At "Sacred Stone Holistic Center", We employ a dry Cupping procedure which simply involves creating a small area of low air pressure next to the skin. We then either let the cup sit stationary upon the surface of the skin, gently pulling the skin away from knotted and tensed muscles, OR, we slide the cup across the surface of the skin using the same stroking motion as the gliding technique used for myofascial release in a regular massage. The skin is lubricated, allowing the cup to move across the skin easily and may be used singly or with many to cover a large area.
The cups can range in size from 1 to 3 inches (25 to 76 mm) across the opening. Plastic, silicone or glass are the most common materials used today, replacing the horn, pottery, bronze and bamboo cups used in earlier times. The low air pressure required may be created by heating the cup (glass only cup) or the air inside it with an open flame, then placing it against the skin. As the air inside the cup cools, it contracts and draws the skin slightly inside. More recently, a vacuum can be created with a mechanical suction pump acting through a valve located at the top of the cup. Silicone cups are used for their adaption to uneven or bony surfaces more effectively.
Depending on the specific treatment, skin marking is common after the cups are removed. The marks may be a simple red ring that disappears quickly and the discoloration left by the cups may be due to stagnation and/or toxins within the body.
Those unfamiliar to Cupping Therapy, believe the Cupping marks to be bruises. In North American society bruising is considered an injury.
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. Although it is quite common during Stationary Dry Cupping (left static for 5 - 20 minutes - see below) to achieve dramatic 'marks' or 'discolorations', the action of moving the cups, minimizes the discolorations.
Often, when a condition exists within deeper structures where sufficient pathologic factors and stagnant fluids (toxins, blood and lymph) are dredged up during treatment, discoloration will appear on the surface of the skin. As treatments cumulate and the release of stagnation and buildup has been released, dispursed and drained – (sometimes quickly as the 2nd treatment) no discoloration is likely to occur at all - even though each time the cupping may have been focused on the same area, for the same duration. Please note below some possible reactions to stationary cupping.
The cups can range in size from 1 to 3 inches (25 to 76 mm) across the opening. Plastic, silicone or glass are the most common materials used today, replacing the horn, pottery, bronze and bamboo cups used in earlier times. The low air pressure required may be created by heating the cup (glass only cup) or the air inside it with an open flame, then placing it against the skin. As the air inside the cup cools, it contracts and draws the skin slightly inside. More recently, a vacuum can be created with a mechanical suction pump acting through a valve located at the top of the cup. Silicone cups are used for their adaption to uneven or bony surfaces more effectively.
Depending on the specific treatment, skin marking is common after the cups are removed. The marks may be a simple red ring that disappears quickly and the discoloration left by the cups may be due to stagnation and/or toxins within the body.
Those unfamiliar to Cupping Therapy, believe the Cupping marks to be bruises. In North American society bruising is considered an injury.
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. Although it is quite common during Stationary Dry Cupping (left static for 5 - 20 minutes - see below) to achieve dramatic 'marks' or 'discolorations', the action of moving the cups, minimizes the discolorations.
Often, when a condition exists within deeper structures where sufficient pathologic factors and stagnant fluids (toxins, blood and lymph) are dredged up during treatment, discoloration will appear on the surface of the skin. As treatments cumulate and the release of stagnation and buildup has been released, dispursed and drained – (sometimes quickly as the 2nd treatment) no discoloration is likely to occur at all - even though each time the cupping may have been focused on the same area, for the same duration. Please note below some possible reactions to stationary cupping.