Cupping therapy is all the rage these days, thanks to athletes like Michael Phelps. But cupping isn’t just for the super-athletic. (Kim Kardashian and Justin Beiber love it, too!)

So. What the heck is cupping? And what does it do?

What is cupping therapy?

Cupping therapy involves using suction cups on the skin at certain trigger points with the intention of increasing blood flow and decreasing muscle tension. The idea is to create a vacuum on a person’s skin, drawing blood to the surface in specific areas of the body that need healing.

Celebs and athletes swear by cupping for a wide variety of ailments, from cellulite to neck pain to sore muscles.

Types of cupping

There are three traditional cupping methods: Dry Cupping, Wet Cupping, and Massage Cupping.

Dry Cupping involves the use of fire. Ummm… not for us.

Wet Cupping makes use of a scalpel. Yeahhh… no.

But Massage Cupping is JUST RIGHT for us at White Dahlia. Silicone cups are used in massage cupping because they are soft, pliable, and glide across skin. Traditional massage therapy benefits sore bodies with the application of pressure. But did you know that negative pressure can sometimes be even better than tissue compression for pain relief?

The vacuum created with silicone cups provides just this kind of negative pressure. Skin, tissue, and muscles are pulled upward to help with pain management and enhance circulation.

Benefits of cupping

Cupping therapy helps with a plethora of things, including increasing blood flow, improving blood circulation to muscles and tissue, loosening knots, supplying oxygen to cells, and releasing excess fluids and toxins. It has also been found to help treat pain associated with deep scar tissue and connective tissue.

Cellulite reduction has been shown to be a benefit of cupping, too! Whaaaaat?

Read even more about the benefits of cupping here.

Cupping’s best results are seen after a few sessions (typically 5-10), with the first sessions being more intense than later ones, as the body adjusts to this new type of therapy.

The kiss of cupping

The tell-tale sign that someone has recently received cupping therapy is their monstro hickeys. (See Gwyneth Paltrow’s here!) Because blood is being forced to the skin’s surface, it’s common to walk away from cupping with small bruises or redness on the treated areas of the body. However, because these marks are not due to blunt trauma, there is typically no discomfort.

What are you waiting for?

This not-so-secret weapon has been around for years. LIKE 5,000 YEARS. Cupping therapy has been used by ancient Egyptians, Chinese practitioners, and even smartypantses like Hippocrates!

Isn’t it time you jumped on this bandwagon?

Call us now at 919.845.5525. Our uber-talented massage therapists are all certified to perform therapeutic massage cupping therapy, which can be added to any massage for just $10. Let’s get you reaping its benefits ASAP!

If you want to get a head start, download and fill out our Cupping Release Form and bring it to your appointment!

To see our other massage add-ons, look here. For membership info, go here. General White Dahlia questions? We’ve got answers here.

Is Cupping YOUR Cup of Tea?