The 12th April is on the horizon and soon massage and complementary therapy treatments will be available once more in the UK. Im looking forward to being able to offer my full range of therapy treatments without the need for an eligibility criteria, and this includes Chinese cupping therapy.
This form of complementary therapy has been more popular in recent years, with sports starts such as Micheal Phelps and Amir Khan and celebrities such as Jennifer Anniston and Victoria Beckham showing the harmless side effect cup-marks when being photographed.
Chinese cupping therapy has been around for centuries with the earliest references of cupping being used in Chinese medicine in 300AD by a Taoist herbalist. In Chinese medicine cupping is believed to help balance the forces of yin and yang (the negative and positive). It has evolved over the years and has become known in western culture to predominantly treat muscular aches, pains and tension following injury or increase in sports training.
What does Chinese cupping involve?
In a typical treatment Chinese cupping is performed by applying silicone cups on the skin of the area to be treated. The therapist creates a subatmospheric pressure within the cup usually via a suction attachment to the cup, or with heat. This acts to gently lift the surface layer of skin away from the deeper layers of fascia. The cups can then be left over the area to gradually relieve tension and discomfort or moved whilst maintaining suction to create a massage effect.
Myself and the majority of therapists will perform an in depth consultation as part of your first appointment to tailor the treatment to your needs, and identify any areas to avoid (e.g recent bruises or broken skin). A typical treatment can be 20 minutes to an hour and may also involve some massage, acupuncture and exercise advise to help you get the best outcome.
Does it work?
The benefits of cupping therapy are more than just a placebo effect with scientific studies showing it can improve circulation and reduce pain and inflammation within the body. Patients often experience reduced muscle tension and improved ease of movement after treatment, effects similar to that of a sports massage.
What problems can be treated?
In western medicine cupping is used to treat musculoskeletal conditions, including back and neck pain, muscle tension, joint pain and cervico-genic headaches. The calming therapeutic effect of the treatment can reduce stress and anxiety and some people have cupping for these effects alone. I practice using a western approach but it may be helpful to know that In Chinese medicine cupping is also used to treat other conditions of the body, such as digestive problems, colds and asthma.
Side effects
The most noticeable side effects of cupping are an area of redness over where the cups were applied which usually fades within 2-5 days. Other potential side effects are slight muscle soreness (as experienced after a sports massage) and feeling tired. It is advised to avoid any strenuous activity and to drink plenty of water after a treatment. All of my patients would say that the benefits of Chinese cupping (reduced muscle tension, less muscle pain, improved mobility and a feeling of wellbeing) outweigh the side effects! The treatment itself may be a little uncomfortable or completely pain free depending on the aims of your treatment and the communcation with your therapist (as with a sports massage).
If you are interested in finding out more about Chinese cupping or would like to book an appointment please send me an email to info@clairegurneypilates.com or use the links within this website.
References
Cao H, Li X, Liu J (2012) An Updated Review of the Efficacy of Cupping Therapy. PLoS ONE 7(2): e31793 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0031793
Aboushanab, T.S & AlSanad, S. (2018) Cupping Therapy: An Overview from a Modern Medicine Perspective, Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies, 11, (3) P 83-87.
