The Art of Massage Cupping
By Michele Y. Wortman

Have you ever noticed that what we think is a new healing technique may actually be a tried-and-true therapy from another era? Massage Cupping™ is just that type of healing therapy. Elk horn, Ram's horn, Bamboo Stalk, Plastic Bell, Glass Globes - just pick a century (let's keep it within the last 5000 years) - and we can find the means and material used in Cupping therapy. Yup, been around forever and just now being discovered! In fact, thousands of years of clinical experience have documented the therapeutic applications of Cupping. And today Cupping is making its way back to mainstream healing therapies through Massage Therapists that incorporate it into their body work.

Massage Cupping ™ is the application of globes or hollow vessels to the surface of the skin with suction that mimics the hand movements of massage therapy. The suction is created by a flame the therapist inserts into the glass globe for a second or two to create a vacuum just before setting the cup on the skin. The suction between the cup and the skin causes the skin to lift slightly from the muscles. This allows impurities and cellular waste products in the muscles and fascia (connective tissue) to be drawn towards the surface and expelled thru the skin's pores. In my practice, I use the glass globe and flame method called "Traditional Cups."

Massage Cupping™ is used to drain excess fluids and toxins and bring circulation and blood flow to stagnant tissues and muscles. Sometimes the suction is very light to cleanse and encourage healthy lymphatic flow; sometimes the suction is stronger to loosen scar tissue or breakdown cellulite. Massage Cupping™ stimulates the peripheral nervous system and because it has such calming and sedating effects, clients with high blood pressure and stress-related ailments have found this therapy very beneficial even during their first session. Massage Cupping™ is recommended for all conditions for which a patient would seek massage therapy.

So, what can you expect in a Massage Cupping™ Session?

My sessions begin like a massage therapy appointment. You will be on the massage table and I will assess the condition of your muscles and tissues with my hands like the beginning of a regular massage before applying the cups. When I set the cup on the skin there is a sensation of pulling. This sensation is somewhat strong, but not uncomfortable. When the "Sliding Cups" technique is used, the sensation is of suction sliding up and down the area being cupped, much like a Massage Therapist doing light skin rolling. The skin has been oiled so the cup is able to glide smoothly without pulling on the skin. I work muscles with the edge of the cup as I would use my thumb. I also incorporate kneading and vibration using the cups. With the "Standing Cups" technique, cups are placed on the skin and not moved. I will actually "park" the cup on a specific area that has a trigger point or where I feel a contraction or muscle spasm. Standing cups can be left in place for just a few minutes or up to 20 minutes.

Cups can be used almost anywhere on the body - along the spine, on shoulders and shoulder blades, on hips, low backs and over joints - to relieve inflammation and soreness. The cups range in size from 1 to 6 inches in diameter, sometimes even larger. I use one cup or many cups during a session depending on the need. Massage Cupping™ appointments are usually run 1-1/2 hrs.

After Massage Cupping™ you may notice redness or a purple discoloration of the skin in the area which was treated. We call this a "Cup Kiss." It is a normal side effect of cupping and is considered to be a desirable result by the therapist. The cup kiss should not be painful, despite looking much like a bruise, and should disappear within a few days. Because the pores are opened fully the body is more susceptible to pathogenic influences after this procedure, you should keep your body covered and protected from wind and sunlight for 24 hours.

Massage Cupping™ is a powerful healing therapy that can be an ongoing therapy or a specific number of sessions for a particular condition. In my practice, people will often see me for a series of sessions for a specific condition that may not be addressed in their regular massage therapy sessions such as periodic Lymphatic cleansing support or the onset of cold or flu to loosen congestion in the soft tissues. When this condition is alleviated, I send them back to their regular practitioner for their ongoing care.

Michele Younger Wortman, NCLMBT #1400, is a licensed massage therapist and course leader. She has been practicing massage therapy for 15 years and has a private practice in Walkertown. She is certified in Massage Cupping™ and welcomes inquires about the technique. Michele also leads the Meditation Gathering at the Triad Yoga Institute in Greensboro. Call Michele at 336-595-4063 for inquiries on either.