Introduction to Cupping Therapy
Cupping therapy is an ancient therapy that has been used for thousands of years. Cupping therapy has been mentioned in Greek documents as far back as 1500 BC, however most people tend to cite cupping therapy as originating from Chinese medicine.
Forms of cupping therapy have been used in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East as treatments for a variety of ailments.
Historically there have been ten types of cupping methods which categorize things like cupping intensity, cupping size, and the material in which the cup is made from. The type of cup used would vary based on the region of use, ranging from animal horns, glass jars, bamboo, and gourds. Modern cupping involves glass cups that have suction applied with a manual or electrical pump (versus traditional fire methods).
Cupping is used in traditional Chinese medicine practices and has been for over 2,000 years. In Chinese medicine a major benefit of cupping therapy is to help restore someone’s Qi, or vital energy, and find balance to their Yin and Yang. Traditional Chinese cupping is also used to purge toxins as well as negative energy.
Cupping therapy is a practice still commonly used in China and continuing to gain popularity in western cultures as a complementary treatment for pain and musculoskeletal disorders.
Benefits of cupping include pain relief, muscle relaxation, blood flow alignment, immunological effects, and removing toxins and waste from the treated area.
Benefits of Cupping Therapy
Cupping is used for a variety of ailments. Some of the more common treatments involve pain management for a number of issues including:
- Musculoskeletal pain
- Lumbago (low back pain)
- Muscle tenderness and tension
- Arthritis
- Cupping therapy is also used to improve range of motion and align blood flow and has been described as the best way to obtain a deep tissue massage.
Cupping can help improve lymphatic system function and faciliates lymphatic drainage. Cupping therapy stimulates the thymus, a lymphoid organ key to the lymphatic system. This in turn increases the body’s ability to remove toxins quickly and efficiently.
Although more robust testing needs to be performed, when combined with other treatments, cupping has shown to be beneficial in treating:
- Herpes zoster
- Acne
- Facial paralysis
- Cervical spondylosis
How Cupping Therapy works
Cupping therapy is usually divided into two main categories of wet cupping and dry cupping. Wet cupping involves making an incision so blood/fluid/infection can be drawn out of the body and into the cup. Needle cupping is another form of wet cupping which involves the use of acupuncture needles while cupping the skin.
Dry cupping, the less invasive and more common modern practice, involves pulling the skin via suction into the cup without puncturing the skin.
The main goal of cupping is to stimulate the targeting tissue and increase blood flow to the treated area. Cupping is often done to stimulate lymphatic drainage using the same methods. This is done by applying suction to the cups with a flame, or by manual or electrical method. Once the suction has been applied, the cup remains on the skin for a few minutes, increasing the temperature and vascular flow of that area.
Cupping therapy can take place on several parts of the body with the most often areas treated being the:
- Back
- Chest
- Abdomen
- Buttocks
This is due to the high volume of musculature in these areas and potential for greatest benefit of pain relief. However, the cups can be applied to smaller, more delicate areas like the neck, chin, behind the ear, and ankles.
When cupping therapy is done for lymphatic drainage, the cups may be applied to areas felt to be stagnant in an effort to stimulate and restore healthy lymphatic drainage. Cupping therapy is thought to manually lift and separate deep layers of tissue, allowing for increased lymphatic drainage. This increased lymphatic circulation promotes efficient waste and toxin removal.
Cups are usually left in place for about 5-10 minutes depending on the desired stimulus. There are usually skin changes which occur due to the suction which can look like circular purple and red bruises. These usually resolve within several days.
There have been several studies on cupping therapy, however the exact mechanism of action is still somewhat a mystery. A 2018 review looked at cupping benefits and the accompanying theories. These theories have been explored to explain the mechanism of action of cupping therapy (basically explaining why cupping therapy achieves the benefits). The four global benefits include pain reduction, muscle relaxation, immunological and hormonal balance, and toxin removal. Below are the theories explored with cupping:
- Pain reduction and changes in skin biomechanical properties: Pain-Gate Theory, Diffuse Noxious Inhibitory Controls, and Reflex Zone theory
- Muscle relaxation, changes in local tissue structure, and increased blood circulation: Nitric Oxide Theory
- Immunological and hormonal effects: Activation of the Immune System Theory
- Toxin and waste release and removal: Blood Detoxification Theory
This same review, after analyzing 64 studies on cupping therapy, noted not only does cupping therapy provide pain relief by improving blood flow to the area, but it can increase production of pain relieving chemicals in the brain. This is thanks to the comfort and relaxation cupping therapy induces on a systemic level.
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Behind the Science
Science & Safety
The Effect of Traditional Cupping on Pain and Mechanical Thresholds in Patients with Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain: A Randomised Controlled Pilot Study Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Although the study was fairly small with only 50 participants, cupping was found to remove toxins from the skin and superficial tissues in a 2012 study with chronic neck pain patients. The study found when blood vessels become dilated in the cupped region and an increase in circulation occurs, trapped toxins in the tissue are released and the patients feel relief.
The Effectiveness of Cupping Therapy on Relieving Chronic Neck and Shoulder Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.
A 2016 study highlighted how cupping therapy increased skin surface temperature therefore increasing vasodilation, blood circulation and metabolism. The goal being increasing skin temperatures increased the rate of waste and toxin eliminating and reducing pain. Researchers found systolic blood pressure and pain scores to significantly decrease when patients received cupping therapy for neck pain when compared to patients simply resting.
Is cupping therapy effective in patients with neck pain? A systematic review and meta-analysis BMJ Open.
A 2018 meta-analysis of 18 studies reviewed the effects of cuppy therapy when treating chronic neck pain. The review showed there was an overall improvement in pain as well as quality of life. However, the review notes most studies were of low quality and additional research is needed to validate the benefits of cupping.
Cupping therapy: A prudent remedy for a plethora of medical ailments J Tradit Complement Med.
A 2015 review of cupping therapy notes there can be skin changes including:
Erythema (redness)
Edema (swelling)
Ecchymosis (bruising)
These changes are usually in the circular shape of the cup itself and subside within a few weeks.
Cupping Cleveland Clinic.
The Cleveland Clinic notes additional risks beyond bruising and swelling which include burns from heated cups, headaches, fatigue, muscle soreness, and nausea. They mention people with bleeding disorders or a history of blood clots should not be treated with cupping therapy. Additionally if someone has skin disorders like psoriasis or eczema, they may not be eligible for cupping.
Cupping National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
Wet cupping (where an incision is made, often with an acupuncture needle) involves breaking the protective layer of your skin – meaning there is always a risk for infection to occur. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, other risks of wet cupping include scarring, anemia from blood loss, and a risk for bloodborne pathogens of the cupping tools are not properly cleaned.
Spectrum
Where does cupping fall on the medical spectrum?
Cupping falls under ‘Alternative Medicine’ section of the medical spectrum.
Alternative Medicine
Also known as holistic medicine, it is the study and application of nature, botany, energy, and technology to bring the body back to balance and address the root causes of disease without detrimental side effects, toxins and chemicals, or a lifetime of intervention.
Top Alternative Medicine Therapies
Biological Medicine
Also known as European Biological Medicine, this modality, popular in Germany and Switzerland, applies numerous therapies that aim to restore the body’s regulatory and self-healing capacity by promoting proper regeneration on a cellular and organ level.
Top Biological Therapies
Conventional Medicine
Conventional medicine is the most recognized and practiced section of the medical spectrum that includes pharmacological drugs, surgical procedures, lab testing, and more in an attempt to reduce symptoms and manage disease.
Conventional Therapies
The Innovative Medicine approach considers all conventional options and appropriately prescribes or refers patients to specialists in which this approach would be most suited.
Emotional Therapies
Mental health and the study of mind-body medicine is an integral part of the medical spectrum that can often go overlooked and unaddressed.
Psycho-Emotional Intervention
The study of psycho-neuro-immunology (PNI) has shown how our thoughts and psychological state impact our biochemistry and can lead to disease. Any comprehensive treatment plan must address psychological stress to be successful.
Top Psychological Therapies
Spiritual Practices & Therapies
We often confuse spiritual practices with religion, but the role of spirituality, consciousness, awareness, purpose, and information on a quantum level is incredibly important in healing.
Top Spiritual Practices & Therapies
Receiving Therapy
Cupping Therapy- Receiving Treatment
The New York Center of Innovative Medicine (NYCIM) offers an advanced form of cupping called Matrix Regeneration Therapy (MRT) from Germany. However, the use of this or any of our numerous therapeutic options is only performed on patients after an in-depth health evaluation. Our ultimate goal is the complete restoration of health in the most efficient and safe manner, and with so many therapeutic options, it is impossible to know if cupping is right for you without an initial evaluation at our clinic.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is cupping therapy?
Cupping therapy involves applying cups to your skin and using suction as a method to treat several ailments.
What does cupping therapy do?
Cupping therapy uses suction to increase blood flow to the treated area.
How does cupping therapy work?
By applying suction to the treatment area, blood flow is increased and several benefits can occur including pain relief, increased range of motion, toxin release, and blood flow alignment.
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Cupping Therapy
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