Medicinal Usage
Cupping is an ancient medicinal method of drawing illness out of the body.
Suction cupping is also called "body vacuuming." Dry cupping does not involve puncturing the skin before the cups are applied. Wet cupping involves puncturing the afflicted area before placing the cups on the body. A vacuum is created in both dry and wet cupping with what looks like an ordinary drinking glass. The vacuum causes the skin to rise, pores to open and toxins to discharge. With wet cupping, small amounts of blood flow out of the punctured areas, causing removal of congested or stagnated blood.
With fire cupping the practitioner may use a cup made of glass, metal, or wood (notably bamboo) and burn alcohol, alcohol-soaked cotton wool, herbs, paper, or a taper therein. Before or after the burning is complete, the practitioner applies the cup upside-down to a relatively flat body surface and leaves it in this position for five to ten minutes. Results include erythema (reddening of the skin due to capillary expansion), edema (excessive fluid accumulation in tissue spaces), and ecchymoses (purple discoloration of the skin due to rupture of blood vessels).
But apart from the medical uses these cups can be used in a more erotic and sensual way. Applied with the same methods they provide a sensual tightness to the skin stimulating errogenous zones like the nipples or genitalia on both males and females.
Vacuum Cupping Instructions
1.) Insert the cup into the pump end.
2.) Apply the cup to a point on the body.
3.) Pump air out of the cup by squeezing the handle smoothly and fully 3-4 times, or until
desired vacuum strength is reached.
4.) While holding the cup, twist the pump 1/4 turn, then remove pump by pulling straight
up and away from cup.
Any redness that occurs will fade within 10 minutes to two hours, depending on the length
of time the cup is left on the skin, the strength of the vacuum and the area of the body.
Most often, a "love bite/hickie" like mark will be left where the cup was! This too will fade in a day
or two.
Best advice: experiment and limit usage initially.
Helpful Hints
... To get a better vacuum seal between the skin and the cup, use a thick water-based lubricant like KY jelly. Massage oils and Vaseline may be used also.
... Hairy areas are hard to seal! Be sure to trim or shave the area for a secure seal!
... Removing the cups is easy by depressing the skin close to the cup rim to release the vacuum. Some have an air shuttle device on top of the cup which can be lifted to allow air to
escape so the cup detaches easily.
... Keep the cups cleaned by using an antibacterial soap and warm water. Never, never immerse
in boiling water or use harsh detergents or bleach!
Other Items
Any flexible, airtight object can be used to create a vacuum. Film cannisters can be used for this although the vaccum is not a strong one. Just squeeze the object and push it against the skin before releasing your grip.
Breast pumps, used to extract breast milk from lactating mothers are very good for nipple suction.
Fire Cupping Instructions
Gather the items you will be using in one area. You will need matches or a lighter and/or
a candle, some cotton balls, forceps or long tweezers, some rubbing alcohol and possibly
KY-Jelly or a similar lube product.
Have the person and all your tools in place before starting. One very dramatic method of
lighting the flame which will heat the air inside the fire cup's globe, is to use the forceps or
tweezers with the cotton ball, then dip the cotton ball into alcohol and light it. Or you can
just light a candle or a common BBQ lighter works well also!
Then, holding the cup so its mouth opening is down, hold the flame from whatever you've
chosen to ignite, under the opening for a few seconds. Remember, the cup DOES NOT
have to be heated: only the air inside the globe of the fire cup is heated! Hold the cup over
the flame for a short time, then quickly place on the clean, hair-free skin. As the air inside
the cup (globe) cools, it will cause a vacuum effect and suck the skin upward into the
globe. Suction should hold it in place. Check by lightly tugging at the cup. If it pops off
too easily or does not seem to be able to "seal", try using a bit of KY-Jelly around the lip
of the Fire Cup prior to heating and applying. Practice will yield desired results!
To remove, allow air into cup by putting one hand on the globe, then pressing the skin
down at the rim of the cup with a few fingers from the other hand. You may need to
gently slide your pressing finger down and under the rim in order to break the seal. The
cup should then pop off.
Warning: Do not use over open wounds, cuts, boils, etc. nor on the abdomen of a
pregnant woman!
acknowledgement to medicaltoys.com
