No. At the Leagrave therapy clinic, only fire cupping with the use of a flame is performed. 

Wet cupping involves scraping the skin or making small lacerations with a surgical blade and the clinic does not perform this technique. 

Cupping therapy should not be painful, no. 

A vacuum is created by the use of a flame and this can create a suction-like sensation for where the cups are applied. The sensation should be similar to when applying the hose of a running vacuum to your skin.

We also do a sliding or moving form of cupping. This is where we  apply oil to the skin, and then we place the cups and move them around while they still have the suction to your skin. This form of cupping can sometimes be a bit more uncomfortable for patients, but it’s a quick treatment and very effective for releasing fascia [the sheet of connective tissue beneath the skin]. 

The most painless form of cupping is called “twinkle” or “pop” cupping. It can be performed with or without any suction to the skin. The cup is pressed onto the skin and quickly removed with a slight twist action to create a “pop” sound. This is done repetitively for a few minutes.

Red cupping marks can occur post-treatment and can last from 3 days to 3 weeks pending on the level of toxicity and stagnation of the muscle being treated. 

No Markings:

If there are hardly any toxins, the colouring could be just a light pink and is likely to dissipate within a few hours.

Bright Red to Purple:

Cupping marks can result in different colourings and typically range from bright red to a darker purple which can last from 3 days to a  week. 

Dark Red to Dark Purple:

A darker colouring means that there is a high level of toxins and stagnation in the section of the body that has been treated and marks can then last up to 3 weeks. 

Patients also note that even if the initial treatments cause darker colour marks, subsequent sessions result in lighter and lighter marks as the pathogens leave the body. 

After a  point, there will be no marks whatsoever even if more intense suction is performed and for longer durations at a given time. However, in cases  where the patient has experienced an injury, multiple cupping sessions may be needed to induce healing in the deeper tissues of the body.

Although fire cupping is deemed a safe procedure, side effects can still arise. Patients may experience mild discomfort, bruising, burns, and in rare instances, mild infections during and after certain forms of cupping therapy. 

At the Leagrave Therapy clinic, only light to moderate level of suction is used to avoid dark-colored markings and blistering. This can occur if cups are left on the skin for too long and excessive suctioning of skin through the cups are performed.  

The clinic has strict infection control protocols used to ensure that fire cupping can be performed to the highest standard of safety.  Fire cupping is safe in the hands of trained professionals and adverse events - which tend to be mild to moderate.

Cupping can often leave circular red marks on the skin at areas where the fascia is especially tight and the need for blood and lymph circulation to be supported. These bruises are painless and can usually last from 2-7 days but can last up to 2 to 3 weeks if there is a high level of stagnation.    

Contraindications:

Cupping is contraindicated directly onto veins, arteries, lymph nodes, varicose veins, open wounds, fractures, or active cancer.  We also advise against cupping if you have hemophilia, high blood pressure, suffer from severe chronic disease, or are currently pregnant.  Precautionary measures may also need to be put in place if you suffer from anemia if you have sensitive skin if you have a history of blood clots or are currently taking blood-thinning medication.