Cupping and Fascia
By Rebekah Miller, L.AC
Traditional Chinese Medicine has refined its understanding of pain, healing, and restoration over thousands of years, developing a wide range of therapeutic modalities designed to support the body’s natural ability to recover and rebalance.
In recent years, practices such as cupping and guasha have become familiar to a much broader audience, thanks in part to high-profile athletes at the Olympic Games who openly displayed the characteristic marks of these therapies. While these visual signs sparked curiosity and conversation, they also helped illuminate the deeper purpose behind these techniques, which is relieving pain, restoring function, and encouraging true healing within damaged or stressed areas of the body.
Beyond symptom relief, cupping and guasha are valued in Traditional Chinese Medicine for their ability to address both localized tissue dysfunction and broader systemic imbalances, creating changes that can also support cosmetic and aesthetic healing. For this reason, these therapies are frequently used after facial acupuncture to enhance healing in the skin as well as the deeper layers of connective tissue and muscle.
Within the framework of Traditional Chinese Medicine, pain and dysfunction are understood to arise from disruptions in the body’s meridian system. Meridians are energetic pathways that circulate vital substances and support physiological function throughout the body.
For optimal health, these pathways must be sufficiently nourished and able to flow freely, much like a healthy river that moves smoothly and continuously. When the body experiences trauma, chronic stress, imbalance, or the natural effects of aging, these meridians may become obstructed or weakened. Blockages form that resemble dams or logjams in a river, preventing smooth movement and leading to stagnation. When this happens, pain, tightness, and structural changes in the tissues follow.
A common manifestation of a blocked meridian can be seen in chronic tension of the shoulders and hips, particularly along the gallbladder meridian. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the gallbladder is associated not only with digestion and metabolism, but also with decision-making and the ability to process choices. In the modern world, individuals are constantly faced with an overwhelming number of decisions, combined with an abundance of rich foods. Over time, this excess can place strain on the gallbladder meridian, leading to congestion and tissue tightness in areas where the meridian travels. The shoulders and hips are especially vulnerable, and persistent tension in these regions is often linked to deeper energetic imbalances rather than isolated muscular issues.
Because meridians are interconnected systems, blockages in one area can affect distant parts of the body. Tension in the shoulders along the gallbladder meridian, for example, can influence the meridian’s pathway as it travels into the sides of the head and temples, as well as down toward the outer portion of the knee. Just as a blockage upstream in a river can create flooding or depletion downstream, congestion in one segment of a meridian can manifest as headaches, temple pain, or lateral knee discomfort. This holistic perspective helps explain why treating only the site of pain may offer temporary relief, while addressing the underlying meridian disruption can lead to more lasting healing.
Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine use a variety of tools to restore healthy meridian flow and resolve these blockages, and cupping and guasha are very effective when applied skillfully. Cupping therapy works through myofascial decompression, using negative pressure to gently lift the skin and underlying tissues. This lifting action stretches areas that have become compressed through repetitive strain, poor posture, or chronic stress.
In a world where many people feel physically and emotionally compressed by busy schedules and constant demands, the decompressive effect of cupping can feel profoundly relieving. By separating fascial layers and encouraging mobility between tissues, cupping improves flexibility, glide, and overall tissue health.
In addition to its energetic effects, cupping has measurable impacts on the biomechanical properties of the skin and soft tissues. Research conducted by Takuma Miyata and colleagues has shown that cupping increases local tissue temperature and improves local blood and nerve circulation while supporting healthier collagen formation. Stress and aging can lead to fragile collagen structures characterized by excessive crosslinking, which reduces elasticity and resilience. Acupuncture and cupping work together to stimulate the regrowth of stronger, straighter collagen fibers, helping tissues regain strength and flexibility. This process is important not only for pain relief but also for maintaining the structural integrity of the skin and connective tissue.
Further research by Yingying Zhou and team used Doppler flow measurements to assess changes in blood circulation following cupping therapy. Their findings revealed a dramatic increase in local blood flow, with hemoglobin levels in the treated area rising by as much as sixty-two percent. This surge in circulation enhances the body’s ability to clear cellular waste products while delivering oxygen and nutrients essential for tissue repair. Improved blood flow supports faster healing, reduces inflammation, and creates an internal environment that favors regeneration rather than degeneration.
Cupping and guasha also influence healing at the cellular level by regulating fundamental processes such as autophagy. Studies by Xue-Hua Yan demonstrated that these therapies can stimulate the breakdown of old or damaged tissue, allowing the body to recycle cellular components and generate new, healthy cells. Autophagy functions as the body’s internal waste management system, clearing out dysfunctional cellular material that would otherwise impair healing. When this process operates efficiently, damaged cells are destroyed and the components are used to create new healthy cells, supporting renewal and long-term tissue health. This cellular cleanup is a crucial but often overlooked aspect of recovery.
At Violet Wellness Spa, cupping and guasha are integrated into both body and facial treatments to support healing on multiple levels. These therapies are used not only to address meridian imbalances throughout the body but also to stimulate deep regeneration in the face and neck, where collagen naturally weakens with age and stress. When combined with facial acupuncture, cupping and guasha encourage circulation, tissue renewal, and connective tissue strength. This supports both functional health and visible rejuvenation. Through this holistic approach, Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a pathway to healing that honors the interconnectedness of structure, function, and energy, promoting resilience, balance, and vitality from the inside out.