Cupping therapy – which entails using special “cups” to apply pressure to specific points on the body – has been around for centuries and can provide significant relief from pain in various areas of the body, from injuries to trapped chest muscles and congestion, digestive issues, as well as psychological benefits.
Although cupping may provide many health benefits, it’s wise to visit a medical professional as part of their overall healthcare regime. Keep reading to discover more of this ancient treatment!
Increased Blood Circulation
As the suction cups create temporary pressure on the skin, blood vessels expand. This causes blood to move closer to the surface, flushing out toxins and waste products from your body while drawing in fresh oxygenated blood into the area for faster healing of injuries.
Cupping therapy has long been used to treat chronic neck and back pain, sciatica, migraines, stress-related headaches, muscle tension and more. Cupping may provide immediate relief of acute injuries such as pinched nerves or loosening frozen shoulders; loosen tight muscles; boost immune response and circulation while stimulating immune systems as well. Furthermore, it may assist with clearing away excess uric acid which has built up in joints over time leading to high levels of acidity.
Cupping therapy is widely believed to help balance the positive and negative forces within the body, maintaining good health in the process. Cupping may also promote energy flow by encouraging its flow around the body – known as Qi.
Your cupping therapist might use glass, bamboo or silicone cups in their treatment sessions – these may remain in place for several minutes or be moved around by sliding motion for massage-like effect. Some practitioners even employ tools similar to scalpels in making light cuts before applying the cup – this process known as dry cupping is more effective at relieving inflammation than wet cupping.
Cupping and gua sha can both leave therapeutic pitchaie marks on your body that won’t last more than a few days, looking similar to bruises but won’t damage muscles directly.
Both squash and cupping treatments are generally safe for most individuals, however infants or seniors with fragile skin should not receive these therapies due to its fragility. Furthermore, those taking blood thinners should refrain from receiving this type of therapy as well. A general practitioner can provide advice as to whether these therapies would benefit your condition; otherwise it is advised that for optimal results you visit a trained and licensed TCM practitioner for 5 to 10 sessions for optimal results.
Relieves Pain
Cupping therapy may help relieve back and muscle soreness as well as other health conditions, according to one study. Cupping may even be effective against carpal tunnel syndrome – which causes numbness, tingling and pain in hands and arms – and headaches or chronic neck pain.
Cupping is a noninvasive therapy used by practitioners to address pain in certain parts of your body. Cups made of bamboo, plastic, glass or ceramic will be placed onto painful spots on your back, shoulders, abdomen or legs where pain exists and then pressure applied through sliding them up and down or leaving them for short periods of time. Most commonly this therapy is applied on areas such as shoulders, abdominal region, legs or other muscle locations where discomfort is felt.
These cups employ suction to draw skin and tissues into them, decompressing an area. As a result, blood vessels in the area expand, increasing circulation. This also helps alleviate pain and inflammation by stimulating lymphatic drainage systems.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that pain results from stagnant or blocked Qi (vital energy), lymph, phlegm or blood. By breaking up these blockages, acupuncturists or other practitioners can restore energy flow throughout your body to enhance overall wellness.
As noted above, a recent meta-analysis shows evidence that cupping is effective against certain forms of pain and discomfort, including herpes zoster, fibromyalgia and cervicalgia. More high-quality studies are necessary to ascertain whether cupping works for all forms of discomfort as well as specific conditions or patients.
To avoid complications associated with cupping, it’s essential that it be performed by a certified professional. Doing this can reduce any potential infections caused by this practice as well as any risk for liver, kidney or heart disease as well as taking blood thinners.
Cupping can be an easy way to improve your well-being by increasing blood circulation, relieving pain, inflammation and other symptoms, and decreasing stress. Speak to your healthcare provider to see if this therapy would benefit you.
Relieves Inflammation
When we feel achy or stressed, traditional options for relaxation such as massage therapy and hot baths may not suffice; many professional athletes including superstar swimmer Michael Phelps have begun using an ancient healing technique known as cupping to relieve their symptoms.
This technique involves suctioning the skin using glass, plastic or silicone cups to create negative pressure that lifts tissues and releases tightness while alleviating muscle and connective tissue tension, increasing range of motion and decreasing pain and inflammation.
Research indicates that cupping may increase immunity, improve circulation and lessen pain, but additional high-quality studies are necessary to substantiate its benefits.
Inflammation can cause joint, back, and muscle discomfort. Cupping helps alleviate these effects by stimulating the lymphatic system and increasing your body’s natural painkillers like endorphins.
Cupping is also useful in loosening toxins by encouraging your blood vessels to dilate, which allows extra fluid and wastes like uric acid out of the body more efficiently. Furthermore, cupping may help relieve cough symptoms by breaking up phlegm that clogs lungs – helping provide effective cough relief.
One study has indicated that cupping can effectively manage lower-scale inflammation such as tenderness or light swelling, as well as alleviate muscle overuse or injury pain. If you have conditions which could be made worse by suctioning cups’ suctioning action or are susceptible to blood clots, however, prior consultation with a healthcare provider should always take place prior to starting this therapy.
Cupping is generally safe for most individuals; however, the dry method (involving lighting an alcohol-soaked cotton ball on fire to send oxygen into the cup and create a vacuum that pulls skin into it) may be painful for some individuals. Cupping should also not be undertaken by individuals with blood-clotting disorders like DVT or history of strokes as it can increase pressure within your vessels and lead to possible strokes, as well as pregnant women or those who are nursing mothers.
Cupping and gua sha can produce therapeutic pitchaie marks (bruise-like lesions on the skin), but these typically disappear within several days. For long-lasting effects, multiple sessions ranging from 5-10 should be scheduled over an extended period.
Increases Energy
Do you enjoy yoga, a good night of sleep or maybe indulging in some frozen treats to recharge your energy and reduce stress levels? Cupping therapy is another effective method for rejuvenating yourself and relieving tension, with longstanding applications in improving blood circulation, loosening fascia and connective tissue, relieving pain, promoting healing and relaxing the body.
Traditional Chinese medicine holds that cupping can help increase blood flow by improving the flow of qi, or life force energy, throughout the body and encouraging detoxification through lymphatic drainage. To do this, bamboo, glass or silicone cups are used to create suction on specific points on the body using either leaving them alone or massaged glidingly; their pressure creates suction which increases blood circulation by loosening scar tissue and stiff muscles as well as dislodging stagnant qi from stagnant spots thereby stimulating endorphin release while simultaneously decreasing anxiety and depression.
Negative pressure applied by cups helps dilate blood vessels, improving blood flow and providing oxygen-rich blood to cells. Furthermore, this technique may release built-up toxins like uric acid that cause high levels of acidity in blood and urine as well as reduce lipid peroxidation which contributes to high cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
As part of a cupping session, your practitioner will apply oil to the skin before moving cups in a circular, gliding motion over it. Pressure can range from nonexistent to strong depending on which form of cupping is performed. Lubrication helps make this smooth motion comfortable for you during treatment as it protects skin during this procedure. However, cupping should never be performed on anyone taking blood thinners as this could cause excessive bleeding or bruising.
As part of your cupping session, it is advisable to consume a light meal beforehand so as to maintain adequate energy stores and to reduce heat discomfort. Furthermore, loose and comfortable clothes will allow your practitioner to easily access areas requiring treatment on your body.