Care
Cupping
Small cups placed on the back or shoulders for a few minutes, behind a screen with a sheet over you.
Cupping uses glass or silicone cups that gently lift the skin into the cup. Your acupuncturist may leave the cups in place or glide them. People describe a firm, pulling pressure. It is done in a quiet corner of the room, not in the open.
Who usually comes
People with tight shoulders from lifting or desk work
People who like firm pressure
People who already come for acupuncture
A visit
What a visit is like, in order
- 01
Step 1: We talk
What you want from the visit, and any skin or sensitivities we should know about.
- 02
Step 2: A screen and a sheet
You lie on a table behind a screen with a sheet over you. Tell us if you would rather sit.
- 03
Step 3: The cups
A few cups go on for a few minutes. You may feel pulling. We stay close.
- 04
Step 4: Afterward
The cups come off, you rest a little and we talk about the next visit.
Good to know
Before and after
What you may feel afterward
Faint round marks can show for several days, with a little tenderness. Some people feel sleepy. Keep the area covered from sun and cold, and drink water.
Tell us first
Pregnancy, blood thinners or a bleeding disorder, lymph node removal on that side, or sunburned or broken skin. We adjust, or suggest other care.
How many visits
Your acupuncturist suggests a plan at your first visit. It is a suggestion, not a promise, and results vary. You can change it or stop at any time.
What it does not do, and when to see a doctor
It does not replace your doctor, your medicine or emergency care. See a doctor first for sudden, severe pain, chest pain, trouble breathing, new weakness or numbness, or loss of bladder or bowel control. In an emergency, call 911.
Curious about cupping?
Ask us before you book, in English or Spanish. We will tell you what to expect.