Dry Cupping

Cupping is a method of treating disease that is caused by local congestion. A partial vacuum is created in a cupping jar, usually by means of heat, which is then applied directly to the skin. The underlying tissue is drawn up into the jar forming an area of blood stasis. This appears to bruise the area, or at least turn it a bright red. The amount of dark red or purple blood drawn to the surface indicates the degree of stagnation. Dark blood is a sign of stagnation which often means that high amounts of toxins is present in the blood.

In ancient times, animal horns and bamboo jars were used, principally to drain fluid from sores.

Later this method was used to treat consumptive and rheumatic diseases. Today jars are made mostly out of glass to standard sizes and specifications, although bamboo jars are still occasionally used.

Hijama Cupping (Wet Cupping)

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Types of Cupping

Bleeding Cupping

The most common, traditional and effective method is called “Bleeding Cupping”. This technique requires a minute incision made on the surface of the skin before the cup is applied to collect the blood. The cups are placed on areas of the body which are known as cupping points, they include the back, towards the neck and in between the shoulder blades. This treatment may be slightly invasive but it is almost painless and most patients simply feel a slight scratching sensation during the process.

Moving/Massage Cupping

This form of cupping is like massage that is done by applying oil onto the skin and moving the cup around the area treated. The suction/vacuum created during this process is a weak which facilities the movement of the cup.

Hot Cupping

The idea of hot cupping comes from the heat produced by an ancient herb known as Mugwort which is a typed of heating leaf. During this treatment, a needle is warmed up by dried mugwort and a cup is placed over it to produce a “hot” vacuum.

Gua Sha

Gua sha is a healing technique of traditional East Asian medicine. Sometimes called ‘coining, spooning or scraping’, Gua sha is defined as instrument-assisted unidirectional press-stroking of a lubricated area of the body surface to intentionally create transitory therapeutic petechiae called ‘sha’ representing extravasation of blood in the subcutis.

Raising sha removes blood stagnation considered pathogenic in traditional East Asian medicine.