Cupping
Cupping involves creating a local suction on the skin with a specialized cup in order to mobilize blood flow, release toxins and promote healing in the area. The suction is created by burning the oxygen inside the cup quickly before placing it on the skin. The cups may be retained in place to focus the effect on one location (i.e. at a joint), or moved along a meridian or muscle group to affect an entire region (i.e. along the whole length of the back). The sensation is a pull or squeeze in the region, with varying intensity depending on the strength of the suction administered and the quality of the tissue being treated. It can feel quite pleasurable for chronically tight muscles, much like a massage. This therapy will often leave bruising in the area treated, which typically heals within a few days of treatment and is considered part of the therapeutic effect. I most commonly use cupping in conjunction with acupuncture for the treatment musculoskeletal conditions, as well as respiratory ailments including bronchitis, asthma and the common cold.