The process of cupping begins by distinguishing the part or parts of the body to be treated. For the relief of pain, the cups are usually placed the nearby the acupoints or around the ailing body part. In the treatment of illnesses, the cups are placed on the back as this is the area the acupoints directly connected to the body organs are located.

The Selection of the Cups

This is the next process. Because of their versatility with the heat from the flame, glass cups are usually used in cupping therapy. Plastic cups and bamboo cups are also be used occasionally. The use of the former is considered hygienic and should be used only once.

The cup needs to be placed on the body immediately once the air in the bamboo or glass cup has been removed. Plastic cups are placed first on the body before the air is removed. As long as there is enough flesh in the area that can be suctioned into the cups, the cups can be placed on almost any part of the body. The neck and the face are reserved for the smallest cups. For the legs, back, and arms medium sized cups are used, while for the posterior the biggest cups are used. Cups should not be placed on areas with large scars or areas where there is little flesh.

For people with good health, there would be no marks left on the treatment site once the cups have been removed. But in people with poor health, the treatment may leave round purple marks on the skin. These marks may resemble bruises but are not. The darker a shade of purple will the mark will be the more serious the health condition is. The marks may be very obvious but they are not painful and they usually dissipate after a few days.

During the procedure that cups are left on the body for twenty minutes at most. If the cups are left in place for over twenty minutes, it may lead to the formation of water blisters. Also, blisters can form even after the treatment has ended if the force of the vacuum in the cup is too great. If this happens, there’s no need to be alarmed concern since the blisters formed are small and are not very painful. But if the blisters are big, the practitioner should use a needle to prick it and allow the fluid inside to escape before they apply aloe vera and other lotions. The ancient Chinese practitioners actually consider the blisters as signs that the body is healing faster. In our modern age however, people are turned off by the sight of blisters and so the process of creating blisters through cupping is now rarely practiced.

Cupping in general is a pain-free and extremely relaxing free process that is growing in popularity by the day. Patients always feel satisfied after the end of treatment. There are others who seem to be addicted to moxibustion that they go for treatment on regular basis. This is definitely a recommended therapy for those seriously considering Chinese medicine.

Cupping is one among many healing modalities of Chinese medicine. The more popular forms are acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in West Orange since they are more versatile and powerful capable of treating a wider range of diseases.