Fire Cupping

WHAT IS FIRE CUPPING?

Cupping is one of the most oldest forms of medical treatment and has been part of the traditional medical system in countries such as China, Japan, Korea and Egypt. Cupping therapy, also known as myofascial decompression, involves the suction of a glass cup, performed by creating a vacuum with a flame before being placed on the body.  Other types of cupping also exist which create a vacuum through a hand pump - this is a more modern form of cupping that has been more commonly used by physiotherapists and sports therapists ever since Michael Phelps publicly sported his own cupping marks in the Rio 2016 Olympics!

During a cupping treatment, negative pressure from within the cup allows the skin's pores to open up and the warming and dispersing effects result in a number of biological and mechanical changes to the body. This negative pressure decompresses the local area by lifting the skin, local tissue as well as the fascia which in turn stretches the fascial tissue and encourages lymphatic drainage of toxins. By freeing up the fascia, the tissue becomes more fluid which softens underlying muscles, improves flexibility and reduces scar tissue adhesions.

We normally recommend cupping where the priority is to release tension such as in painful conditions and where muscular rigidity is involved.  We also follow traditional methods in China and use cupping to boost the immune system such as for respiratory conditions and to protect from coughs and colds during the winter months.

How does fire cupping work?

Recent research evidence has demonstrated that cupping can help through the following mechanisms of action:

• increase peripheral blood circulation to muscles and local tissue;

• improve soft tissue compliance and limb functions;

• reduce pain by increasing pain thresholds;

• increase range of motion;

• improve muscle flexibility;

• reduce inflammation as a result of strenuous exercise as a means of improving exercise performance;

• accelerate muscle fatigue recovery;

• regulate the immune system (Al-Bedah et al. 2019, Warren et al. 2020, Kang et al. 2021).  

What will happen during the Cupping treatment?

Cupping is commonly performed on your back for certain health problems such as fibromyalgia, insomnia or asthma. However, it will be carried out locally if myofascial decompression is needed at a specific site such as in the neck for neck pain, or in the lower leg for a hamstring injury.

Once the cups are placed onto the skin, you’ll feel an instant pulling sensation into the cup. Cupping treatments tend to last 20-30 minutes. Depending on what is being treated, quick cupping may be carried out whereby a glass cup is placed on a problem area or acupuncture point for just a few seconds before being placed on a different area in quick succession for the entire duration of the treatment. Alternatively stationary cupping may be used where multiple cups are placed in several areas of concern and then retained for 20 minutes. By far the most popular form of cupping however is massage cupping where massage oil is first applied to the skin before cupping is carried out. The cups are then moved along areas of musculature whilst suction is still maintained so that decompression of the fascia can take place across larger areas of the body. Massage cupping is fantastic for a range of issues including back pain, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome as well as to improve sports performance and range of motion.

Most patients describe a deep warming sensation in the area where cupping is being carried out and by the end of the session, patients describe feeling deeply relaxed and energised.  It’s very common to experience a sensation of lightness and flexibility in areas which have previously felt painful, knotted, tight and tense. 

What can Cupping be used for?

Cupping is widely used in China for a range of problems and in our experience, it can play a particularly useful role for: 

• Improving sports performance and recovery after strenuous exercise (Kang et al. 2021);

• Pain conditions such as headache and migraine, knee pain, neck, shoulder and back pain, rheumatoid arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome (Cao et al. 2012, Chi et al. 2016, Aboushanab et al. 2018, Al-Bedah et al. 2019);

• Myofascial release which can be important in fibromyalgia, chronic myofascial pain syndrome and sports injury rehabilitation (Cao et al. 2011, Aboushanab et al. 2018, Kang et al. 2021);

• Respiratory conditions such as chronic bronchitis, frequent coughs and colds and asthma (Cao et al. 2012, Aboushanab et al. 2018, Al-Bedah et al. 2019);

• Chronic fatigue syndrome (Meng et al. 2020);

• Insomnia, anxiety, stress and tiredness (Volpato et al. 2019, Meng et al. 2020);

• Digestive disorders such as indigestion, constipation and irritable bowel syndrome (Shahamat et al. 2016).

Is fire cupping safe?

We have strict infection control protocols to ensure that fire cupping can be performed to the highest standard of safety. Fire cupping is extremely safe in the hands of trained professionals and adverse events - which tend to be mild to moderate - are not frequently reported in the literature. Cupping will however often leave circular bruises in areas where the fascia is especially tight and where there is a particular need for the blood and lymph circulation to be supported. These bruises are completely painless and can often last 2-7 days.

Cupping is contraindicated directly on veins, arteries, lymph nodes, varicose veins, open wounds, fractures or active cancer. We also advise against cupping if you have haemophilia, high blood pressure, suffer from severe chronic disease or are currently pregnant. Precautionary measures may also need to be put in place if you suffer from anaemia, if you have sensitive skin, if you have a history of blood clots or are currently taking blood thinning medication.