Cupping

Cupping is a traditional Chinese treatment therapy that has been around for centuries. It has gone mainstream in the last few years for good reason- Cupping Therapy is excellent for pain, stubborn conditions, repetitive strains, inflammation, toxicity, chronic fatigue, digestive problems and a slew of other issues we confront throughout life.

Suction cups rapidly facilitate rigid soft tissue release, loosen & lift connective tissue, break up and drain stagnation while increasing blood & lymph flow to skin & muscles in ways not possible using other forms of massage therapy.

Another benefit of Cupping is that it can feel really great when done properly for your specific condition. The pulling action engages the parasympathetic nervous system, thus allowing a deep relaxation to move through the entire body. It is not unusual to fall asleep when receiving Cupping Therapy treatments. You will be surprised at how relaxed, warm and light you'll feel for hours and sometimes even days later.

Health practitioners of many modalities are performing Cupping Therapy to provide more effective methods for healing and recovery. These professionals include Massage Therapists, Acupuncturists, Physiotherapists, Sports Therapists, Nurses, and Doctors.

Our massage therapist at Déjà vu Medspa is specially trained and certified by the International Cupping Therapy Association in Contemporary Cupping Methods and has several years’ experience in Cupping Therapy, so you can always expect amazing results!

Cupping Therapy is a powerful detoxifying, pain-relieving and energy building modality that people all over the world use for improving and maintaining health. There are many conditions that respond positively to Cupping.

Although Cupping Therapy is not as well-known as other alternative therapies, there is a growing community of therapists that provide a wide range of cupping treatments. You can receive Cupping Therapy at Déjà vu Medspa along with your massage treatment.

The after-effects of Cupping are most intense at the beginning of receiving treatments and lessen dramatically as your system becomes accustomed to continued treatments. Besides the effects Cupping provides for specific conditions, injuries, and illnesses, some general after effects include:

• Need for additional sleep
• Intense hunger (munchies) or no appetite
• Feelings similar to post deep tissue massage
• Nausea
• Euphoria
• Feelings of being "hungover"
• Increased bowel elimination
• Stronger body odor (as body detoxes)
• "Best night’s sleep in years" or inability to sleep
• Vivid dreams
• Night sweats
• Heightened senses (smell, sight, sound)
• Craving for certain foods
• Dry mouth & thirst
• Emotional release
• Stronger than normal bowel & urine odors (due to detoxification)
• Warmer skin surface
• Chills
• Restless (wanting to clean, organize, etc.)
• Soreness, similar to strenuous exercise
• A feeling of reduced mass, increased height
• Headachy

The most common misconception concerning cupping is the misinterpretation of the discoloration. Cupping discoloration is NOT bruising. Bruising is caused by impact trauma with breakage of capillaries and reactionary rush of fluids to the damaged area from the tissue compression/injury. There is NO compression in properly employed suction cup therapy. Although it’s common during Stationary Cupping (left static for 5-20 minutes) to achieve dramatic 'marks' or 'discolorations', the less aggressive action of moving the cups minimizes the intensity and duration of the discoloration. There is no breaking of the skin with our Cupping method, so toxins must be flushed out via the body's own circulatory system.

Oftentimes there are conditions within deeper structures of the body where stagnant fluids (toxins, blood, and lymph) are dredged up during treatment and discoloration will appear on the skin. This is the desired effect – the more this is visible, the greater the level of stagnation and toxicity being purged and released from your body. The discoloration will fade over a week to ten days. With continued treatments, stagnation and buildup will continue to disperse and drain, and by the 3rd or 4th treatment, discoloration dramatically reduces and may not occur at all.

Since Cupping Therapy uses negative pressure versus compression of your muscles and tissues, you can experience amazing results. The suction from the cups rapidly allows rigid soft tissue release by stretching it up from underlying structures, loosening areas of adhesion or restriction and retraining the myofascial structures in your body. It also stimulates the nervous system reflex to the cerebral cortex, which improves recovery from pain and disease. The effects are amazing for aching muscles and joint stiffness. It draws blood flow to areas of pain, raising skin temperature, improving metabolism within the skin tissue for better functioning of sweat and sebaceous glands, flushing capillary beds, draining stagnant blood, toxins, and lymph, while re-supplying vital nutrients.

Cupping can also be used in beauty therapy as it promotes hormone production, increased movements in the bowels and improved blood flow and digestive fluid secretion (removing harmful toxins that speed up the aging process and allow other degenerative conditions to exist).

Additional Uses for Cupping Therapy:

• Cellulite Treatment-Light suction provides drainage, while heavier application stimulates circulation and loosens adhesions known as dimpling.
• Relieves Inflammation 
• Breaks Up and Expels Congestion
• Stretches Muscle and Connective Tissues, Loosening Adhesions
• Pulls Blood Supply to the Skin
• Facilitates Movement of Qi and Blood
• Dispels Wind, Damp and cold to treat Muscle & Joint Pain, Stiffness, and Arthritis
• Strengthens Immune system by improving the flow of Lymphatic Fluid
• Treats Excess Heat Conditions, Fever, Stress, Depression, and Anxiety
• Balance PH Levels by Cleaning Blood and Lymphatic System.
• Dispels Colds and Respiratory Infections
• Relieves Gastrointestinal Symptoms such as stomach ache, Vomiting, and Diarrhea
• Helps with Liver Disorders, Gallbladder Disorders & Dermatological Disorders
• Alleviates Depression, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Anxiety & Insomnia
• Speeds Healing Post-Injury & Post-Surgery
• Reduces Pain, Spasms, Cramps, Tightness, Numbness, Stiffness of the Back and Neck
• Helps with Chronic Gastric Pain, Vertigo and Menopausal Discomforts
• Clears Stretch Marks and Wrinkles

Contraindications: Cupping is NOT recommended for the following: severe illness/ diseases: heart disease, heart failure, renal failure, cirrhosis of the liver, liver or kidney functional illness, cardiopathy, 3D varicosities, over recent surgical incisions, severe edema, allergic purpura, hemophilia, leukemia, dermatosis, destruction of skin or allergic dermatitis, acute Psoriasis, Eczema or Rosacea. Cupping should also not be applied on affected areas during outbreaks of hives, Herpes or Shingles, where hernia exists or has occurred in the past, over broken bones, dislocations, slipped discs, organ failure, and those undergoing cancer therapy.

During pregnancy: You should not begin Cupping Therapy while pregnant.  Breastfeeding mothers should express several days before the treatment and should wait a few days post-treatment to return to breastfeeding.