Discover Cupping Therapy: Relieve Pain, Improve Circulation, and Restore Balance
At Common Roots Acupuncture, we offer professional cupping therapy to reduce muscle tension, improve circulation, and support the body’s natural healing process. Cupping has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine and is now a trusted and sought after treatment for pain relief, sports recovery, and stress reduction.
What is Cupping Therapy?
Cupping therapy involves the placement of specialized cups on the skin to create gentle suction. This suction increases blood flow, releases tight fascia and muscles, and helps remove stagnation that contributes to pain and discomfort.
The suction dilates small blood vessels (capillaries) under the skin, increasing blood flow to the treated area. This can help bring oxygen and nutrients to tissues while removing metabolic waste products and triggering the body’s natural repair processes. This is similar to how other regenerative therapies, like dry needling or prolotherapy work by stimulating a healing cascade.
At Common Roots Acupuncture, we use both traditional glass sliding cups and modern plastic vacuum pump cups, allowing us to tailor each treatment to your specific needs.
Benefits of Cupping
Many Tucson patients choose cupping therapy to address:
- Back, neck, and shoulder pain
- Sports injuries and recovery
- Stress, fatigue, and tension
- Headaches and migraines
- Poor circulation
- Respiratory conditions such as congestion or asthma
Cupping can be used as a stand alone therapy or combined with acupuncture for even greater results. Ongoing random controlled trials such as this one (Effect of Dry Cupping on Pain and Disability) have shown it’s benefits for multiple forms of pain and musculoskeletal dysfunction.
If you’ve ever watched the Olympics or professional sports, you may have noticed swimmers and other athletes with round marks on their shoulders and backs! Those are from cupping therapy, a recovery method many athletes rely on to keep their bodies in peak condition.
Cupping uses gentle suction to increase blood flow, release tight muscles, and speed recovery after training or competition. The circular marks left behind are not bruises, but temporary discolorations showing where circulation has been activated.
They typically fade within a few days and are a normal part of the body’s healing response. Athletes (or those of us trying our best!) of all levels from runners and cyclists to weekend hikers and gym goers can use cupping therapy for natural pain relief, muscle recovery, and improved mobility.
Our Approach at Common Roots Acupuncture
We customize each cupping session based on your body’s needs. With glass sliding cups, we can glide along muscles and fascia to release deep tension, while vacuum pump cups provide more controlled suction for targeted relief. This flexibility allows us to treat everything from stubborn knots to sensitive areas with precision and care. Whether you’re an athlete recovering from training, someone managing chronic pain, or simply seeking a natural way to relax, cupping therapy can help.
Words from one of our cupping patients:
“…More recently, we’ve been working on some of my shoulder issues and have done some cupping as well and I’ve already noticed a huge improvement only after 2 of those sessions!” — A.T., Tucson, AZ
What to Expect During Your Cupping Session
- Your cupping treatment can be done stand alone or in conjunction with an acupuncture treatment.
- Most patients describe the sensation as deeply relaxing and not uncomfortable.
- Temporary marks (often called cupping marks) may appear but usually fade within a few days.
- Many patients notice improved mobility, reduced pain, and a sense of lightness after treatment.
Ready to experience the benefits of cupping therapy?
Schedule your session at Common Roots Acupuncture today and discover how this time tested therapy can restore balance and relieve pain.