Seattle Wellness Group: Acupuncture and Cupping

At Seattle Wellness Group, cupping is ONLY administered by our Licensed Acupuncturist and East Asian Medicine Practitioner. Our Acupuncturist, Alexander Kim*, received his Master of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and loves to receive and administer cupping. Alexander Kim* had the privilege to train under prominent teachers at Bastyr University where he has had extensive education and training using Cupping in conjunction with his Acupuncture treatments.

Cupping is an ancient form of bodywork that utilizes glass cups to facilitate circulation, reduce inflammation, pain, tension and promote healing by working on the fascia, or connective tissue. The cups create space between muscle groups and can be use gently or with more pressure to break adhesions in the body. Our acupuncturist will be able to determine the best level of cupping pressure based on each patient’s constitution and level of comfort. In addition, he is trained with all the contraindications of cupping with safety for patients as the top priority. To find out if cupping is right for you, click here, to schedule a consultation!

Fire Cupping Method:

Our acupuncturist believes the traditional method of fire cupping with glass cups to be vastly superior to silicone or plastic cups. Some patients are anxious or worried about the use of fire for their treatments. Fire is used to burn the oxygen inside the cup, creating a vacuum, and then is strategically placed on the body to create suction or pressure! The fire never touches the patient’s body and there is no chance of burns with a properly trained practitioner. Alexander Kim’s education and wealth of experience, treating thousands of patients, leaves no doubt to the safety of any of his treatments!

Cupping Bruises? What to expect following a Cupping Session:

After cupping treatments, patients can expect to have various color bruises. Some of the most frequently asked questions about the bruises are:
Does Cupping hurt to make Bruises: There is little to no discomfort with stationary cupping. The bruises are like when suction happens on other parts of the body, like the neck, which can be pleasurable.

 How long do the bruises last? Cupping marks most often last a week to two weeks, but some can last even longer. Please tell our provider if you have ANY special events with an open back dress in the nearby future.

If you have any other questions or concerns click here to schedule an appointment or consultation!

*Alexander Kim is no longer our acupuncturist. As of 2024, our acupuncturist is Tieyan Shang.