Cupping therapy involves placing cups made of bamboo, glass or plastic on specific areas of the body to create a suction effect. The practice is often used as a form of massage, to help treat pain and to increase blood circulation. It is also widely used by athletes to speed recovery after difficult workouts and to keep their muscles energized.
If you’ve never had a cupping treatment, you may be wondering what to expect. First, you’ll need to schedule an appointment with a trained practitioner. During your session, the practitioner will ask you what symptoms you have and will likely take a detailed health history. Then, they will place the cups on your bare skin where they will feel a tight sensation and suction. They will usually leave the cups in place for a few minutes, and then they will remove them. The skin where the cups are placed may turn red or show light bruising.
The suction caused by the cups increases blood flow in the area where they’re applied, which is believed to loosen adhesions and revitalize connective tissue, promote healing for stretch marks and scars, reduce muscle tension, stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system (which regulates basic resting functions like heart rate and breathing), relieve migraine headaches and chronic fatigue, ease respiratory issues, reduce high blood pressure, and boost immunity.
Acupuncturists use a variety of techniques for cupping, and there are two main types: wet and dry. In wet cupping, a flammable substance such as herbs, paper or alcohol is put inside the cup and then burned briefly. The resulting smoke makes the cup hot, which in turn causes the suction that raises and reddens your skin. Dry cupping is similar, except the cup is not filled with a flammable substance and it’s typically removed from your skin before it cools down.
During both types of cupping, the suction helps minimize inflammation. This is because the suction draws your body’s toxins to the surface, where they are easier to clean out. It’s also thought to support the lymphatic system, which is an essential part of your immune system. It transports toxins to your kidneys and liver so they can be properly filtered out of the body.
It’s still unclear exactly how cupping works from a scientific perspective, but researchers are continuing to study the practice. A recent review, which aimed to identify possible benefits of cupping from a modern medical outlook, offered several theories for its effects.
The authors of the review found that cupping reduces pain through the Gate Control Theory of Pain, improves muscle relaxation changes in local tissue structures and improvements in blood flow. They also reported that the procedure may strengthen the body’s resistance, restore balance between positive and negative forces, remove disease-causing factors and promote the metabolism of healthy cells. But, it’s important to remember that this is only one of many ways that your body can heal itself. For the best results, you should consider receiving cupping treatments regularly. A series of anywhere from 5 to 10 sessions is ideal for a lasting, positive impact on your body’s overall well-being.