Services

Traditional Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture for patients in Bellevue, Seattle, & Seattle’s Eastside..

Chinese Cupping Therapy

Dr. Weiqun Miao’s acupuncture clinic offers traditional Chinese medicine cupping treatments to patients in Bellevue, Seattle and Seattle’s Eastside by incorporating an integrative approach, combined with Chinese acupuncture and herbal medicine treatments.

Cupping is one of the oldest methods of traditional Chinese medicine therapies, which is used to invigorate blood and qi flow where it may have become congested in the muscles or “meridians”, the suction from the cups help to pull congested blood or toxin to the surface of the skin thereby improving circulation which relieves pain and dysfunction.

Traditional Chinese cupping therapy

Cupping Treatment Procedure

At our Bellevue acupuncture clinic both glass and plastic cups are used. Glass cups are warmed using a cotton ball soaked in alcohol, then placed inside the cup quickly and skillfully. The small flame removes all the oxygen, which creates a vacuum to pull the skin and some of the underlying tissue tightly into the cup. Plastic cups are applied to the skin, and a suction pump is then used to create the vacuum.

When the cups are applied the patient can feel a tightness from the suction of the cups, this can easily be adjusted to the patient’s comfort. Once the cups are in place, they can be left stationary for 5 to 10 minutes, or they can be used to do “running cup” where they are slid over the surface of the body (after oil has been applied to the skin). Both techniques will often create a reddish to purplish bruise which will take a few days to one week to disappear.

For some acute and severe conditions, the skin will be punctured before cupping. When the cup is applied and the skin is drawn up, a small amount of blood may flow from the puncture site, which is very helpful to remove harmful substances and toxins from the body.

Before cupping is given, the procedure and its effects are discussed, your permission is asked first before treatment.

Chinese cupping benefits

Cupping is used to treat a broad range of medical conditions such as respiratory diseases ( common cold, asthma, pneumonia and bronchitis), blood disorders (anaemia, haemophilia), rheumatic diseases (arthritic joint and muscular conditions), fertility, gynecological disorders, and skin problems (eczema, acne and psoriasis). Cupping can be used on the back, neck and shoulders to treat a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, and it is helpful for general physical and psychological wellness.