Cupping Therapy in Lindenhurst, NY
Suction rather than pressure. An ancient technique that reaches the muscle restriction that pushing down on it never quite does.
Where It Comes From
Older than almost everything else we offer
Cupping therapy dates back to ancient Egypt, China and Greece, and has been used for centuries across a wide range of complaints, from digestive issues to respiratory problems. What brought it back into general view was athletes, and specifically what it does for muscle pain and inflammation.
That is what most people book it for now. The circular marks that turn up in Olympic coverage every four years are the visible part of something fairly straightforward happening underneath.
The Mechanism
Which direction the tissue moves
Switch between the two and watch what happens to the layer underneath.
Cups placed on the skin create suction, lifting the tissue upward. That separation is what breaks up adhesions, the knots and tight bands of muscle tissue that cause pain and restrict movement, and it lets blood and oxygen flow more freely into the area.
What It Does
Three things patients report
Muscle pain and soreness
The most common reason people book it. Increased blood flow into the area and released adhesions between them account for most of what gets felt afterward.
Range of motion
Cupping has been shown to improve range of motion and flexibility. Where restriction has been limiting movement rather than simply hurting, this is the more useful outcome.
Athletic performance and recovery
Useful for athletes dealing with muscle pain and stiffness, and for anyone working back from an injury. That is the crowd that put it back on the map.
Cupping is rarely booked alone here. It runs in the same visit as acupuncture more often than not, sits inside a wider pain management plan for chronic cases, and pairs with massage therapy where both directions of work are needed.
Two Types
Dry and wet cupping
There are two main forms. Ask which is appropriate for you when you call.
Dry cupping
Cups are placed on the skin and suction is created without drawing any blood. This is the form most people mean when they say cupping, and the one most commonly used for muscle pain and recovery.
Wet cupping
Small incisions are made on the skin before the cups are applied, allowing a small amount of blood to be drawn, which is traditionally used to help remove toxins from the body.
About Those Marks
Yes, they are normal
Cupping is generally considered safe, and the side effects are worth knowing about rather than discovering. Bruising, some skin irritation, and mild discomfort are the usual ones. They typically clear within a few days and are not serious.
The circular marks are the part everyone asks about. They are a normal result of the suction and they fade. If you have an event, a wedding or anything sleeveless coming up, mention it when you book and your practitioner will plan around it.
Tell us about any skin condition, any blood thinner you are taking, and anything else you are being treated for before your first session, and bring your medication list.
Who Performs It
Find a qualified practitioner
The most useful advice on the internet about cupping is also the least specific: find someone trained in it who has experience treating the kind of problem you have. That is a real filter, because cupping turns up in a lot of places where nobody is qualified to decide whether it suits you.
Here it is performed by licensed practitioners inside a practice led since 2004 by Joseph A. D'Antona, DAOM. Your practitioner determines which type suits your situation and builds it into a plan rather than selling it as a one-off.
Where the restriction is scar tissue rather than tension, Active Release Therapy is usually the better tool, and we will say so. Benefits are verified before your first visit.
Common Questions
Questions we get asked
How does cupping actually work?
Cups placed on the skin create suction, which increases blood flow, reduces inflammation and promotes relaxation. It works by breaking up adhesions, the knots and tight bands of muscle tissue that cause pain and restrict movement, allowing blood and oxygen to flow more freely to the area.
Does it hurt, and what about the marks?
Most patients describe a pulling sensation rather than pain. Bruising, mild skin irritation and some discomfort are the usual side effects, and they typically clear within a few days. The circular marks are normal and they fade.
What is the difference between dry and wet cupping?
Dry cupping creates suction without drawing blood. Wet cupping involves small incisions before the cups are applied, allowing a small amount of blood to be drawn. Your practitioner will advise which is appropriate for you.
Can cupping be combined with acupuncture?
Yes, and it usually is. Cupping most often runs in the same visit as point work here rather than as a separate appointment, because the two reach the same tissue from different directions.
Is cupping covered by insurance?
Coverage depends on your plan and what is being treated. Submit your details through our intake page and we will verify benefits before your first visit.
Patient Reviews
What our patients say
★★★★★Thanks to Cristine acupuncture therapy as well as her cupping techniques I now feel better in my 50's then I've ever felt. Highly recommend!!!
Arry Nalbantoglu, Google
★★★★★Wonderful friendly staff! Acupuncturists are top notch, very knowledgeable. Massage therapists are the best out there! I highly recommend coming here.
Laura Rivkin, Google
Individual results vary. Outcomes depend on your condition, history, and treatment plan.
Related Treatments
Treatments that pair with this
Get Started
Book your first session
Send a message and the front desk will get back to you, or call 631-309-2242. Mention anything coming up that the marks would matter for, and we will plan around it.