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Step 1
Contact licensed massage therapists or acupuncture physicians in your area to see if they offer cupping. If not, there are online directories that list available bodywork practitioners throughout the United States and abroad.
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Step 2
Research cupping a bit before making an appointment as it differs from other alternative treatments you may have experienced. There are two main kinds of cupping. Dry cupping is used mainly for people with poor circulation and low blood pressure to draw blood to an area or to several areas. Wet, or bloody cupping, helps clear away accumulated irritants and toxins in areas of the body with excessive blood flow, which is the cause of inflammation.
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Step 3
Know that most therapists today will use the moving, or "massage cupping" method. This is where oil is rubbed into the skin to help the therapist identify areas of congestion or tension and then up to 12 cups are moved and placed over the affected areas to create vacuum, and left on the skin for about 10 minutes.
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Step 4
Consider cupping if you've tried regular massage and acupuncture with little or no success for respiratory, digestive or muscular problems. The therapist will use different patterns with the cups depending on the problem. For example, cups are placed in rows down the back, next to the spine, to help ease colds or pain.
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Step 5
Understand cupping therapy is not a new, crazy fad. It's been used for centuries as part of many acupuncture or bodywork practices, such as Thai massage. Massage cupping is a common addition to any modern spa or alternative medicine group.
