RISKS
Cupping usually leaves bruises that will last from a few days to a few weeks. If you’re going to be wearing a strapless dress to a wedding, it is NOT the time to get cupping done. Always let me know if you have any concerns.
Cupping can leave blisters. I have never had anyone develop a blister during years of cupping. It can and does happen occasionally though.
Bleeding. It’s rare, but if you have a wound that isn’t fully healed but looks like it has, cupping can re-open that wound and cause it to bleed. This can be pretty exciting because of the suction involved. IF it happens, I will immediately remove the cup and then glove up and clean up the wound with alcohol swabs. My cups are fully disinfected to medical standards after EVERY use. In the event of blood exposure, I include several extra steps just for peace of mind for everyone.
WHAT IS CUPPING?
Cupping is the use of suction to pull on tissue. Back in the mists of time, people used everything from bamboo to hollow horns. These days we typically use glass, silicon or plastic. I personally use silicon or glass fire cupping as they are the easiest versions to keep properly disinfected.
Often the glass cups will still be quite cool to the touch when they go on your skin. I use individual alcohol swabs that burn out quite quickly and never come into contact with you, myself or even the glass cup. At no point will fire ever come near your body.
WHY DO CUPPING?
There are times where cupping is the best option to treat an area. If you think of massage as pressing into a muscle or fascia, cupping pulls out on the muscle or fascia. Cupping works well with acupressure points, trigger points or fascia and will often help with a deeper relaxation in your muscles. Painful scar tissue will often respond very well to cupping and help decrease pain levels. I can also treat an area with cups and still work on another area at the same time so we can accomplish more in the same amount of time.