20/02/2018
What is Cupping Therapy?
The Benefits of Cupping
What Are The Benefits Of Cupping
Although modern medicine is still doubtful of the complete benefits of this therapy, scientists are increasingly conceding that in the hands of expert practitioners, it might help many patients suffering from a number of ailments.
Cupping therapy offers several advantages including aiding in promoting blood flow and increase blood circulation to muscles and tissue, supplies oxygen to cells, loosens knots, and can release and drain excess fluids and toxins.
Cupping therapy is based on the belief that using suction or vacuum on specific cupping points on a patient’s body can help remove obstructions in the natural energy pathways inside the body and thus cure ailments. (more on how cupping works).
Variations in the technique, such as wet cupping, in which the skin is pricked to eliminate a small amount of toxic blood and other harmful substances in the body can help prevent and treat illnesses. When combined with acupuncture, needles are first inserted into the skin over which cupping is administered and is most often followed by massage therapy.
In today’s times, there is a range of materials that can be used to craft the cups that therapists use to create suction. Ancient healers used available materials like hollowed out animal horns and bones, seashells, ceramic and bamboo, but healers today use medical standard silicone cups, rubber cups, and glass cups. The latter are most useful because they allow the therapist to watch the effect on the skin while performing the healing.
Cupping today is performed under sterile medical conditions making it quite safe. Most patients do not experience any major discomfort, but therapists might offer to provide local anesthesia on the patient’s request. The equipment used is carefully sterilized under high pressure and temperature.
Later, the healer could perform basic massage or hydration on the cupping site to reduce the possibility of bruising. In cases where wet cupping must be administered, the therapist covers the area with antiseptic medication and appropriate bandaging to ensure speedy healing. These precautions reduce the chances of infections greatly.
By way of added precautions, therapists might also choose not to perform the healing on certain patients such as pregnant or menstruating women, patients that tend to experience high bleeding or patients with varicose veins.
There are several alternative forms of medicine today but cupping therapy is employed most often and is even an accepted method of therapy among many of the world’s athletes, including gymnastics teams and Olympian athletes. The Cupping therapy has been found to help treat certain pain associated with deep scar tissue and connective tissue in the muscles as well as muscle knots and swelling.
While Cupping therapy has gained notoriety among famous athletes such as Olympians and athletes in the National Football League, critics say that this method of therapy has no place in the world of modern medicine because there are only risks with no beneficial rewards.
No evidence suggests cupping is detrimental or beneficial to an individual. Some believe that cupping works as a placebo and just incites the feeling of well-being and healing, rather than actually aiding in fixing any problems or reducing the amount of pain one experiences. Currently, there is much research being done on the cupping therapy and the risks and benefits to an individual’s health and healing.
Cupping Therapy for Detoxification
digetsDetoxification is the process of removing toxic substances from the body. Cupping is a method that has been employed for centuries for this very reason.
Cupping combines the value of building up the bodies energy with the relief of ridding the body of its toxins.
Energy flows through the twelve meridians, and the blood flows in the capillaries under the skin. The cupping method works to move the toxins towards the surface of the skin and out of the body. Once the toxins have reached the surface of the skin, it is then believed that the healing process can begin.
Cupping is a non-invasive healing method that can aid in detoxifying a person’s body and improving their overall energy. It is also said to help promote better blood circulation.
Cupping therapy has also been used to treat several other conditions including blood disorders such as anemia and hemophilia, rheumatic diseases such as arthritis, fertility and other gynecological disorders, eczema, acne, high blood pressure, migraines, anxiety, depression, allergies, asthma, and varicose veins.
The Effects of Cupping
After employing the cupping method, it is common to find that small bruises or redness will remain on the treated areas of the body, most commonly the back. This is due to all the blood being forced to the surface of the skin. It is believed that if there is the presence of higher amount of toxins in an individual’s body, then the redness will be deeper and more noticeable. However, the fewer toxins present in the body, the individual will experience a reduced amount of visible effects from using the cupping method.
Other side effects due to the cupping method include mild discomfort, bruises, burns, and skin infections. Before beginning any therapy that involves cupping, it is highly advised that the patient speaks with a medical doctor or traditional Chinese medicine practitioner about the benefits and risk of side effects.
Cupping is a relatively safe procedure as long as it is performed by a trained health professional who is knowledgeable about this practice.
Considerations Before Choosing the Cupping Method
Several things should be considered before pursuing cupping therapy. While it is safe when practiced by a professional such as a licensed acupuncturist, the patient should still want to educate themselves on the risks associated with cupping as mentioned above. It is also advisable that the patient educates and familiarizes themselves with the entire process from start to finish.
Before any cupping therapy session, the patient will discuss with the practitioner any concerns they may have as well as why they are receiving the cupping therapy. They will ask about the type of pain the patient experiences and where it is located so that they can put the cups in the most beneficial areas to help relieve some of the pain that they may be experiencing.
The back is the most common area that is used for cupping therapy because the back has five meridian lines that provide perfect placement for the cups. Depending on the conditions and the reasons the patient is receiving cupping therapy, the alternative medicine practitioner will determine how many cups to use and how long to place each cup. The time for each cup can vary between five and ten minutes depending on the severity of the condition.
While cupping may produce several bruises and swelling on the site area, it is relatively painless. The marks experienced after a cupping session can last anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. The bruises are not caused due to any form of blunt trauma. Therefore, they should not hurt.
When the cups are applied to the skin, the patient may experience a tight or pulling feeling because the skin is being drawn into the cup. If this pulling sensation causes any pain, then it is advised that the patient notifies the practitioner immediately so that the technique they are employing can be adjusted as needed to accommodate the patient and provide an increased level of comfort and induce relaxation during the session.
Cupping therapy is ideal for those that are looking to improve their flow of energy, encourage detoxification of the body, relieve pain, ease tense muscles, or encourage relaxation. However, if the potential patient is prone to bleed easily or they are pregnant, then it is not recommended or advised as an alternative form of therapy and treatment. Other conditions that should be discussed prior to using cupping therapy include:
Anyone that is experiencing muscle spasms or have any bone fractures
If it is suspected that that patient has an ulcer or deep vein thrombosis
If the patient has a pulse that is easily felt by the practitioner
And if the patient is experiencing, or may be suspected of having any form of cancer, such as metastatic cancer, that has spread from one part of the body to another part of the body
The cupping method as a traditional Chinese medicine can be used alone or in combination with another alternative medicine such as acupuncture. The suction and negative pressure that occurs during a cupping therapy session are said to help encourage blood flow and help to sedate the nervous system.
