Cupping
Glass Cupping Set
Cupping is used in TCM to release the exterior and move Qi and blood stagnation. From a western medicine perspective, cupping can be used to release trapped blood from interstitial tissues after an injury, move lymph and facilitate release of the fascia and muscles.
One side effect of cupping is a red mark or hickey-like mark on the skin. This is a normal effect of cupping and the marks are considered an indication of stagnation or pathogens being released. The stronger the stagnation the heavier the marks will be. However with continued treatment, or if little stagnation is present, the marks will be a lighter red and will disappear within hours or even minutes.
Stationary Cupping
Stationary cupping is a technique in which the cups are placed at specific locations on the body and not moved. Stationary cupping will leave the singular round marks with clear borders; as were displayed by Gwyneth Paltrow at a New York film premier in July of 2004.
Running Cupping
Running cupping is a technique in which the cup is applied after some oil and then moved along the surface of the skin. With running cupping it becomes quite apparent where stagnation is locked within the body, and darker marks will appear at those locations. This is an especially effective method to find and release tension, chronic stagnation and blood locked within interstitial tissues occurring after an injury.