Cupping Therapy: The Basics and The Benefits
Cupping is a form of alternative medicine where a heating cup is applied to the skin by a therapist to create a local suction. The cups utilized in cupping can be made of ceramic, glass, plastic, or bamboo, and when applied to the skin, they create negative pressure by removing oxygen. In addition to that, there are two types of cupping; wet cupping and dry cupping. The former involves piercing the skin to let the blood flow into the suction cup, while the latter does not include any piercings.
Cupping certainly is not new. Tracing back to ancient times in the Chinese and Egyptian cultures, the practice of cupping has been popular in the health care world for a long time. Recently, however, cupping has gone mainstream thanks to Michael Phelps, a U.S. swimmer. Indeed, when Phelps once appeared with darkish circular displays on his back after he did a cupping session to heal his muscles, cupping gained a lot of attention.
In addition to athletes, a lot of people use cupping therapy for its numerous and tremendous benefits. Cupping helps in stimulating blood flow, relieving pain, loosening muscles, reducing stress, and enhancing flexibility and motion. In addition to that, a substantial number of people reported that when they incorporated cupping into their massage, acupuncture, and chiropractic therapy, their fatigue, anxiety, and migraines were alleviated. Many practitioners even utilize cupping to balance hormones, detox the body, balance the energy and relieve muscle tension.
The marks that suction therapy leaves on the body are standard and are not supposed to be painful, although they may appear that way. Cupping is, in fact, a delightful and relaxing treatment. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) warns that suction therapy can adversely affect specific individuals. For instance, individuals with psoriasis or eczema should avoid cupping as it may worsen their condition. Cupping may also lead to skin burns, scars, and discoloration. On that premise, individuals should certainly seek a qualified and skilled cupping therapist that they can trust.
Originally published to reynaldoperezdc.com.
