Types of Oil to Use With Cupping Therapy Treatments

Cupping Therapy Q&A Series

Intro

Thank you for joining us for another installment of our Cupping Therapy Q&A Series. Here, we feature clinical questions submitted to us by ACE Massage Cupping Therapy practitioners. Our educators offer some brief insight on the topic so that you can expand your working knowledge on this revolutionary bodywork therapy and its benefits.

Question

I was wondering what your recommendation is for lotion and/or oil for use with cupping treatments.

Answer

As a personal preference, I use fractionated coconut oil and Bon Vital’ Naturale Massage Creme. As long as you get a good glide with the cups, without a pinching feeling, it is good. Just don’t mix in essential oils other than carrier oils. Other types of oil, including hemp oil, have the potential to degrade cupping equipment and shorten the lifespan of the equipment.

Additional Information

ACE Recommends:

ACE’s founder, Anita J. Shannon, recommends using fractionated coconut oil during cupping therapy. Through testing, ACE has found fractionated coconut oil to be safe to use with our equipment. It’s also an inexpensive and readily available carrier oil that works well for most people.

About Carrier Oils:

Carrier oil, also known as base oil or vegetable oil, is used to dilute essential oils and absolutes before they are applied to the skin during massage and aromatherapy. They are so named because they carry the essential oil onto the skin. Carrier oil is made from the fatty portion of a plant, usually from the seeds, nuts, or kernels.

Most carrier oils are unscented or lightly scented and don’t interfere with an essential oil’s therapeutic properties. They may be used alone or with other oils to nourish the skin. True carrier oils are generally cold-pressed or macerated vegetable oils.

While many types of carrier oils are used throughout the world, not all of them are easy to use or cost effective. This is especially true when attempting to use them with cupping therapy treatments, as some types of oil can damage, stain, or reduce the lifespan of cupping equipment. It’s important to thoroughly test all products for potential adverse effects on cupping equipment prior to use.

It is especially important to take allergies into account when selecting a carrier oil to use. For example, peanuts are legumes, not true nuts, but they share with true nuts the risk of causing allergic reactions, even in minute amounts. Pure peanut and nut-derived oils are not usually allergenic (as they do not typically contain the proteinaceous part of the plant), but it is important to note that oil purity cannot be guaranteed, and other hypoallergenic oils are easily substituted.

To submit a question featured on our blog, contact info@massagecupping.com.

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About the Author

I have been interested in the power of touch most of my life, but I worked in the trade industry as a welder, machinist, and maintenance mechanic. In 2012 I made a 180 degree career change and found massage therapy, which has become an absolute passion. After being licensed in January 2014, I opened a private practice specializing in post-surgery, chronic pain, scars, burns, breast cancer, and any medical massage I could be trained in.

I met Anita Shannon at a trade show and immediately began taking continuing education courses with ACE.  After going through Levels 1 & 2, breast health intensive with Anita J. Shannon, and Lymph/cupping with Beth-Ellen Zang, and following Anita to classes and trade shows, Anita gave me the opportunity to teach. I look forward to inspiring and helping therapists grow in cupping therapies.