Cupping Over Needle Acupuncture

Acupuncture and cupping are two separate modalities used in traditional Chinese Medicine. Acupuncture works on the Qi (energy) of the body by stimulating specific points on the body (acupuncture points). Acupuncture is mainly used for pain relief, but is also widely used to treat many other conditions. In my clinical practice at Ramsay Acupuncture and Wellness (RAW II) I focus on the treatment of pain and dysfunction caused by a variety of musculoskeletal issues. The style of acupuncture that I utilize the most frequently is Orthopaedic Acupuncture, which incorporates the needling of muscle motor points in conjunction with traditional acupuncture points. This helps to reduce pain by relaxing muscle tension and increasing mobility.

Cupping therapy utilizes glass, silicone, or plastic cups that are placed on the body utilizing suction. The suction is either created by using heat (fire cupping) or by displacing air by deforming the cups before placement (silicone cups), or by use of a hand pump (mechanical plastic cupping). Cupping helps to move stagnant blood and lymph, improve blood flow, and release muscle tension.

This picture is an example of cupping over needle for anterior shoulder pain caused by a repetitive strain injury.

In cupping over needle acupuncture, an acupuncture needle is inserted into an acupuncture point, a muscle motor point, or directly into the tight area in a muscle, and then a cup is placed directly over the  needle. What does combining these two techniques do? By combining the two therapies you get a synergistic effect that can enhance the efficacy of both treatments. This technique can be more intense than each therapy on its own, but can help in stubborn, chronic conditions.