Fire Cupping

What is Fire Cupping?

Fire Cupping, also referred to as Cupping Therapy, is a Traditional Chinese Medicine therapy that works by helping to remove any blockages stopping the flow of Qi (pronounced 'chee') in the body.

Therapists will place warm glass cups onto a specific acupuncture point along an energy meridian. By warming the air within each cup, a vacuum is created that draws the tissue inside when placed onto the skin. This helps increase the blood flow, loosening the connective tissue, and stimulates the body's natural healing process.

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This therapeutic process is often compared to deep tissue massage, which is used to break up residual scar tissue gradually and reduce pain in the area. Similarly, cups are placed on the back, shoulders, neck, arms or legs or a specific area where the patient is experiencing pain.

The cups can be left in place for between five to twenty minutes, depending on the nature of the condition and what your practitioner believes will work best.

Sometimes if the condition requires, your practitioner will also use techniques such as sliding the cups along the muscle to stretch, like in the action of a massage, or will use a technique that is called pop cupping, this technique encourages further blood and Qi flow to the muscles. The cups will then be gently removed by lifting one edge, allowing air to flow back in, breaking the vacuum seal.