Cupping Therapy

Dry cupping

Dry cupping is a complementary healing modality rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. Proponents of this modality say cupping can treat pain and restore order in the body by unblocking disturbances in the circulation, energy channels and pathways of the body.

During "dry cupping," suction is applied to the skin for several minutes; sometimes it is combined with massage, acupuncture, or other alternative therapies. ("Wet cupping" is similar except that blood is removed by making small cuts in the skin.)

Wet/bleeding cupping

The wet cupping Hijama technique includes applying suction to the desired points on the skin using plastic, bamboo, earthenware, silicone, or glass cup. Thereafter, incisions are applied to the same areas of the skin to remove and suck the blood into the replaced cups.
Cupping can cause side effects such as persistent skin discoloration, scars, burns, and infections, and may worsen eczema or psoriasis. Rare cases of severe side effects have been reported, such as bleeding inside the skull (after cupping on the scalp) and anemia from blood loss (after repeated wet cupping).

Running cupping

Running cupping usually involves the application of oil before the use of suction. Then the cups are slowly moved around the area, creating a massage-like effect. Depending on the kind of service you're receiving, your session could last anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour or more. Running Cupping increases blood circulation to the area where the cups are placed. This may relieve muscle tension, which can improve overall blood flow and promote cell repair. It may also help form new connective tissues and create new blood vessels in the tissue.

Flash cupping

Flash cupping / Empty cupping : It involves quick repeated application of cups, with minimal retention. It reduces local congestion and stimulate circulation over a broader area.
Flash cupping involves the quick repeated application of cups, with minimal retention. This is a method to reduce local congestion and stimulate circulation over a broader area, without being overly strong.

Facial cupping

Facial cupping is meant to increase blood circulation and stimulate the facial cells that are responsible for collagen production. In turn, this can brighten your skin, minimize the appearance of scars, fine lines and wrinkles, and tone your chin, jawline, and neck by decreasing puffiness.
Scalp acupuncture is frequently used in rehabilitation of paralysis due to stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury. It has been proven effective in treating any type of paralysis, sometimes taking only one to two treatments for an amazing amount of recovery.

Sports cupping

The theory behind cupping is that it moves or stimulates your body's natural energy — also called qi. Cupping is said to increase blood supply to a specific area, and athletes use it in recovery to help heal sore, tired muscles.
For athletes who have been diagnosed with a specific injury or have had to undergo a surgical process, cupping therapy can be used to help their body heal faster. Cupping can even be used to help decrease an athlete's recovery time after they have undergone strenuous training.

Orthopedic cupping

Cupping involves creating suction on the skin using a cup, drawing blood into an area under the skin. According to cupping advocates, it promotes healing and relieves sore muscles for conditions such as back and neck pain and joint arthritis, and improves immune function.
Cupping has unique benefits for musculo-skeletal pain that cannot be obtained any other way. Cupping decompresses and stretches myofascial tissues away from the underlying structures (instead of pushing them into bones, like massage).

Aquatic cupping

Wet cupping is a variation of the procedure where prior to the cup being placed, your skin is punctured and blood is drawn out in the suction process. There is also a variation where the dry cupping technique is done before puncturing your skin for wet cupping.
There are promising effects in favor of using wet cupping for improving HRQOL of patients with chronic conditions. Cupping is recommended as a complementary treatment modality for chronic medical conditions, especially pain.