I got cupped the other day. I was promoting our Open House at Hidden River in Manayunk and one of the other practitioners, Adriane Dourte practiced cupping on me, did a cup on me or cupped me…not sure what the verbiage is here.
Cupping is a method of treatment used to create suction on the skin to treat various conditions. Cupping is a method of treating local congestion.
A partial vacuum is created in a cupping jar, usually by means of heat, which is then applied directly to the skin. There are many forms of cupping ranging from different techniques to different types of cups. To create the suction, a cotton ball with alcohol on it is ignited and inserted into the cup to remove the oxygen. It is then removed quickly and placed on the skin where it suctions in an attempt to restore the oxygen. There is no contact of the fire with the skin therefore the only feeling is cold from the glass then the suctioning.
There are different types of cups. There are plastic cups that use a pump in stead of fire. There are bamboo cups that are boiled in water and herbs. The heat from the water creates the suction when it touches the skin. There are rubber cups that are shaped so that pressure applied to it will create suction. There are also glass cups with a rubber bulb on top so that there is no need for the use of fire. The squeezing of the bulb creates the suction. It felt like a sea monster kind of sucking on my skin.
People afterwards kept asking me if it hurt or was painful. It is a more aggressive treatment and maybe I am revealing too much but I kind of liked the feeling of something sucking up my skin and flesh…kind of odd but a bit kinky.
According to Adriane, a Licensed Acupuncturist, “Cups can remain stationary for a period of time. They can also be moved by adding oil to the cup or the skin and running them up and down the area being treated. There are other methods as well that are not commonly used at my offices. Cupping is good for warming the body, moving blood and qi, decreases swelling and pain. It is commonly used on the back, neck, legs, arms and shoulders. It can treat acute or chronic issues. The suction may cause bruising on the skin due to pulling stagnant blood and toxins to the skin’s surface.”
The one negative of the session is that it left me with big purple and pink bruises which will go away in the next few days. For now, I can use these to freak out my friends in family since my back looks like the chick in the movie “Species”.