Cupping Therapy

Cupping for Pain Relief

Cupping relieves muscle tension, decreases inflammation, and increases range of motion by utilizing negative pressure, delivering increased blood and lymphatic circulation to injured tissues.

Patients who receive cupping therapy report feeling calmer and more open in tight areas where the cups were applied. The duration of pain relief can vary, depending on severity and cause of the condition, so multiple treatments and a combination of acupuncture and cupping may be recommended.

Cupping compliments other modalities such as acupuncture, physical therapy, and chiropractic manipulation, but can be used alone in mild cases of muscle tension.

Treatment & Technique

A soothing herbal analgesic liniment or ointment is rubbed on the skin prior to cupping to reduce friction and potentiate pain relief. Cups may remain in place for up to five minutes, or may be slid across a broader region, in a technique called running cups, to affect a larger area.