Cupping Treatment Toronto

Cupping Therapy

An ancient practice for modern times

Cupping therapy is also known as Kyukaku and also Hijama in Islamic faith. It is an ancient technique that has long been in the repertoire of Traditional Chinese Medicine. There is growing scientific evidence of the effectiveness of cupping therapy in treating musculoskeletal conditions and other common health issues.

What is cupping therapy?

Cupping therapy, or Hijama, is an ancient form of alternative medicine. A therapist puts special cups on your skin for a few minutes to create suction.

This form of treatment is best known for its benefit of providing relief for acute or chronic muscle pain and tension. Traditionally, cupping may also be used for many other conditions that may include respiratory problems, digestive disorders and menstrual irregularities.

For muscle pain and tension, the suction of cupping increases circulation and triggers a localized response of the immune system. It also decompresses tight fascia, which is the sheath that wraps around various muscle groups. Essentially, the effect of the suction leads to a “release” of the taut muscles.

The areas that are cupped also correspond to different organ systems. As an example, the lower back can correspond to digestive or reproductive system, mid back, the urinary system, and upper back, the lungs.

How does cupping treatment work?

When you undergo a cupping treatment, the suction created under the cup forces fluids upwards to the surface while keeping the skin intact. In doing so, cupping helps to break up fluids and toxins that may have built-up in the local tissue, bringing them to your skin’s surface to be eliminated in your sweat or by re-circulation through your other elimination systems (i.e. via the liver or kidneys).

Is cupping therapy safe?

There are situations when cupping is not advisable, such as during pregnancy, breastfeeding, if you suffer from low blood pressure or are hemophiliac.

Other contra-indications for cupping are:

Bleeding disorders
Kidney disease
Heart failure
Ascites
Contact dermatitis
Open sores
Leukemia

Always discuss with your primary healthcare provider before beginning any cupping treatment.

Will it hurt or bruise?

Cupping treatment is generally safe and painless. It feels like a pressure, rather than pain. However, if stronger suction is used in a treatment, it has a similar sensation to that of a deep tissue massage.

It often leaves circular marks on the body. With lighter tension they can disappear within a few hours. With stronger suction and in areas with more tension, the marks left can be reddish or even purple. Sometimes these darker marks can last for a week or longer. It can look like you were hugged by a giant octopus.

Bruising sites are typically not painful, but you may experience some tenderness in targeted areas with very tense musculature. In these situations, this is a good sign because cupping helps to ease some of the muscle tension that contributed to the condition initially.

The intensity of the color of the cupping marks can increase in areas that either have extreme muscle tension or are affected by a health condition.

In Asian medicine, the intensity of the colour of the marks can also be diagnostic of which areas have more energy blockages. This is not just attributed to the local muscles that were targeted but the organ systems that each point corresponds too. For example, if it is an area on the back that corresponds to the lung meridian (aka energy channel), the marks may be darker if the patient suffers from a lung condition such as asthma.

Depending on the intensity of the treatment, the marks from cupping can last from 4-5 days up to 2 weeks.

How much does cupping treatment cost?

Your first cupping appointment is an hour long, which includes an initial assessment, and costs $210.

Subsequent cupping treatments are half an hour and cost $105.

A few conditions for which cupping treatment is helpful include:

Arthritis
Anxiety
Asthma
Digestive disorders
Menstrual irregularities
Muscle tension
Muscle pain

What is the difference between the glass cups and plastic cups?

Historically, the spherical glass cups are used in cupping. Suction is created by lighting a flame inside the cups and the vacuum that is created when the flame is put out is used to adhere the cup to the skin.

The bell-shaped plastic cups are the modern version of cupping and allow a lot more control and versatility for adjusting suction strength to the comfort level of the patient.

Does cup size matter?

There are a few different sizes of cups. The size of the cup primarily corresponds to the size and curvature of the muscle group you are targeting.

For example, the low back warrants using larger cups due to the wide musculature and flat surface. On the legs, as the area has a tighter circumference and there is less flesh to suction, smaller cups work more effectively.

Also, larger cups will have a greater effect at releasing muscle tension and what is called “stagnation of energy” in Asian medicine.

What can I expect during a cupping treatment?

A cupping treatment is not painful. You should feel a pressure sensation, almost like a deep massage, and the pressure can be adjusted to your comfort level.

The majority of a cupping treatment is done on the back, although sometimes legs are targeted for specific muscle tension conditions. During a session, cups are left on for 15 – 20 minutes. Sometimes the cups can be slid up and down muscle groups for additional benefit. You should feel relaxed during the session; to encourage this, the doctor will play soothing music. The doctor will also continuously check in with you to ensure you are comfortable, particularly if it is your first cupping session.

Often, cupping can be combined with an acupuncture treatment (during same session) to improve therapeutic outcomes.

Is cupping therapy effective?

There has been a lot of media coverage about cupping therapy, particularly because professional athletes are more commonly seen with cupping marks from a treatment. While cupping therapy has been and continues to be a common practice in Eastern cultures, it is relatively new to Western medicine.

However, there is growing scientific evidence of the effectiveness of cupping therapy in the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions and other common health issues.

For those who are inclined to read the scientific literature, here are links to a few of the studies done on cupping therapy:

Is cupping covered by OHIP or insurance?

Cupping therapy is not covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). However, the majority of extended healthcare insurance policies do provide full or partial coverage for treatment provided by Naturopathic Doctors.

Contact your employer or private insurance agent to determine the extent of your coverage.

Consult with our Naturopathic Doctors to determine if cupping therapy is appropriate for you. Book an appointment or contact Zentai Wellness Centre for further inquiries.