When Pain Becomes Your New Normal
You stretch. You rest. You try to manage. But the tightness in your back, the knot in your neck, or the deep ache in your hips keeps coming back. Over-the-counter relief only goes so far, and you're tired of masking symptoms instead of addressing what's underneath.
Many of our clients come to us after months, sometimes years, of dealing with pain that disrupts sleep, limits movement, and drains their energy. They're not looking for a quick fix. They want something that actually works with their body.
Cupping therapy is one of the tools we use to help them get there.
What Is Cupping Therapy?
Cupping therapy is an ancient healing technique — rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine and used across cultures for thousands of years — that uses suction cups placed on the skin to create gentle, negative pressure. This draws blood flow to targeted areas, loosens connective tissue, and helps the body move through its own natural healing process.
Unlike massage, which applies pressure downward, cupping lifts and separates muscle layers — reaching tension that hands alone often can't release.
At Monarch Point Wellness, cupping is typically offered alongside acupuncture and massage as part of an integrated session, addressing the body as a whole rather than treating isolated symptoms.
Who benefits from cupping? It's especially effective for people dealing with chronic back and neck pain, sports recovery, restricted mobility, stress-related muscle tension, headaches, and fatigue. Most clients find it deeply relaxing, even if they were initially uncertain.
Our Approach to Cupping Therapy
Our Approach to Cupping Therapy
At Monarch Point Wellness in Dana Point, cupping isn't a standalone treatment bolted onto a menu — it's woven into a broader therapeutic philosophy. We combine Eastern healing traditions with a modern, personalized approach to help each client feel genuinely better, not just temporarily relieved.
Our practitioners are trained in both traditional cupping methods and contemporary integrative applications. We take time before every session to understand what's going on in your body — your history, your lifestyle, and your goals — so cupping is applied where it will have the most impact.
We also regularly pair cupping with acupuncture and lymphatic drainage massage, creating treatment plans that compound over time.
What to Expect at Your Cupping Session
Intake & Assessment
Your Session
Aftercare & Follow-Up
What Cupping Therapy Can Do for You
Cupping therapy offers a wide range of benefits, particularly for those dealing with musculoskeletal tension, chronic stress, or recovery from physical activity:
Pain Relief — By improving circulation and reducing inflammation in targeted tissues, cupping can significantly ease chronic pain in the back, neck, shoulders, and hips.
Muscle Recovery — Athletes and active individuals use cupping to speed recovery, reduce DOMS (delayed-onset muscle soreness), and maintain peak performance between training sessions.
Stress & Tension Reduction — The parasympathetic nervous system response triggered by cupping creates a state of deep relaxation, helping reduce cortisol and ease the physical burden of chronic stress.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most clients are pleasantly surprised, cupping is generally more relaxing than uncomfortable. You may feel warmth, pressure, or a pulling sensation, but pain is not typical. The level of suction can always be adjusted for your comfort.
Cupping can leave circular marks on the skin that range from light pink to deep red or purple, depending on circulation and the degree of stagnation in the tissue. These are not bruises, they're a normal physiological response, and typically fade within 3–7 days.
This varies by individual. Some clients feel meaningful relief after a single session; chronic conditions often respond best to a series of 4–6 sessions. Your practitioner will give you a personalized recommendation at your intake.
Absolutely and at Monarch Point Wellness, it often is. Combining modalities such as acupuncture or massage in a single session or across a treatment plan tends to produce faster, more lasting results than any one approach alone.
Yes, this traditional method uses a flame to briefly heat the inside of the cup, creating a natural vacuum before it's placed on the skin. Many clients prefer fire cupping for its deeply grounding, therapeutic quality — the warmth penetrates tissue in a way that feels distinct from mechanical suction alone. It's a time-honored technique rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and one our practitioners are experienced in applying safely and effectively. Mention it when booking if you'd like to incorporate it into your session.
