Benefits of Fire Cupping
I remember the first time I got fire cupping - it was during finals week in college and I was so sore and had a nagging cold that just wouldn’t go away.
I still had Groupon at the time, and found Charlotte Alvarez, LAc from One Medicine had a cupping coupon available. In desperation, I made an appointment for the same day. Charlotte (now a friend and mentor, @onemedicine I look up to you greatly) was so warm and kind and I knew right away I was going to feel better at the end of this visit.
From the warm heat over my back from the flame to the firm but therapeutic glass cups pulling my skin upward…I was obsessed with every sensation I was having even if it was a tiny bit painful at first (this faded by my second visit) because it offered me a moment to breathe and get into my body. As ethereal as it sounds, I envisioned my pain and sickness leaving my body through the stagnant blood gathering beneath the cups. I visualized my muscles softening from being decompressed. I was very present to everything my body was feeling, and that feels like a gift every time I get fire cupping.
I’m a sucker for learning new stuff.
So when a colleague offered to train me to do fire cupping to further benefit my patients, I kept it cool and casually nodded while flipping out with excitement on the inside lol. Many of you have asked about it and it is now officially another tool in the Evren toolbox!
Fire cupping is a traditional Asian medical technique used to alleviate pain and tension, expand range of motion and detoxify our cells.
Rather than using the suction tool, we create suction using a heat source (cotton ball soaked in alcohol, don’t worry - it works with pressure, it’s not hot!) which increases blood flow and softens “sticky spots” (myofascial adhesions) in our muscles.
By creating some space between our different tissue layers, cupping can help improve range of motion and reduce pain. The inflammation response to the cups flushes fresh new blood into the area to promote quicker healing and recovery. We love to see it.
Indications for cupping include:
- Muscle tension (back, jaw, neck, extremities)
- Circulatory problems (like cold extremities)
- Immune dysfunction
- physical or emotional stress
Cupping is great for everyone, particularly if you have:
- Muscle tension (lol does anyone not have this)
- Circulatory problems (like cold extremities)
- Immune dysfunction (read my blog post on how I found cupping this way)
- physical or emotional stress (again hi welcome to earth :))
