Cupping is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practice dating back at least 2-3000yrs. It's popular in many parts of the world and it's methods of application are as varied as are the reasons for use. But is it just a placebo? More trendy voodoo then functional treatment? More Gwyneth Paltrow than Michel Phelps? Lets explore. In TCM cupping is used to treat the blocked flow of 'Qi' , or energy in the body. In this traditional method of 'fire' or 'dry cupping', cups are ma

As a manual therapist, I get asked on occasion what the difference is between 'normal' massage, and sports or remedial massage. So here goes, but let's start with some background. Massage has been around for thousands of years. Yes, you read that right. Thousands. The earliest records of this 'touch' healing were recorded in Egypt in tomb paintings, and China, where the birth of reflexology was also recorded around 2700BC. So massage isn't a new concept. In fact, throughout