This post explains briefly what Fire Cupping is. Although here at Qaya Clinic we do not offer fire cupping as we prefer using a manual pump to create a suction with STERILE AND DISPOSABLE CUPS.

The issues that we find with fire cupping is that you cannot control the suction, so if the cups are too tight and painful then we cannot reduce the suction as the fire uses up the oxygen which creates a vacuum.

Another issue we find is that you cannot actually perform wet cupping with fire cupping as the cups get very heated and as the body releases heat and toxins; this then combined with the lack of oxygen within the cup can cause blisters.

Finally, the cups used for fire cupping are usually glass cups, bamboo cups or animal horns; the latter is rarely used but offering more a traditional approach. Problem with these types of cups is that they are not disposable and so they must be thoroughly sterlised between sessions which can cause a risk of infection. The cups were prefer are sterile one time use cups that are brand new and thrown away after each session.

Nontheless, the below is a brief description of fire cupping should once have an interest in it.

Chinese Fire Cupping

What is Chinese Fire Cupping?

Fire Cupping is an ancient technique in Traditional Chinese Medicine therapy (TCM). TCM practitioners believe that a person’s chi, or vital energy, gets imbalanced when they are ill, stressed or injured. In Eastern society, it is thought that fire cupping pulls out blockages in the patient’s chi which allows energy to flow more freely and promotes healing. Fire cupping is a form of deep tissue massage that promotes stress relief and relaxation.

What Conditions Can Chinese Fire Cupping Treat?

Fire cupping has been used to treat: chronic back pains, arthritis, swollen and painful joints, respiratory problems, colds, headaches/migraines, promote relaxation, sleep disorders, cellulite reduction, anxiety and depression. The suction of the muscle acts as a reverse effect of deep tissue massage without the pain of someone pushing down onto the body to relieve trigger points/muscle knots.

How Does Chinese Fire Cupping Help?

Performing cupping over injured sites promotes better circulation, thus, speed up the healing process. The detoxification effect of the blood suction also allows for old blood to vacate the capillaries and be filled with new ones resulting in renewed energy and vitality. The treatment involves the placement of heated glass cups on the skin which creates a vacuum.  The vacuum is created by removing the oxygen from the cup via a flame, the cup is immediately applied to the area which requires treatment. The skin and superficial muscle layer are drawn into and held in the cup.  It can be used to treat different disorders in its own right or in conjunction with other therapies.