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Many of us have seen cupping done before, or have at least seen those weird cupping marks on the back of an athlete. But what is it?

Cupping therapy utilizes suction from a particular vessel, or cup, to lift the tissue. The three most common types of cups used today are either plastic, silicone or glass.

What is cupping used for?

I use cupping therapy with clients on a daily basis. I have seen the best results when using cupping to relieve overall muscle tension. It is great for relieving pain, tension and muscle spasm. I’ve also seen it work well to reduce cellulite!

Traditional research also suggests that cupping helps pull toxins out from the tissues underneath. It does this by breaking up the capillaries in your skin (that’s what those giant hickey looking marks come from). Capillaries heal very quickly, so by breaking them apart your body will bring new blood flow (which brings nutrients) to the area to heal.

So, What Does it Do?

By placing the cups on the surface of your skin, the suction is able to create separation in the layers of tissue underneath (mostly muscle and fascia). This creates laxity in the fascia and forces the muscle to relax.

Does it Hurt?

No, cupping does not hurt. It can certainly feel uncomfortable if the cups are placed on tightly, but the amount of relief you feel when the cups come off make it worth it!

Sometimes the cupping marks can be sensitive to touch after a cupping session, especially if the treated area was already a little sensitive before treatment. However, this only last a day or two.

How long is a cupping session?

While this depends on the body area being treated, you can expect each treated area to take about 10-20 minutes.

How Long does the bruising last?

Typically, cupping marks are gone after a week. Sometimes they can last longer depending on how much tension was present in the treated area.

What makes some spots darker than others?

As mentioned earlier, cupping marks come from breaking down capillaries, which are very small blood vessels. Muscles are extremely vascularized (meaning, they have a high amount of blood vessels). When a muscle holds tension, the muscle is slightly contracted which brings an even higher concentration of blood to a certain area. So, when a cup is placed over that area there are more capillaries to break down, leaving more blood in the area (aka, a darker bruise).

In conclusion, cupping is a very quick and easy way to relieve muscle tension. Whether you sit in front of a computer all day, or you slept wrong the night before. Cupping therapy can be a cost-effective method to gain almost immediate relief.

Check out these step-by-step books on how to safely do cupping yourself at home:

The Guide to Modern Cupping: Your Step-by-Step Source for Vacuum Therapy

The Basics of Dry Cupping: Beginners Guide on the Benefits of Dry Cupping with a Simple How to Guide

Looking for a therapist? BodyWork is a clinic local to Scottsdale, AZ. You can also find cupping therapy at most massage therapy chains.