Chinese Cupping
A unique way to detox your body
Cupping is a widely-popular practice that works as an excellent detoxing treatment for relieving tension in muscles and stimulating blood movement under the skin.
This technique, known as “fire-cupping”, consists of small glass cups sliding along oiled skin with suction from briefly inserting fire into the cup before applying it to the skin.
The oxygen gets used up by the flame creating a vacuum. The suction created by the cups provides extensive therapeutic value for ailments such as chronic back pain, menstrual disorders, arthritis and digestive discomfort.
Basically, the cups are gently lifting stagnant blood to the surface of the skin. In Chinese medicine, stagnate blood is problematic and commonly occurs after an injury, prolonged stress, or overuse.
The stagnate blood creates a traffic jam in the blood system, which is responsible for sending immune cells to the area to repair the damage.
Moxibustion
An added benefit to acupuncture
Moxa, or dried mugwort, is burned on the needle or near the skin to add heat to specific points or areas of the body. Heat can be therapeutic for various conditions like low back pain, arthritis in the knees, fertility issues, and overall vitality.
The process of burning the mugwort is called moxibustion.
What does it involve?
Chinese cupping is a technique that uses suction to pull tension and stagnate blood out of the muscles. I most commonly use oil under the cups so they can move around for maximum tension release. This technique is called running cupping. Moxibusition is burning mugwort (often dried and/or processed) over acupoints to add heat and energy to the system.
How does it work?
Cupping pulls stagnant blood to the skin surface. Basically whenever there is pain or tension in the body, it is a result of stagnation. Emotional stress creates qi stagnation. Chronic qi stagnation or an acute physical trauma can lead to what we call blood stagnation. Your body's response to stagnation is to send immune cells to the area to repair any damage. The immunity travels in the blood. When the blood stagnates with the tension, it creates a traffic jam and the immunity cannot complete it's job in repairing. The cupping pulls the stagnate blood up to the surface, which releases the traffic jam. The relief is palpable. It feels really good. The body can then do it's job more effectively. This therapy helps you and your natural healing tools work more optimally. Plus, you feel relaxed and free of that tension. The moxibustion is healing to pain and stagnation due to cold or deficiency. For example, the heat energy can help arthritis that flares up in cold or damp conditions. Or chronic back pain that is due to qi that is not vital. The moxibustion can add energy to your system, nourish your qi, and warm your channels up.
How much does it cost?
Cupping is $40
