Dry Cupping: The Facts

Have you heard of dry cupping therapy? I think we have all seen pictures of large, red marks and perhaps thought that it looks rather painful – but fear not – we are hear to straighten out the facts!

Cupping as a modality has been around for centuries, for example the use of fire cups in acupuncture, and is an ancient therapy used to ease pain and release tension in the muscles.

When practising dry cupping we are working primarily on the muscles and myofascial. There are variations of cupping movements including 'sliding cupping' which is great for long muscles, and cupping with movement, which is amazing for restricted muscle movement.

So, does it hurt? This is a common as sometimes the results of the dark marks can look painful - the answer is a big NO.

This treatment absolutely should not hurt, it may feel slightly uncomfortable, but like a deep tissue or sports massage, when tight areas are worked on it can create bearable discomfort, never pain!

What are the dark marks left on the skin? These are the areas that the cups have been placed over and the different shades your skin turns depends on how much tension and tightness is drawn up in the cup suction. A trained therapist will monitor the pressure that is put into each cup and adjust accordingly to how your body responses. The cup is left on for at least two minutes, and any marks will fade after 2-10 days.

As the treatment continues usually the discomfort eases and any tightness and inflexibility in the body is released, stretched and eased.

The skin is not broken by the cups and no blood is produced, the dark marks simply indicate that fresh blood has been released in that area - new blood heals and restores injury and pain.

Polly Chadwick is one of the expert massage therapists at Yellow Door, and would be delighted to explain more if you have any questions. Get in touch with Polly via our website and book in for your first cupping session.