Cupping can be used during a treatment or as a standalone technique. Thanks to the new Transformational Cupping, it is something you are hearing more and more these days. But what exactly is cupping?

what is cupping?

Cupping is an alternative treatment method in which, through the use of glass, plastic, wooden or metal spheres, a vacuum is created on the client's skin. Letting the cups stand still has been used for centuries to release blockages in the body.

The history of cupping

Cupping was used over 3,000 years ago to remove harmful substances from the body and stimulate blood circulation. The technique dates back to the times of Hypocrates, Celsus and Galen, among others. The form of cupping used here at the time is also called Hijama (or wet cupping). Nowadays, dry-cupping is the most commonly used cupping method.

Different forms of cupping

There are different types of cupping treatments. The most common are:

• Wetcupping (Hijama)
• Dry-cupping
• Transformational cupping

What is wet cupping (Hijama)?

Hijama is the Arabic name commonly used for wet cupping. Wet-cupping involves drawing blood through the damaged skin in addition to creating a vacuum on the patient's skin. Hijama has many more dangers than dry-cupping as the risk of infection due to the drawing of blood is higher.

The purpose of Hijama is to remove the infected blood and, by allowing certain nutrients to be produced again by the body, 'clean' blood.

What is dry-cupping?

Dry-cupping is a traditional form of cupping and what you probably think of when you hear the word 'cupping'. This also involves creating a vacuum on the skin and then two techniques can be used. The cups are left on a specific spot for a period of 15-30 minutes. Or a cupping massage is applied where the cups are moved over the body to stimulate blood circulation.

This form of cupping is also called dry-cupping because there is no blood involved.

What is transformational cupping?

Transformational cupping is a form of dry-cupping that uses manual therapy, nutrition and detoxifying the body, among other things, in addition to moving with the cups. Various Western and Eastern healing methods are combined to achieve the desired results for every complaint. This method was developed by Kim Cupping.

In Transformational Cupping, the cup is used as a tool to loosen adhesions lying under the skin, stimulating blood flow in the body. This gives the body space to allow oxygenated blood to flow through the body again and activates self-healing.

To be allowed to use Transformational Cupping during a treatment, the Transformational Cupping training successfully completed.