Cupping Therapy

Cupping is an ancient practice in traditional Chinese medicine known to remove stagnation (usually caused by blockages along the body) and stimulate the free flow of qi (chi), one of nature’s vital energy flowing through the body. It involves warming and placing cups, usually made of glass, on certain acupuncture points of the skin including the back, neck, and shoulders. The cup is kept in place for several minutes and then removed, leaving behind multiple circular discolorations on the skin depending on the stagnation of the inflammation in the area

Before the treatment starts, oil is applied on the skin of the patient to help the cups glide during treatment, making the process more gentle and easier to manage. Redness or a feeling of warmth is often experienced after the release of the cup which uses a vacuum or suction force to pull the skin upward – and when these cupping marks disappear, many clients experience the relief that they would typically get out of any other complete massage.

From Olympic athletes to pregnant pop stars, Cupping stimulates life force energy through meridians in the body. The procedure is generally safe when performed by trained professionals like those at Tranquil Thai Massage. Sessions can be booked for an add-on to your appointment as part of your deep tissue massage, and the process normally takes an additional 40 min. on top of a regular 60 min. deep tissue massage.

Unlike other forms of massage that compress soft tissues, a cupping massage therapy decompresses soft tissues of the body to expel toxins and fluids by creating hyperemia or hemostasis around a person’s skin. The resultant effect is very relaxing in treating Musculoskeletal conditions such as low back and neck pain, improves blood flow, and augment the body’s range of motion. Some studies indicate that a single cupping massage has the impact of three deep tissue massages and also turn to reduce fibromyalgia symptoms more effectively

The common side-effects of cupping therapy on the area where the cup rim was placed, which may take some days or weeks to disappear are erythema, edema, and ecchymosis. For this reason, a regularly cupping, complemented with a deep tissue massage will reduce these side effects, making it beneficial to improving your health and eventually seeing greater benefits from your massage. If you are interested in booking a cupping appointment as part of your regular massage, Contact us today.