, excessive swelling, unusual redness that spreads, fever, or any signs of infection (e.g., yellow discharge), please seek proper medical attention promptly.