Cupping Therapy
What is it?
Cupping therapy is an ancient form of medicine where the use of special cups are place on the skin in order to create a suction force on the skin and muscles. cups are usually made out of glass and are two types of cupping. wet and dry, wet cupping is less common than dry and is usually practiced by the medical sector. dry cupping on the other hand is becoming very popular due to its versatility and benefits to the person and athlete. dry cupping is performed by using alcohol and cotton wool then lit by a flame, the flame is then placed in and then out of the cup, the cup is then place on an area of the skin and a suction force is achieved through lack of oxygen being taken out via the fire. The other technique for dry cupping is using a suction gun and special cups, the gun is place on the top of the cup and the pressure is sucked manually by the therapist as they can measure how much suction is needed by how much they pull the gun. The cups are then able to stay on the skin for up to 30 minutes depending on the strength of the suction. A massage type of cupping can be achieved by moving the cups around the skin whilst still producing the suction. The skin will rise and will redden due to blood vessels expanding, after the allotted time the therapist will take the cups of the skin and will provide a massage to reduce the circle suctions that have been achieved, a full massage will usually follow after cupping is done. Due to the suction often red circles are left on the skin and can stay for no longer than 7 days, very little discomfort is experienced, a warm relaxing pinch is most common with cupping and will result in an occasional presence of discolouration. Cupping therapy is safe and very beneficial to all that may suffer with migraines, aches and pains and muscle tension.
Why would you have it?
Cupping therapy benefits the body by alleviating the stagnant blood flow and therefore increasing the blood around the muscles and body, massage cupping will help relieve matters such as pain, decrease swelling, increase range of motion and promote natural healing. by producing the negative pressure on the skin we relieve pressure on the tissues themselves therefore decreasing pressure on structures such as nerves and muscle.
Cupping therapy also increases the body's energy flow by opening are natural meridians in the body which will allow energy to flow throughout the body, cupping is known to be able to achieve around 4 inches, causing the tissues to release toxins, activate the lymphatic system, and improve the skins activation, structures such as nerves, capillaries and veins. cupping is known as one of the best deep tissue treatments around, due to its depth in application many benefits can be achieved not just physical injuries but in diseases aswel, such as:
- circulatory diseases
- blood pressure
- headaches and migraines
- varicose veins
- joint pain
- Cellulite removal
Cupping has many benefits for all individuals in a sporting view and every day life circumstance. benefits involve:
- Back pain
- Fatigue
- Sciatica
- Arthritis
- Skin disorders
- Weight issues
- soft tissue injuries
And many many more!
The Science behind Cupping therapy
Once a cup is place on the skin to produce a suction motion blood is then drawn to the surface of the skin from the blood vessels into your tissues, the body then believe an injury has occurred so it jumpstarts our natural healing process by producing the inflammatory phase increasing antibodies to the injured site in order to promote healing. As blood flow increases to the area the pain areas of the tissue will receive extra and vital nutrients and oxygen therefore increasing the wellbeing of the area and reducing pain.
