Fire Cupping is a therapy in which a glass jar is attached to the skin surface through the negative pressure created by using an ignited cotton ball. This method promotes the free flow of qi and blood by creating space in the meridians. It addresses discomfort due to stagnation, or the dispelling of external pathogens (like the common cold), and the reduction of inflammation or pain in the body. This modality may or may not cause temporary therapeutic petechiae, or discoloration of the skin. 

 

During the first half of your session I will be gliding the cups and utilizing massage techniques to support your area of focus. The remaining time will be dedicated to resting with the cups in a stationary position. Your session ends with a warm towel and the application of an herbal topical.

The most common misunderstanding regarding one of the most powerful and beneficial after effects of Cupping, is the marks that sometimes result.

 

Cupping marks are not bruising. Bruising is caused by impact trauma with compressed breakage of capillaries and a reactionary rush of fluids to the damaged location from the tissue injury. There is no compression in correctly performed suction cup therapy. 

The vacuum formed by Cupping draws up the old non-circulating stagnant blood and sticky fluids from the area, bringing them up to the surface and away from the injury so that healthy free circulation can be restored to the affected area, thus creating space for oxygen, living cells and nutrients for faster recovery.

Where there is dead, static blood, lymph, cellular debris, pathogenic factors, and toxins present in the body, Cupping can leave marks which indicates that the stagnation or disease has been moved from the deeper tissue layers to the surface.

The color and pattern of the marks depend on the level of stagnation in the area, and range from a bright red to dark purple, usually lasting 3 days to a week - sometimes longer if the person is very sick or sedentary. If there is no stagnation present, there will be only a pink marking which disappears in a few minutes to a couple of hours.

Sites where there is old trauma or injury may require multiple Cupping treatments to remove all stagnation. You will find in follow up treatments the marks will be progressively lighter as the pathogens are systemically removed from the body.