About Cupping Therapy

Cupping is the use of glass, bamboo, stone, silicone or plastic suctions cups over areas of the body to create a vacuum.  Cupping promotes blood flow and facilitates the reduction of muscular or connective tissue adhesions by gently lifting and separating the muscle fibers and tissue.  Cupping also increases local blood and lymphatic circulation.  The technique is not painful, and most patients feel immediate relief of symptoms of local and referred "knots," tightness or restriction.

The first evidence of cupping comes from ancient Egypt over 3,000 years ago, and evidence of cupping in China dates to 1,000 years ago...

The procedure is very safe, but will sometimes leave some localized discolored "suction marks" which usually last for 3-7 days.  Cupping is currently used in many countries around the world as a home therapy for muscular pain and to relieve early onset respiratory (i.e. common cold) symptoms.

At the Alberta Street Acupuncture Clinic, we often use cupping in addition to Acupuncture and Massage Therapy to give the client the most beneficial and lasting effects from treatment.