Cupping Therapy – It Ain’t Pretty but it Works
We see a lot of pain and injury in our offices. Cupping is one of those things that looks mysterious but is really a straightforward therapy that provides quick, effective results.
There is a lot of buzz about Michael Phelps and his use of Cupping Therapy, so we thought we’d give you the inside scoop on this ancient therapy used in our office and all over the world.
The Basics on Cupping Therapy:
- Cupping Therapy is used on athletes and non-athletes alike.
- Tight muscles = stasis (stagnation of blood)
- Cupping Therapy breaks up stasis – the stagnation of blood, helps release connective tissue, and relaxes tight muscles.
- It does this by pulling deeper levels of blood to the surface, breaking the capillaries in the process. That’s what creates the bruise-like circles on Micheal Phelps.
- The body then moves to heal the capillaries and in the process brings fresh blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the site, increasing blood flow and healing.
- It also boosts the immune system and is a wonderful therapy at the onset of a cold, knocking it out very quickly- sometimes within 24 hrs.
- There are different styles of cupping: fire cupping – which looks very mysterious – this uses the vacuum created by the fire to create the suction and help the glass cups “stick” to the skin and suction. There is also vacuum cupping where an apparatus helps the cups create the suction. Both work in the same manner as described above.
- Sometimes we slide the cups across the muscles, sometimes they stay stationary.
Cupping Therapy is very relaxing and works quickly to achieve results.
The cups are sterilized after each treatment. A cupping therapy session happens within your regular massage or acupuncture treatment and lasts about 10-20 minutes.