Overview

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Cupping therapy is widely recognized for its distinctive marks, but its real value lies in how it may support muscle recovery, circulation, tissue mobility, pain relief, and overall wellness when applied safely. By the end of this course, learners will understand the foundations of fire cupping and how to apply the technique with greater confidence, safety, and clinical awareness. Led by Dr. Constance Bradley, L.Ac., this course introduces fire cupping through the lens of traditional Chinese Medicine while also emphasizing modern safety standards, practitioner responsibility, and appropriate client care. Through detailed video demonstrations, learners explore equipment setup, cup placement, application methods, treatment timing, skin and tissue responses, contraindications, and post-treatment guidance. The course also explains how cupping is traditionally understood to influence circulation, stagnation, and energetic balance. Healthcare and wellness professionals will gain practical steps for integrating fire cupping into treatment sessions, while non-clinical learners will gain a clearer understanding of what cupping is, why it is used, and how safety shapes responsible practice. This course offers a grounded introduction to fire cupping for pain, recovery, and wellness-focused care.

Syllabus

Fire Cupping Introduction and Overview

In this opening module, learners are introduced to the foundations of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory as it applies to fire cupping. The module explains the core TCM concepts of Qi, Blood, Jing, body fluids, and the meridian system, and how imbalance or stagnation within these systems contributes to pain and dysfunction. The instructor walks through how cupping fits into the wider family of TCM modalities — alongside acupuncture, gua sha, moxibustion, and herbal therapy — and why cupping is particularly effective for improving circulation, releasing stagnation, and restoring functional harmony within the body. Historical background provides context for cupping’s evolution from an ancient folk remedy to a professional clinical modality. This module emphasizes holistic reasoning: treating the whole person, not just the site of pain. By the end, learners will understand when cupping is appropriate, the theory that guides treatment decisions, and how cupping achieves therapeutic change.

TCM Anatomy and Preparing for Clinical Application

This module builds the essential anatomical and safety framework for effective fire cupping practice. Learners will explore how Traditional Chinese Medicine views the body through meridians, Qi pathways, and organ system relationships, and how these maps guide where and why cups are placed. The session also covers critical clinical preparation — screening, contraindications, and client communication — to ensure treatments are both safe and therapeutically appropriate.

Application

In Module 2, the focus shifts from theory to hands-on clinical application. The instructor demonstrates exactly how to prepare, light, and place cups safely and confidently. Learners are shown how to sequence treatment, how much suction to use, and how to adjust cupping intensity based on patient presentation. The module breaks down key technical details: selecting cup size, maintaining flame distance, correct negative pressure, and how to glide cups without breaking the seal. Emphasis is placed on assessment and real-time clinical decision making—identifying where stagnation exists, interpreting tissue response, and modifying technique to achieve therapeutic change. Specific body regions are demonstrated, showing how cupping can be used locally or along a meridian pathway to influence a broader pattern of dysfunction. By the end of this module, learners will be confident in performing static and dynamic cupping techniques safely and effectively in a clinical setting.

Course Summary and Exam

This final exam is designed to assess your understanding of the key concepts presented throughout the course. Please review all video lessons and written materials before beginning. A passing score of 70% or higher is required to successfully complete the course and earn your CE certificate. You may reference your notes during the exam. Once you pass, your certificate will be available for immediate download.