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What is Cupping Therapy? The Uses, Benefits, and More
Health | November 16, 2017
While most people don’t know about cupping therapy, it is actually an ancient form of alternative medicine that was practiced throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is widely used today under Traditional Chinese Medicine, with some health spas offering it as an additional therapy.
There are many different types of cupping therapy, from dry to wet cupping and massage. All involve the use of sterilized, translucent cups that are strategically placed on top of the skin for a few minutes in order to create suction. In theory, doing so draws energy and blood flow to the affected areas in the body, which boosts circulation and rejuvenation.
Olympic athletes like Michael Phelps to celebrities like Jennifer Aniston have all praised its benefits with the evidence of bruise-like circles spread across their backs. Aside from these unsightly marks, the practice of Cupping Therapy itself is said to provide numerous health benefits.
Natural Pain Relief
A notable benefit from cupping therapy is pain reduction, whether it’s in the joints or muscles. A 2011 report published in Evidence-Based Complimentary and Alternative Medicine found that cupping therapy was able to significantly reduce low back pain after reviewing nearly dozens of trials.
Cupping therapy is also said to be an effective tool for deep tissue massage, hence the reason why more and more athletes are turning to it as a way to naturally improve their performance. It may also be a therapeutic treatment for injuries, helping to break up scar tissue and reduce pain, cramps, and stiffness.
Detoxification
The purpose of detoxification is to remove unwanted, toxic substances out of the body. While we naturally do so through sweat, urine, and stool, it doesn’t hurt to give our body a loving boost from time to time. Because of its abilities to break up stagnation and releasing trapped energy, cupping therapy is also believed to help us detox. Supposedly, it draws out the toxins towards the surface of the skin, where it can exit out of the body. A sign that these toxins have been removed is the infamous mark left by the cup. Depending on the level of stagnation, a cupping mark be anything from bright pink to a dark purple. The rule of thumb: the darker the mark, the deeper the toxicity. It takes a few days to sometimes a week for them to go away, but rest assured they will not be permanent.
Stress Relief
Crazy as it sounds, cupping therapy helps to promote relaxation due to its effects on our central nervous system as a natural sedative. Practitioners say that because it helps to ease tension, one can easily slip into a soothing state of relaxation. The relief of tight muscles is a wonderful sensation akin to deep tissue massage, therefore the benefits aren’t only physical but mental as well.
Everyday Ailments
Having trouble fighting a cold? Upset stomach? Acne? Cupping can help with all of these things, and more. Since each of them is in some way involved in poor lymphatic circulation, cupping therapy is a natural restoration that can improve skin health, immunity, and digestion. Another benefit you may not have heard of is cellulite reduction. For this treatment, oil is first applied on top of the skin before the cups, delivering heat while expanding and improving blood flow. It’s a little secret celebrities like to keep whenever they need to firm up and tone their skin before a red carpet event.
Is it right for me?
Cupping therapy seems to have very little risks, if any. If there is any pain, it’s practically nonexistent, with just barely a sensation of tightness and heat on the areas that are being treated. While it is considered a safe practice, you should always do your research for a licensed practitioner. Cupping therapy is not recommended for pregnant women. People with bleeding disorders, skin infections, burns, or that are prone to bruising should avoid it. Finally, please talk with your doctor to see if cupping is right for you.
Sources:
[1] https://cuppingresource.com/
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3136528/
[3] https://draxe.com/cupping-therapy/
[4] https://www.cuppingtherapy.org/pages/discolorations.htm
[6] https://www.pacificcollege.edu/news/blog/2014/09/20/many-benefits-chinese-cupping
Private Member |
yilan city, taiwan, taiwan
I have lived in Asia over 10 years and have had a cupping set I bought in England 12 years ago. When I lived in Korea I had cupping with blood lettings every week. Now if I feel any tension or feel out of sorts and its something a good Zuzka workout couldn’t work out, my 11 year old kid helps me out. It is extremely relaxing. Every family here in Taiwan has their own cupping set, and if they want the TCM Dr to do it, its very cheap. Years ago, in grad school my Greek housemate told me a story that her mother had cured her grandmother (who was on her deathbed) by cupping. I was shocked. It was the first time I had heard of another culture out of Asia who used cupping too.
Unfortunately I didn’t even know or think to figure it out after all these years, to use oil+ cupping on my cellulite!! And I’ve had local women do this to my back during a massage plenty of times. Guess what I’m doing tonight!!
Private Member |
If you’re going to cite studies, actually do a literature review. The study cited said the effectiveness of cupping was inconclusive. You also cited a junk journal. The other stuff you cited was a bunch of positive articles. None of this is evidence that cupping is effective. I applaud you for trying, but it you want to really go evidence-based you need to learn how to do it.
Private Member |
santa cruz, ca
Oriental medicine (in which cupping is ONE modality) has existed since before the scientific method was invented. It is practiced worldwide. The WHO and NIH recognize TCM as an effective system of medicine. In fact, the upcoming ICD-11 codes will include TCM codes–it is the first time that a non-Western medicine will have its own codes. The NIH has found that TCM is the most utilized system of “complementary medicine” in the world. In most parts of Asia, Eastern and Western medicine are ALREADY integrated. It is not easy for the Western mind to grasp, and it comes from an entirely different paradigm. It is not easy to use science to validate Eastern medicine because they come from entirely different paradigms. Please take the time to look up cupping in Pubmed if you need science to validate cupping. I found articles myself. Also, please check out the NIH’s page about TCM https://nccih.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/chinesemed.htm
Private Member |
santa cruz, ca
Lol, I’m a licensed acupuncturist, and this post makes me happy. I do a lot of cupping in my practice. It works. Thanks, Z. 🙂
Private Member |
Yes! I recently bought the mat that Zuzka showed us in one coffee talk, with the acupuncture lotus flowers, and I’ve recently learned a bit about cupping as some local massage therapists are integrating it into their practices here in my location in Tennesseee. I checked with one of the PT certification sites to see about getting certified myself in it to practice on family and friends and maybe start doing as a side business, most require you to have a licensure that already allows you to touch people because cupping involves tissue manipulation. I think it’s a fabulous resource to have available to us here in the U.S.! Thank you for sharing!