Cupping

History of Cupping Cupping has been passed down through generations. It can be seen in both European & Asian medical histories. It is unclear which country was the founder. Mainly used for cold’s & flu’s in Europe & traditionally for Acupuncture in Asia. Today it is still used for the same reasons however we have found that it can produce dramatic results when used for musculoskeletal injuries.

How does it work? Cupping works by drawing stagnated blood out of the targeted hypertonic muscle. When a muscle tightens (due to fatigue or overuse) the blood inside is not receiving a fresh amount of oxygen and nutrients, so the blood cell cannot be replenished, so it ages.

Cupping: Why Cup? Relaxing hypertonic musculature Breaking up scar tissue Treating contusions (Must be +48 hours) Increasing blood flow to an area Treating fascia and trigger points Flush out stagnated blood

Contraindications Open skin, wounds Oedema Surgical Scarring Varicose Veins Abdomen and breast tissue Flaccid skin, stretch marks Anticoagulent medications Birthmarks, moles Young children Pregnancy

IMPORTANT!! As practitioners we must always obtain client consent. For a patient to give consent they need to know exactly what the procedure is and how it works. YOU MUST EXPLAIN: That they will be heavily bruised and tender after the session for up to 5 days and their bruising may last several weeks. That there may be a flame involved in the procedure.

Styles of Cupping Static Cupping Slide Cupping Empty Cupping Myofascial Cupping Blood Letting/ Wet cupping

Types of Cups Glass Cups (requires flame) Bamboo Cups (requires flame) Plastic Cups (requires pump) Rubber Cups

Equipment Needed per Patient Flame Cupping: 1x Methylated Spirits 2x Forceps Cotton Wool Tea light candles Matches Massage Oil Cups: Various Sizes

Room Setup To ensure safety, your room will need to have: A sink Floor boards or tiled floor Fire Blanket/ Extinguisher CONFIDENT PRACTITIONER