What is Cupping?
By now you’ve probably heard a thing or two about cupping, an alternative therapy that has been around for thousands of years in Chinese Medicine. Using a glass jar and heat, suction between the cup and your skin leaves large circular marks as a form of therapy, increasing the blood flow. Remember the Olympics in Rio, Michael Phelps was a walking billboard for this tension-relieving trend!
How do they do it?
Cupping involves placing a glass jar or cup, on your skin and creating a vacuum by sucking out the air. The underlying tissue is raised or sucked up partially in the cup. The purpose of this is to enhance circulation, help relieve pain from inflammation, remove heat and pull out toxins.
Due to the suction, cupping causes the skin to turn red, blue or purple; especially if there is an injury or energetic blockage under the area that was cupped. For me, it doesn't hurt and the marks go away in a few days.
"Ouchh" Does it hurt?
It depends on the person. The experience of cupping can be like having a deep tissue massage but in a very concentrated area like the upper or lower part of your back. It's meant to relieve tension so it requires some pressure, however, it shouldn't be painful.
Okay. How does cupping help with pain?
It assists with breaking up the stagnant pain and promotes proper blood flow again to relieve pain. Similar to when you wake up and can't move your neck, that means there is a constriction of blood flow in your neck. Using cupping therapy would help by getting the blood to flow!
So is that what those big red dots mean?
The suction bruising ranges from pink to red to purple and the darker the color, the higher level of toxins and stagnation in the treated area.
Will they ever go away?
Yes, the bruising will disappear in a few days. Basically, cupping breaks the capillaries under the skin in that area but they regenerate in a matter of days and the marks fade similar to how any other type of bruise or an actual hickey would!
That's a little hard to believe, no?
Cupping has been drawing skepticism for years but so has most ancient eastern medicine. In America, we are very much accustomed to using doctors to point us in the right direction health-wise, but really, there's a time and place for both eastern and western medicines. I suffer from Sciatic Nerve Pain and I use Cupping Therapy and acupuncture to relieve pain and inflammation along with western medicine. You need to do what is right for your body!
Got it. Anything else I should know?
Cupping is most effective when used in conjunction with acupuncture, but by all means, you can do either or alone.
If you have any questions about Cupping you can email me at
michelleg@healthcoach01.com
I look forward to talking with you about this amazing therapy.
Happiness
Michelle G xxo
michelleg@healthcoach01.com
I look forward to talking with you about this amazing therapy.
Happiness
Michelle G xxo
