How Cupping Therapy Works: Enhancing Tissue Oxygenation in Vancouver
By Gavin Larsen
Cupping therapy isn’t just for relieving tight muscles and stress. It’s a powerful way to improve circulation and oxygen delivery to your tissues. Here in Vancouver, more and more people are discovering how this practice restores healthy blood flow and helps reverse the effects of oxygen-deprived tissue environments that contribute to pain and dysfunction. Let’s explore how cupping works and why it’s becoming so popular.
As an acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner in Vancouver, I help clients boost circulation, release tension, and enhance physical performance. I use holistic methods like cupping therapy to help you move freely and feel your best.
The Link Between Low Oxygen and Cancer Risks
Research suggests that environments where oxygen is scarce can create the perfect storm for cellular dysfunction and even disease progression. A 2024 review in J Med Microbiol highlights that specific anaerobic bacteria (like Fusobacterium, Porphyromonas, and Prevotella) flourish in these low-oxygen environments and are increasingly associated with aggressive cancer types. These bacteria not only thrive in hypoxic tissues but may also contribute to cellular changes that promote cancer progression, including DNA damage and impaired immune responses.
While cupping therapy is not a treatment for cancer, it presents a compelling approach to enhancing tissue oxygenation and circulation — potentially disrupting the conditions that allow such bacteria to proliferate.
How Cupping Therapy Works: Promoting Oxygenation and Circulation
Cupping therapy, a time-honored technique used widely across cultures, works by applying suction to the skin, drawing blood to the surface. But what’s happening beneath the skin is even more fascinating.
A 2019 study in J Biophotonics used near-infrared spectroscopy to monitor blood oxygenation levels during cupping. It found that both oxy-hemoglobin (oxygen-rich blood) and deoxy-hemoglobin (oxygen-depleted blood) levels increased at the treatment site. The key takeaway? This suggests a dramatic boost in blood volume and oxygenation where the cups are applied.
Another study in Biomed Opt Express observed a significant and sustained elevation of oxy-hemoglobin levels even after the cups were removed. This suggests that cupping therapy not only stimulates immediate blood flow but also supports longer-lasting oxygen delivery to the tissues.
When the skin darkens under the cups — often showing a deep red or purplish hue — it’s a visible sign that stagnant, deoxygenated blood is being pulled to the surface. This is not a bruise but rather a therapeutic process. The darker color often indicates a higher concentration of deoxygenated blood, which has been “stuck” in adhesions or congested tissues. By drawing it out, cupping makes space for fresh, oxygen-rich blood to flow in, relieving tension and promoting natural detoxification.
Breaking the Cycle of Stagnation and Hypoxia
In the context of cancer research, hypoxic (low-oxygen) environments are a known contributor to tissue dysfunction and disease progression. The 2024 J Med Microbiol review discusses how these oxygen-poor conditions can harbor pathogenic bacteria and drive harmful cellular changes. While cupping therapy doesn’t treat these diseases, it helps create an environment where fresh circulation can flush out stagnation and promote better tissue health.
By mobilizing blood and breaking up adhesions that block proper flow, cupping therapy supports a healthier balance of oxygenation in muscles and connective tissues — a key element for maintaining overall health.
Don’t Wait—Revitalize Your Body with Cupping in Vancouver
In Vancouver, where urban lifestyles often lead to muscle stiffness and restricted circulation, cupping therapy offers a natural, effective way to revitalize your body. Whether you’re looking to ease shoulder tension, improve post-exercise recovery, or simply support better circulation, cupping can play a pivotal role. In the clinic, I often see clients benefit from this time-tested practice. Its ability to relieve muscular adhesions, enhance oxygen delivery, and promote natural circulation makes it a powerful tool in the journey toward better health.
Meet Gavin Larsen
Gavin is a Sports Acupuncturist who helps clients improve mobility, ease pain, and enhance recovery with holistic treatments like cupping therapy. With over a decade of clinical experience and 20 years in strength training, Gavin blends traditional healing practices with cutting-edge sports medicine. His integrated approach combines acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, cupping, and Gua Sha to help clients move freely and feel stronger.
