Cupping therapy is one of the oldest techniques in Traditional Chinese Medicine — referenced in the Ebers Papyrus as far back as 1,550 B.C. Glass cups are placed on the skin and a vacuum is created, drawing the tissue upward into the cup. This reverse-pressure technique is unlike anything else in modern therapy.
Like acupuncture, cupping follows the lines of the meridians. There are five meridian lines along the back, and these are where the cups are most commonly placed. Cupping can help realign and relax qi, as well as address specific patterns of pain and stagnation.
Cupping is considered one of the best deep-tissue therapies available — it is thought to affect tissues up to four inches deep from the external skin. Cups may be left in place for several minutes or gently moved along the meridian pathways, depending on the condition being treated. The sensation is often described as the pleasant inverse of a massage.
Cupping is effective for a wide range of conditions. Your practitioner will recommend it when it fits your pattern.
Neck, shoulder, and back pain are among the most common reasons patients seek cupping. The suction releases myofascial tension and improves local circulation.
Cupping promotes blood flow to stagnant areas, accelerating recovery from injury, overuse, and post-workout soreness.
Applied to the upper back, cupping can help loosen congestion and support recovery from colds, bronchitis, and asthma.
Cupping along specific meridian lines helps regulate digestive function and relieve bloating, cramping, and irregularity.
The parasympathetic response triggered by cupping produces a deep relaxation that reduces cortisol and calms the nervous system.
When qi and blood are stagnant, cupping restores flow along the affected meridian pathways — often dramatically and immediately.
At Meridian, we practice traditional fire cupping — a flame is briefly introduced into the glass cup to create the vacuum before placement. No flame ever touches the skin.
Fire cupping produces a stronger, more consistent suction than pump-style cups, and many practitioners consider it the most effective form of the therapy. Robert and Karen have practiced fire cupping for over a decade.
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