… The ancient practice of cupping is often a relaxing, relieving sensation for people
… Cupping therapy uses suction to regulate blood flow in the affected area and breaks up stagnation in the body – the main cause of pain
… Cupping is used today to relieve back and neck pain, stiff muscles, muscle spasms -especially in athletes
Cupping therapy is a treatment of Oriental medicine practiced in China for at least 3,000 years. One of the earliest documentations of cupping is found in A Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies and written by Taoist herbalist Ge Hong in 300 AD. Cupping became an official therapeutic practice in 1950’s China as an effective treatment for reducing pain intensity and used during surgeries.
The therapy involves placing cups on the skin to create suction. Cups typically are left on the skin for five to 20 minutes, creating distinctive circular-shaped marks. Studies show the cupping effect of suction on the skin helps regulate blood flow and promotes healing. The position of the cups on the skin often align with acupoints on a person’s body, central to the practice of acupuncture.
Western medical professionals consider cupping a complementary therapy for pain relief. Professional athletes are increasingly using cupping therapy as part of their sports and injury recovery, as noted in a Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine study.
Since cupping has its roots in traditional Chinese medicine, it’s helpful to think of the benefits in terms of its basic concepts. The suction effect of cupping helps to break up stagnation in the body – the main cause of pain. Stagnation, congestion and blockage of Qi -or a person’s life force- and also the body’s blood and other vital fluids results in pain, regardless of whether it is caused by injury, overuse, not enough use and so on. Pain is an indication of dis-ease in the body and cupping helps to restore the body’s natural flow of energy, which decreases pain.
In Oriental medicine, cupping is considered one of the best deep-tissue therapies available. Here, acupoints are called meridians. Cups are often placed along the five meridian lines on the back to align, relax and open these channels where the body’s energy flows. Oriental practitioners will also cup hands, wrists, legs and ankles to encourage the healing of specific organs connected with these areas.
Cupping is often a relaxing and relieving sensation for people. The negative pressure that suction creates can loosen muscles, encourage blood flow and calm the nervous system, which can help with a number of human ailments. Cupping is also used today to relieve back and neck pain, stiff muscles, muscle spasms -especially in athletes- as well as anxiety, fatigue, migraines, rheumatism and even cellulite.
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