Cupping Therapy Sessions
Cupping therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where a therapist puts special cups on your skin for a few minutes to create suction. The idea is to draw blood to or away from parts of your body. There are many reasons for cupping, such as pain and inflammation relief, it help improve blood flow, boost immune function and remove toxins.
In TCM, cupping is based on the concept of qi (pronounced “chee”), the vital energy that flows through the body along meridian pathways. According to TCM theory, disruptions or imbalances in the flow of qi can lead to pain, illness, and discomfort. Cupping is believed to restore the harmonious flow of qi by removing stagnation and promoting circulation.
Cupping helps balance yin and yang, or the negative and positive, within the body. Restoring balance between these two extremes is thought to help with the body’s resistance to pathogens as well as its ability to increase blood flow and reduce pain.
C
upping increases blood circulation to the area where the cups are placed. This relieves muscle tension, which can improve overall blood flow and promote cell repair. It also help form new connective tissues and create new blood vessels in the tissue.
History Of Cupping Therapy
Cupping therapy might be trendy now, but it’s not new. It dates back to ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cultures. One of the oldest medical textbooks in the world, the Ebers Papyrus from 1550 B.C., describes how the ancient Egyptians used cupping therapy for treating fever, pain, vertigo, menstrual problems, and other ailments.
The Egyptians introduced cupping to the ancient Greeks who used it as a cure for almost every illness. In traditional Chinese medicine, it’s closely linked to acupuncture. The Islamic Prophet Muhammad also recommended cupping in his writings, where he called it hijama. Originally, hollowed-out animal horns were used to treat boils and suck out venom from snake bites. Eventually, horns were replaced by bamboo and then by glass cups.
The two main types of cupping are:
- Stagnant
- Dynamic
How does cupping therapy work?
Cupping therapy typically involves the following steps:
1. Preparation: The practitioner creates suction inside glass, bamboo, or plastic cups by briefly heating the air inside or using a mechanical pump.
2. Application: Once the cups are prepared, they are quickly placed on specific acupoints or areas of the body where stagnation or discomfort is present.
3. Treatment: The cups remain in place for several minutes, allowing the suction to draw stagnant blood, toxins, and metabolic waste to the surface of the skin.
4. Removal: After the designated treatment time, the cups are carefully removed, often leaving behind temporary circular marks or “cupping bruises” on the skin.
Some Benefits of Cupping
- Reduce pain
- Reduces Appearance of Cellulite
- Increase blood flow/circulation of nutrients
- Improve skin pliability
- Stimulate cells responsible for collagen production
- Promote full body relaxation
- May reduce LDL cholesterol and blood sugar levels
Myofascial Cupping
Myofascial Cupping also known as myofascial decompression (MFD), is a technique used to target connective tissue called fascia. Fascia is what holds and surrounds all of your muscles and all structures to allow fluid movement. However, over time, this tissue can become very restricted and “stuck” forming knots of fascia. These knots cause pain, a decrease in range of motion, heavy/restricted sensations, or pain-spam-pain patterns, just to name a few.
Cupping for myofascial release a form of cupping called dynamic cupping technique with either the patient or the cups moving in combination with static cupping where the cups stay in place.
- Plastic cups are placed over the involved musculature and the patient is guided through a series of mobility exercises to encourage natural movement of soft tissue.
- A silicone cup is placed over involved musculature and the physical therapist glides the cup over the area to provide a dynamic fascial release. This form is typically reported to have less intensity.
- Brighten skin
- Minimize the appearance of scars, fine lines, and wrinkles
- Tone chin, jawline, neck, and décolletage
- Decrease puffiness
- Regulate oil production
- Improve nutrient delivery and product absorption
How can it help you?
- Loosing Muscles
- Balancing out Muscle Tension
- Improving your mobility almost instantly
- Increases blood flow to slow healing muscle, tendon or ligament.
- Reduce scar tissue formation
- Release trigger points and decrease tightness in a muscle and the surrounding fascia
- By alleviating pain and promoting relaxation.
- Helps with treating cold symptoms.
Myofascial Decompression (MFD) is a manual therapy technique used in physical therapy to address myofascial pain. This type of pain originates from the fascia, the connective tissue surrounding and supporting muscles. MFD utilizes negative pressure to stretch and release the fascia, thereby reducing pain and improving range of motion. MFD is designed to specifically target the fascia, which is a layer of connective tissue that surrounds and supports the muscles, bones, and organs.
When using cupping therapy for the purpose of myofascial release, a oil is applied to the skin and the cups are glided around the area to release the fascial knots along with stagnant cups. MFD is designed to specifically target the fascia, which is a layer of connective tissue that surrounds and supports the muscles, bones, and organs. both MFD and cupping can be effective therapeutic techniques for addressing musculoskeletal pain and promoting tissue healing. However, the choice between the two will depend on the individual needs and preferences of the patient, as well as the specific goals of the therapy session.
In terms of gaining mobility, negative pressure acts to draw blood flow into the area. Bathing tissues in blood delivers more oxygen and healing nutrients to previously stagnant tissues. Micronutrients such as vitamins A, B, C, and D, iron, zinc, glutamine and arginine play important roles in the necessary inflammatory process following injury. Recovery can be assisted by driving these nutrients towards the affected area if mobility deficits continue past the acute inflammatory phase. Often, mobility is improved with less pain/stiffness reported by the patient.
Cupping Marks
Cup marks are almost always left behind, but they do serve a diagnostic purpose;
The size, shape and color are said to reflect the amount of “stagnation” or cellular waste buildup. These marks fade as your lymphatic system processes the waste. Cupping marks are not true bruises, and they don’t injure muscle fibers. They can be a sign that cupping therapy is working properly.
Seen purplish circles on athletes before? Yes, you may get some of those too. It is common for cupping to leave distinctive small, circular bruises on the areas where the cups were applied and it is usually painless.
These cupping marks are discoloration of the skin due to broken blood vessels just beneath the skin, much like a bruise. This indicates the level of blood and Qi stagnation, toxin accumulation, or dampness accumulation in your body. The color and pattern of the marks reflect the level of stagnation in that area. The darker the color, the more stagnation present.
These harmless marks will slowly fade before disappearing completely after approximately 1 week depending on the skin’s regenerative ability. After regular cupping treatments, you will find that the marks will visibly become lighter and lighter.
- Light pink: Fade within a few minutes to an hour.
- Dark red: Fade between 3 days to a week (up to 2 weeks if it is an old injury)
Dry cupping is meant to increase blood flow while removing fluids and toxins from the area being treated. The fluids are said to have high levels of substances related to diseases.
Cupping therapy is renowned for its versatility in addressing a wide range of physical and emotional symptoms. Here are some common conditions that cupping can effectively treat:
1. Pain Relief: Cupping therapy is particularly effective in alleviating musculoskeletal pain, such as back pain, neck pain, and shoulder tension. The suction created by the cups helps release tight muscles, reduce inflammation, and improve mobility.
2. Respiratory Disorders: Cupping can benefit individuals suffering from respiratory conditions like asthma, bronchitis, and coughs. By promoting circulation and clearing congestion, cupping helps ease breathing difficulties and expel phlegm from the lungs.
3. Digestive Issues: Cupping therapy can aid in relieving digestive discomfort, bloating, and constipation. By stimulating digestive function and promoting detoxification, cupping supports gastrointestinal health and enhances nutrient absorption.
4. Stress Reduction: Cupping therapy has calming and sedative effects on the nervous system, making it an effective tool for managing stress, anxiety, and insomnia. The deep relaxation induced by cupping promotes mental clarity, emotional balance, and overall well-being.
5. Immune Support: Cupping therapy can boost the immune system by increasing blood circulation and stimulating the lymphatic system. Regular cupping sessions help the body eliminate toxins, strengthen resistance to illness, and enhance overall vitality.
6. Women’s Health: Cupping is often used to address gynecological issues such as menstrual irregularities, PMS symptoms, and fertility concerns. By regulating hormonal balance and improving blood flow to the reproductive organs, cupping can support women’s health and enhance fertility.
Cupping can reduce inflammatory substances and increase the production of substances to improve your immune system. Cupping may also boost your body’s antioxidant processes.
Cupping therapy exemplifies the holistic approach of Traditional Chinese Medicine, offering a safe, effective, and non-invasive treatment option for a wide range of health conditions. Whether seeking pain relief, stress reduction, or support for specific health concerns, individuals can benefit from the therapeutic effects of cupping, restoring balance and vitality to body, mind, and spirit.
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