Services
Cupping (ba guan)
Cupping places warm glass or silicone cups on the skin of the back, shoulders or legs. The cups pull gently and are left on for a few minutes, or moved slowly with a little oil. Your acupuncturist may add it to a visit and always says so first.
Who comes in, and what you may feel afterward
Who usually comes in
People with tight shoulders, a stiff upper back or sore legs after long days on their feet. Some ask for it after a flight or a hard week, and some have had it in their family for years.
What you may feel afterward
Round, reddish or purple marks are common and fade in a few days to a week. The skin can feel tender, and the area can feel warm. Keep the area covered from wind and cold for the rest of the day.
What a visit is like, in order
Cupping adds about ten minutes to an acupuncture visit.
- 01
Step 1: We talk
Your acupuncturist asks where you are tight, looks at the skin and explains where the cups would go.
- 02
Step 2: The cups go on
A cup is warmed or pumped and set on the skin. You feel a firm pull, like a long, steady pinch.
- 03
Step 3: You rest
The cups stay for about five to ten minutes. Say so right away if the pull is too strong and we will ease it.
- 04
Step 4: The cups come off
We lift each cup, wipe the skin and show you the marks. We tell you how long they usually last.
Tell us first
Say any of these when you book, and again at the visit.
Pregnancy
Cups are kept off the lower back and belly, and sometimes skipped entirely.
Blood thinners
Marks are darker and bruising is more likely if you take a blood thinner.
Bleeding disorders
If you bleed or bruise easily, cupping may not suit you, and we suggest another way.
Skin problems
Tell us about a rash, a sunburn, a healing cut or eczema where a cup would sit.
Lymph nodes removed
We keep cups off the arm and side where nodes were removed.
Worry about the marks
Say so. Light cupping leaves lighter marks, and we can plan around an event.
How many visits, and what this does not do
Some people have cupping once and decide it is not for them. Others add it to a few visits in a row. Your acupuncturist looks at it again as you go, and you can stop whenever you like.
What it doesn't do, and when to see a doctor instead
It does not replace your doctor's care, and we do not prescribe medicine or ask you to stop yours. We do not promise a result: people respond differently. See your doctor or an urgent care clinic first for chest pain, trouble breathing, sudden weakness or numbness, a sudden severe headache, or a fever with a stiff neck. In an emergency, call 911.