Cupping (Myofascial decompression) Therapy

Cupping therapy

Another commonly used modality in Traditional Chinese medicine includes cupping therapy.

Cupping can reduce pain and blood pressure while improving overall circulation.

The traditional technique of fire cupping in which the practitioner heats up the inside of the cup and placed on the body. When the air cools, it condenses and creates a vacuum in which the skin and underlying soft tissue is “stretched.” This action creates space and allows for more blood and lymph to flow freely, as well as allowing for the remodeling of soft tissue and stimulating regeneration of blood vessels. The practice of cupping also pulls metabolic waste (toxins) out of the soft tissue to the surface to be eliminated.

Cupping combined with motion in not recommended in Traditional Chinese Medicine, as it is an aggressive therapy that may add further damage to the soft tissue- it’s the equivalent to “overstretching.”