Fire Cupping
Stress and Pain Suck
Relatively unknown to most people living in the West until recently, cupping therapy is an alternative therapeutic method that has been popular in China since around 1000 B.C. Some records show that variations of cupping practices might be much older, possibly dating as far back as 3000 B.C., and for good reason. Cupping therapy has a host of health benefits that can often outweigh modern medicine techniques.
One of the biggest advantages to trying alternative practices like cupping therapy, acupuncture, or massage therapy is that these methods don’t pose the risk for unwanted side effects like pharmacological drugs or surgery do.
In fact, there’s really no downside to trying alternative practices like cupping, since studies show they can help boost immune function and speed up healing time without the use of any medications or even herbs. And these are just some of the benefits of cupping therapy.
5 Benefits of Cupping Therapy
Pain Relief
Cupping therapy is a widely used alternative treatment for naturally reducing joint and muscle pain. Studies have shown it can significantly relieve pain from conditions like low back issues, cancer-related discomfort, and respiratory tension. By applying targeted suction to soft tissue, cupping helps release deep tissue adhesions, relax tight muscles, and improve circulation, allowing oxygen and nutrients to reach affected areas. Athletes and those with chronic pain often turn to cupping to reduce stiffness, inflammation, and scar tissue. Common treatment areas include the neck, lower back, shoulder blades, and groin, where the therapy supports energy flow and healing along the body’s meridians.
Relaxation
Though it may seem counterintuitive, cupping therapy often promotes deep relaxation by calming the central nervous system—similar to the effects of acupuncture. Beyond its physical benefits, the stillness and care involved in a cupping session can positively impact mental well-being, offering a reprieve from daily stress. As the cups remain suctioned for up to 20 minutes, clients are encouraged to slow down, creating space for mental quiet and emotional reset. The gentle lifting of pressure in tense muscles can feel as relieving as a deep tissue massage, making cupping a supportive practice for those coping with anxiety, tension, or overwhelm.
Skin Health
Cupping therapy is often used to support skin health by reducing inflammation, acne, cellulite, and even herpes. While it’s not a proven weight loss method, its ability to improve circulation and tone the skin makes it a popular choice for those seeking a firmer, more radiant appearance. During treatment, oils are typically applied to the skin before the cups are moved across targeted areas, enhancing both heat and absorption of skin-healing ingredients. Some studies suggest cupping may be as effective—or even more so—than certain medications in treating acne, thanks to its impact on blood flow and inflammation reduction.
Respiratory Issues
Commonly used to help nourish the lungs and clear away phlegm or congestion, cupping therapy can be useful for speeding up healing time from respiratory illnesses like the flu or common colds. Cupping helps improve immune function by moving blood and lymphatic fluid throughout the body, which is why it’s been associated with reductions in lung diseases (especially chronic coughs), allergies, infections and asthma.
Treating respiratory conditions like pulmonary tuberculosis is one of the oldest uses for cupping and was utilized long before prescriptions were available.
Improve Digestion
Cupping therapy has long been used to support digestive health by reducing stress, a key factor in conditions like IBS, gastritis, and loss of appetite. By calming the nervous system and improving circulation, cupping may help relieve symptoms such as stomach pain, bloating, diarrhea, and water retention. For digestive support, cups are typically placed around the navel, stomach, bladder, or kidney area to stimulate energy flow and promote internal balance.
Most of the validity of cupping as an alternative medical practice comes from its long history of use over the past 3,000 years. Cupping techniques have been used extensively to treat a range of disorders and symptoms, sometimes on their own, or other times in conjunction with other alternative practices. It’s common for cupping therapy to be used along with massage therapy, essential oils, acupuncture or even as an adjunct to “Western medicine” treatments.
What we do know from the limited scientific studies that have been done is that cupping works by expanding the capillaries and increasing the amount of fluid entering and leaving tissues. Besides this, cupping therapy seems to provoke a relaxation response in some people, which means it’s useful for lowering stress and its negative effects.
While there’s a ton of anecdotal evidence that cupping can be effective and safe, to date, very few clinical studies using humans have been conducted, making it hard to “prove” many of the time-honored benefits of cupping therapy. That being said, it’s worked for millions of people over many years, so here are five ways that cupping might be able to help you.
Pain Relief
Cupping therapy is a widely used alternative treatment for naturally reducing joint and muscle pain. Studies have shown it can significantly relieve pain from conditions like low back issues, cancer-related discomfort, and respiratory tension. By applying targeted suction to soft tissue, cupping helps release deep tissue adhesions, relax tight muscles, and improve circulation, allowing oxygen and nutrients to reach affected areas. Athletes and those with chronic pain often turn to cupping to reduce stiffness, inflammation, and scar tissue. Common treatment areas include the neck, lower back, shoulder blades, and groin, where the therapy supports energy flow and healing along the body’s meridians.
Relaxation
Though it may seem counterintuitive, cupping therapy often promotes deep relaxation by calming the central nervous system, similar to the effects of acupuncture. Beyond its physical benefits, the stillness and care involved in a cupping session can positively impact mental well-being, offering a reprieve from daily stress. Clients are encouraged to slow down as the cups remain suctioned for up to 20 minutes, creating space for mental quiet and emotional reset. The gentle lifting of pressure in tense muscles can feel as relieving as a deep tissue massage, making cupping a supportive practice for those coping with anxiety, tension, or overwhelm.
Skin Health
Cupping therapy is often used to support skin health by reducing inflammation, acne, cellulite, and even herpes. While it’s not a proven weight loss method, its ability to improve circulation and tone the skin makes it a popular choice for those seeking a firmer, more radiant appearance. During treatment, oils are typically applied to the skin before the cups are moved across targeted areas, enhancing both heat and absorption of skin-healing ingredients. Some studies suggest cupping may be as effective or even more so than certain medications in treating acne, thanks to its impact on blood flow and inflammation reduction.
Respiratory Issues
Commonly used to nourish the lungs and clear away phlegm or congestion, cupping therapy can speed up healing time from respiratory illnesses like the flu or common colds. Cupping helps improve immune function by moving blood and lymphatic fluid throughout the body, which is why it’s been associated with reductions in lung diseases (especially chronic coughs), allergies, infections, and asthma.
Treating respiratory conditions like pulmonary tuberculosis is one of the oldest uses for cupping and was utilized long before prescriptions were available.
Improve Digestion
Cupping therapy has long been used to support digestive health by reducing stress, a key factor in conditions like IBS, gastritis, and loss of appetite. By calming the nervous system and improving circulation, cupping may help relieve symptoms such as stomach pain, bloating, diarrhea, and water retention. For digestive support, cups are typically placed around the navel, stomach, bladder, or kidney area to stimulate energy flow and promote internal balance.
Stationary Fire Cupping Session:
$50 / 20-25 min (no massage)
Fire Cupping with Massage:
$60 / 20-25 min
Fire Cupping as an add-on service to your session: $10