2 Minute read
Spring into Spring with Fire Cupping!
Why I love Fire Cupping
What is fire cupping? Why should you try it? What are the benefits?
I first trained in Fire Cupping in 2010, it is traditionally associated with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). I first learned about it whilst doing a Chinese Acupuncture degree in London. I loved it from the first time I used it and started to have treatments. Cupping is used in many places around the world; China, Egypt, the Middle East, India, Greece, and parts of Africa. There are references dating back as far as 28 AD in a book called Zouhou Fang, so quite old and well-documented.
The technique used involves creating a vacuum inside a round glass cup. This is done by placing a naked flame in the cup and quickly placing it onto the skin. This treatment should only be done by a professional who has been trained to do so. Many cups can be used in various forms, static cups; keeping a cup in place for a specific time, sliding cupping; moving the cups gently along the skin giving the same results as a deep tissue massage, flash cupping; putting on and taking off the cups quickly. I like all the different methods and use them for different reasons as you can read below but this is only a small peek into what cups can do.
After a cold or flu when you get an annoying cough and you know you have excess mucus and phlegm on your chest but are unable to shift it, sliding cupping is brilliant for that, it releases the mucus and phlegm from the lungs and is also very effective for respiratory maintenance and relief. It feels like you can breathe again, which is a bonus after being so restricted by cold symptoms. This type of cupping does not leave marks, it may show redness to start but will disperse throughout the day.
There is nothing worse than when you are in pain with a muscular ache, cupping relieves muscular pain in the neck, shoulders, back, legs, etc basically anywhere there is pain. This time I would use the cups in the area of the pain to start with and see what shows up. I would be looking for red/purple discoloration, this tells me exactly where the problem is so I will then move the cups to cover more of the area showing. This type of cupping will mark and could last up to 2 weeks, the marks are not anything to worry about it is just the breaking of small blood vessels and can look like a bruise but it isn't painful to touch. In TCM we call this stagnation, the idea of the cups is to remove the stagnation by pulling up the skin. This happens when we use a flame to remove oxygen from the cup which is placed on the skin. It draws up the tissue causing suction and the skin will be lifted. This technique increases blood circulation and relaxes the fascia which in turn reduces inflammation and swelling. This can result in pain relief immediately depending on the problem.
Ever suffered from a migraine or a headache that starts from tight stressed shoulders, moves up the neck then over the head, and bang, that's all you can feel is pain! With regular cupping to keep the upper back, shoulders, and neck free from congestion you will enjoy life without the interruption these headaches bring. With this type of problem, I may put static cups on certain acupuncture points which will be noted during the consultation as well as slide cupping to aid relaxation, which gives the same benefits as a deep tissue massage cleansing the lymph and bringing blood flow to tight restricted muscles, thus giving a boost to the immune system.
Cupping massage therapy has so much more to offer and can help alleviate conditions such as digestion, bloating, constipation, general stress/relaxation, fatigue/ tiredness, wrist and forearm pain, knee pain, lower back strain, restricted range of motion in shoulder or hips, allergies and depression, anxiety and panic attacks.
Fire cupping is especially effective in the spring as we make the transition from winter. We spring-clean our homes, we also need to spring-clean our bodies. In TCM spring is associated with the liver and tendons and is to do with cleansing, renewing, and energising. The liver is responsible for the metabolism of fats, and carbohydrates, detoxification, and producing heat in the body. By receiving cupping treatments we can help the liver through the transition of letting go of any extra winter accumulation of fat. As the cups lift up the skin, detoxification takes place as the blood flows through the tight constricted muscles, tendons and fascia. Allowing the lymph to remove and cleanse improving circulation and detoxification throughout the whole body which will naturally release unwanted heat or increase heat to cold extremities. Therefore giving the immune system an extra boost to help prevent seasonal colds and flu.
There are certain conditions that cupping is not suitable for and has contraindications: Clients taking blood thinning medication, pregnancy, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and fever or feeling unwell.
If you would like to book a treatment and see how cupping can benefit you:
Call or text Denise on 079030 56450 or email: denise@healinghealthjourney.com
