Cupping Therapy with Neil in Greater Vancouver

Langley | Surrey | Burnaby

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Cupping therapy is a Traditional Chinese Medicine technique that uses gentle suction to relieve muscle tightness and improve local circulation, offered in three main forms: glass (fire) cupping, plastic suction cupping, and silicone cupping. Neil Dou, R.TCMP, offers all three types at his clinics in Langley, Surrey, and Burnaby, matching the method to each patient's condition and comfort level.

What is Cupping therapy?

Cupping therapy is a time-tested healing method in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), widely used to relieve muscle tightness, improve circulation, and support the body’s natural detoxification process.

At TCM with Neil, I provide various types of cupping tailored to your specific health needs.

Man lying on a table with six small glass cups placed on his abdomen, possibly during a cupping therapy session, wearing black shorts and a light blue shirt.

Is Cupping Right for You?

If you suffer from:

  • chronic pain

  • muscle tension

  • fatigue

  • other symptoms of internal imbalance

cupping therapy may be a safe and effective part of your treatment plan. I will carefully assess your condition and recommend the most suitable cupping method for your body type and health goals.

A shirtless man with a bun hairstyle sitting by a sheer curtain, looking downward.

Types of Cupping Therapy

Each type of cupping therapy offers unique benefits, and the choice depends on your condition, comfort level, and treatment goals.

Glass Cupping (Fire Cupping)

A person holding a lit match near a small glass bowl, with a glass cup in their other hand, as they perform a cupping therapy on a person's arm, which has two glass cups placed on it.

  • Often used to treat cold symptoms and deep muscular tension

  • Uses fire to create suction, producing a stronger and warmer effect

  • Offers a firm grip and deeper stimulation, which many patients find more effective

  • Commonly applied for back pain, stiff shoulders, and general body coldness

Plastic Suction Cupping

Cupping therapy showing multiple glass cups with a vacuum seal on a person's back.

  • Uses a hand-held suction pump instead of fire, making it suitable for places where open flame is restricted (e.g. condos or clinics with fire safety policies)

  • Often used alongside pricking to bleed (a TCM method involving light needling to release stagnant blood)

  • Especially effective for chronic muscle pain, varicose veins, gout, and arthritis

  • More versatile than fire cupping—can be safely used on the neck, feet, and other sensitive areas

Silicone Cupping (Soft or Easy Cups)

Cupping therapy with multiple glass cups on back, with orchids and plants in the background.

  • The most gentle option with the lightest suction pressure

  • Suitable for patients with sensitivity or mild discomfort

  • Frequently used by massage therapists and for self-care to ease fascial tension

  • Ideal for relieving mild muscle soreness or early-stage tension

FAQ

  • Glass (fire) cupping uses heat to create a firm, warming suction, well suited to cold symptoms and deep tension. Plastic suction cupping uses a hand pump instead of fire and works well on sensitive areas like the neck and feet. Silicone cupping offers the gentlest pressure and suits mild soreness or self-care.

  • Neil Dou, R.TCMP, assesses each patient's condition and health goals before recommending a cupping method; the treatment is commonly used for chronic pain, muscle tension, and fatigue.


Visit My Acupuncture Clinic in Surrey

If you’re in Surrey, you can book an appointment with me at BreakThru Kinetics. Find the location (7238 137 St #201, Surrey, BC V3W 1A4) on Google Maps here.

HOURS

Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays

9 AM — 6 PM

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