Cupping Therapy

Cupping therapy is a form of alternative therapy for many musculoskeletal aches and pains. Evidence of its widespread use can be found in many cultures, namely in Asian & Arabic cultures. It involves a therapist placing specialist cups on your skin. There is moderate evidence stating it is helpful from managing pain conditions as well as other non-musculoskeletal conditions.

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Your therapist will create gentle and progressive suction to the air inside the cup, often using pumps via valves to create a vacuum. This mechanism helps to encourage increased blood supply to the painful tissues and expands your bloods vessels within the area. This will often leave you red and purple marks on your skin that usually fade in 3-5 days, depending on several factors including injury severity & skin type.

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Reported effects and theories:

• Improved immunity by modulating the cellular immune system

• Reducing inflammation

• Changing skin biomechanical properties

• Activation of the neuroendocrine immune system

 

The British Cupping Society says that cupping therapy is used to treat:

• Blood disorders such as anemia and hemophilia

• Rheumatic diseases such as arthritis and fibromyalgia

• Fertility and gynecological disorders

• Skin problems such as eczema and acne

• High blood pressure

• Migraines

• Anxiety and depression

• Bronchial congestion caused by allergies and asthma

• Varicose veins

• Diabetes

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Are there any side effects?

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If you ensure that you go to see a qualified and experiences health professional you are likely going to experience a helpful and safe practice of cupping.

At LDN Wellness only “dry cupping” is practiced which is safer than the alternative form known as “wet-cupping”, as practised by the Islamic community and by traditional Chinese medical practitioners.

Wet cupping involves the same process as dry cupping, but is combined with bloodletting, performed by making small and shallow incisions through the skin. This is not available at LDN Wellness, as this poses a higher infection risk and may exacerbate anaemia and cardiovascular symptoms.

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Side effects from (dry) cupping are not uncommon, but also these are not dangerous to your health. They include:

• Mild discomfort

• Bruising

• Skin discolouration

• May worsen skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis

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Your therapist will also take the utmost care to ensure all equipment is sterilised and safe to re-use.

 

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How do I know if cupping will be bad for me?

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Unfortunately, you can never completely know whether you may experience a side effect from treatment. However, your trained LDN Wellness therapist will ensure that there are no foreseen moderate to serious complications and will ask you clinical questions to check safety and suitability.

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We encourage anyone who is going to experience alternative medicine for the first time (such as cupping), that they check-in with their GP or other healthcare professional to ensure there are no known reasons or precautions to take.

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Cupping should not be used on:

• Open wounds

• Visibly inflamed or infected tissues

• To bleeding injuries

• The first 1-3 days of acute, traumatic injuries such as sprains and strains

• On high grade ligament, muscle of tendon injuries / ruptures

• Over a fractured bone

 

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What if I get there and it’s discussed that cupping might not be useful?

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LDN Wellness therapists that perform cupping often perform multiple other types of treatment that can help to relieve pain problems. This includes a variety of massage, manipulations, exercise prescription/training or postural adjustment/advice.

Discuss this with your therapist and they will offer you advice on what they perceive to be the more appropriate treatment.