MISCONCEPTIONS OF THE MARKS LEFT FROM CUPPING WWW.CUPPINGTHERAPY.ORG
The most common misunderstanding regarding one of the most powerful and beneficial after effects of Cupping is the marks that sometimes result.
When injuries occur deep in the muscle, bleeding often occurs causing deep bruises. There will also be edema in the area involving the coagulation of sticky proteins. The combining presence of these elements usually results in stagnation of circulation to the area - resulting in pain, dysfunction, and chronic conditions.
Bruising is caused by impact trauma with compressed breakage of capillaries and a reactionary rush of fluids to the damaged location from the tissue injury. There is no compression in correctly performed suction cup therapy.
The vacuum formed by Cupping draws up the old non-circulating stagnant blood and sticky fluids from the area, bringing them up to the surface and away from the injury so that healthy free circulation can be restored to the affected area, thus creating space for oxygen, living cells and nutrients for faster recovery.
Where there is dead, static blood, lymph, cellular debris, pathogenic factors, and toxins present in the body, Cupping can leave marks which indicates that the stagnation or disease has been moved from the deeper tissue layers to the surface.
In many countries - this is a non-issue, they've experienced themselves the amazing detoxifying effects suction therapy can provide. But in some industrialized countries, where Allopathic Medicine still overshadows more holistic, natural approaches, these surface discolorations are misinterpreted as damage rather than the result of debilitating agents being drawn to the surface. Westerners also live in an image-conscious society that also has a heightened sensitivity to domestic abuse... so, without sufficient understanding, some people are unnerved upon seeing this important after effect.
Once people understand what these marks are, and feel the results - the concerns disappear.
The color and pattern of the marks depend on the level of stagnation in the area, and range from a bright red to dark purple, usually lasting 3 days to a week - sometimes longer if the person is very sick or sedentary. If there is no stagnation present, there will be only a pink marking which disappears in a few minutes to a couple of hours.
EFFECTS ARE DIFFERENT ON EVERY-BODY
If the person receiving treatment sweats a lot on a daily basis - no marks may ever occur.
People who live/work/play in toxic environments (or were exposed to a heavy dose of toxic material) may consistently mark.