Cupping: courses, training, further education, information, schools and offers in your region

Learn cupping - what you need to know:

• Cupping is a tried and tested healing method
• Loosens the tissue
• relieves muscle tension
• has a pain-relieving effect
• regulates and strengthens the body's defenses and immune system
• Stimulates blood circulation and lymph flow

Only those who have learned something in depth during their training can apply and sell it well to patients.

Cupping massage (this term is more commonly used than "cupping massage"!) is a form of cupping in which the cupping head is moved over the previously oiled body, especially the back. This intensively loosens and warms the tissue of the back in various places.

The negative pressure that acts on the underlying tissue through cupping and cupping massage loosens adhesions in the individual layers of skin and muscles and is used to relieve pain.

A basic course in cupping provides you with the basic knowledge you need to treat your clients effectively. In particular, you will learn

• Collect findings and derive treatments from them
• Using dry cupping safely
• Performing a cupping massage
• Knowledge of special drainage and cupping techniques
• Knowledge of indicators and counter-indicators

In most cases, the back is cupped, as painful adhesions are often located there. The organs can also be positively influenced from here via the skin-organ reflex arc Cupping the back often achieves the best effect.

The effect of cupping is based on the principle of negative pressure. For this purpose, suction or cupping heads are placed on certain areas of skin. The negative pressure that forms underneath (for example by cooling the air contained in the cupping head) can release muscle tension and hardening in the underlying tissue and thus relieve pain and discomfort.

You can find out more about cupping in ourGuide to training and continuing education, further training in naturopathy and complementary therapy.

In a cupping course you learn the following:

• Mode of action and application of cupping
• Cupping therapy with cupping glasses
• Collect findings and derive suitable treatment from them
• Indications/contraindications
• Cupping massage and other types of cupping
• Dermatomes/myotomes - reflex zones on the back

For the cupping online training you need:

• an internet-enabled device that can also play sound, e.g. PC, notebook, smartphone or tablet
• Some space to carry out the handles
• a massage bench
• a partner who volunteers as a test subject for the cupping massage.

TCM cupping works as follows:

• Cupping massage - mobilize and loosen tissue
• Dry cupping - place the cupping head on the area to be treated
• Realign and activate fascia in the subcutaneous area
• Position the cupping glasses correctly to suck in skin and subcutaneous tissue
• Suction from the glass stimulates local blood circulation
• Promote blood circulation with cupping therapy
• Relieve muscle tension and gelosis
• activate the body's self-healing powers through cupping

In principle, all interested parties are admitted to cupping training. However, knowledge of anatomy and physiology is an advantage.

An interest in medical issues and holistic thinking are also required. Communication skills, empathy and physical and mental resilience are also important. In some cases, a minimum age of 25 years and good German language skills are also required.

We recommend that you obtain information directly from the provider.

The classic areas of application for cupping massage after cupping training are as follows:

• Muscle tension
• Cupping for back pain, tension and muscle stiffness
• Headache
• Nerve pain
• Osteoarthritis and arthritis
• High blood pressure
• Weakened immune system
• Tiredness
• Digestive disorders

With the cupping training you will acquire the following skills:

• They are able to demonstrate and justify the mode of action of cupping treatment and cupping massage - or other cupping applications.
• They can correctly define the various areas of application of cupping therapy and explain contraindications.
• You are able to carry out treatment safely and correctly.

Each school offers its very own training in cupping, based on its philosophy and focus. You will therefore find different content, duration and structure of a course at each school. But even within one educational institution, there are often different courses. These are usually geared towards different target groups, for example for beginners and advanced students. Depending on which group you belong to, you will of course be taught very different content and your knowledge will be further developed. Some training courses can also be used for registration with ASCA, EMR or other associations, whereas this is usually not possible for other, especially very short seminars. If you are interested in registration and subsequent recognition by health insurance companies, please contact the individual schools directly.

The costs for a cupping course vary. They depend on whether it is a short seminar or a longer specialist course including TCM. You can expect to pay between 500 and 5,000 francs. A complete naturopath AFPE course, on the other hand, costs up to CHF 50,000. Ask the provider of your choice about the expected costs.

There are basically three different types of cupping therapy:

• Dry cupping: In dry cupping, cupping glasses are placed on certain parts of the body (cupping points) for five to ten minutes without movement.
• Cupping massage: Dry cupping is combined with a massage using a cupping glass to stimulate circulation.
• Bloody cupping: In bloody cupping, the skin is scratched before the cupping glasses are applied - a form of bloodletting.