Submitted By: bryanpain
I have a question. A practitioner recently performed a procedure which included cupping. Two cups where heated and placed on the patients’ lower left and right back, just above the buttocks. This left two mid-sized red marks in the skin. What was the purpose of this procedure, what issue was the practitioner trying to address?
Comment by Chad J. Dupuis, L.Ac.
See my article "What Is Cupping? and other techniques acupuncturists use...". It is a very commonly used adjunctive technique which has many uses but musculo-skeletal pain being one of the main ones. In short it loosens the muscles around the area, separates layers of tissue reducing scar tissue and other adhesions from chronic tension and stimulates blood flow so the body will come heal the tissue in a loosened state.