What is cupping?
Cupping therapy is a form of alternative medicine where a therapist puts special cups on your skin to create suction.
The goal is to create a vacuum. When we apply cups to the surface of the skin, the cups draw the tissue inside. Doing so increases blood flow. Similar to the way deep tissue massage breaks up scar tissue and reduces pain, cupping loosens the fascia or connective tissue.
What does cupping help with?
We use cupping to help with:
- Pain and inflammation
- Relaxation
- To treat paralysis
- Treat lung disorders like coughing, bronchial congestion, and asthma
- Anxiety and depression
- Varicose veins
- High blood pressure
- Skin conditions such as eczema, and acne
- Fertility
- Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Diabetes
- Anemia
- Shingles (herpes zoster)
- Insomnia
- Gout
How does cupping work:
Initially, we apply massage oil to the skin before placing any cups. Subsequently, we slide cups across the skin surface (performed on large muscle groups of the back) to treat pain and muscle spasms.
Cupping draws impurities to the surface and ultimately removes toxins.
Then, it loosens connective tissue or fascia and stimulates blood flow to the surface. Cupping stimulates tissue relaxation. It also enhances cell-to-cell communication.
According to the U.S. physiologist, Helene Langevin techniques like cupping and acupuncture relax tissue and reduce markers of inflammation. Helen documented cell-level changes using an ultrasound camera. She found out that cupping lessens inflammatory cytokines and increases cytokines that promote healing and relaxation.