cupping

Cupping is another technique of traditional Chinese medicine that has been utilized to treat various types of diseases. The remarkable efficacy of cupping treatments for pain disorders and the frequent display of cupping results from professional athletes fueled its exponential rise in popularity amongst people such as when the most decorated Olympian in the history, Michael Phelps shocking the world with purple marks on his back as a result of cupping therapy at the Olympics in Rio, Brazil in 2016.

At LightHill Acupuncture, we practice two types of cupping: retaining and sliding.

Retaining technique is effective for stubborn pain in a fixed location. It works by breaking up stasis and forcing bad blood composed of debris and waste from injured tissue to be lifted so they are easier to be metabolized by the body's circulation system.

Sliding technique is used for blood movement at the superficial level. We use slide cupping for the purpose of relaxation, stress relief and general health improvements.

Cupping is primarily performed on the back of the patient.