Cupping therapy is a traditional form of alternative medicine that has been used for centuries in many different cultures. The term refers to the practice of drawing a glass or plastic cup over the skin to create suction and pull blood from the skin.
The treatment is an ancient Chinese and Middle Eastern medical practice that involves using a cup to suction and cup-shaped objects onto the skin. This therapy may use heated glasses or bamboo cups to help increase pain relief and other medicinal effects. This practice has been used for centuries to treat various conditions, including backaches and migraines.
For some people, the therapy has been shown to have various effects on the human body. One study found that it effectively reduced pain and inflammation in patients with neck pain, arthritis, or carpal tunnel syndrome. Additionally, the treatment has been shown to reduce stress levels and improve moods in some people. While there is still some research to be done on the benefits of cupping therapy, its efficacy is evident based on anecdotal evidence and initial findings.
How it Works
Scientists are still exploring more on this practice and how it eases the symptoms of some diseases and how it can relieve pain. Others believe that the suction process draws fluids into the infected area, and these forces can break the capillaries, which are blood vessels under the dermis.
The body will treat this as an injury, and it can naturally stimulate the healing process. Others believe that the process essentially releases toxins and clears the pores. Doctors and physical therapists may perform cupping massage in Long Island City, and you may want to check with them if this is for you. The therapists will give you more details about what you can expect and what you should do before the treatment.
History to Know About
Cupping therapy is an ancient Chinese medical treatment that has been used for centuries to treat a variety of medical conditions. The practice involves using a cup to create suction on the skin and release blood. Cupping therapy has been shown to have several benefits for the human body, including reducing inflammation, improving circulation, and treating pain.
Generally, you may choose between the wet and dry methods. A therapist will put a flammable substance like paper or alcohol in the cup and set them on fire. They will then put these in an upside-down fashion on your back.
The hot air will then cool and create a vacuum. This will cause redness and expansion of the blood vessels, especially if the equipment is left for at least three minutes. The more modern versions may use rubber pumps instead of a fire to create the vacuum effect through silicone materials.
This will create a feeling of getting a massage whenever you need one. The next thing to do is the physician is going to make tiny cuts on the skin with the help of a scalpel and perform a second suction to get smaller quantities of blood.
Antibiotic treatment will then be put in to prevent infection. Generally, the back will be back to its normal state in just ten days. The proponents of this program believe that this will promote healing and remove toxins in the body. Others may prefer the acupuncture method or getting the needles put into the cups over them to get the best results.
Benefits of Cupping Therapy
- It may be effective in treating pain. A study found that this treatment was as effective as ibuprofen in relieving various kinds of painful sensations.
- The therapy may be beneficial for reducing inflammation. Research papers show that cupping was associated with a reduction in inflammatory markers on the skin of many people.
- This process can be effective in hemophilia, anemia, and other blood disorders
- You may have improved circulation afterwards. This can help if you have heart diseases and other kinds of gynecological disorders. It might be helpful for people who have high blood pressure.
- Cupping may improve skin health and address problems like acne and eczema.
Side Effects to Know About
- Skin infections
- Bruises
- Burns
- Mild discomfort
It’s essential to find a clinic that’s sterilizing its tools correctly. This way, you’ll prevent blood-borne diseases like hepatitis C and B. Growing research and reviews of studies done in 2018 showed that the therapy could have various benefits to frequent or localized infections.
The process may alleviate various symptoms by improving one’s immune system and promoting peripheral blood circulation. Other effects may include:
- Increasing an individual’s pain threshold
- Promote healthier skin through blood flow
- Changing one’s biomechanical properties
- Improving anaerobic metabolism that does not involve oxygen
- Decrease inflammation, redness, and swelling
- Boost one’s cellular immunity
In 2017 researchers have found out that cupping can stretch one’s underlying tissues and increase blood flow. There’s also the activation of the Heme oxygenase-1 that’s essential in preventing vascular inflammation, which could account for many benefits that many people experience. There are also notes as well as theories that others may experience the following benefits:
- Alter the pain signal processes
- Using counter-irritation to reduce painful sensations
- Stimulate the increase of circulation in the blood because of more nitric oxide
- Stimulation of the immune system
- Increase interferon and necrotizing tumor cells in the body
- Decreasing certain types of cholesterol as well as uric acid
- Changing hemoglobin’s molecular function and structure
Despite the various claims and theories, it’s still important to remember that this treatment requires further research. The mechanism may work for others but not for some, so you need to call your doctor before signing up for one.
Final Words
Cupping therapy has been around for centuries and is still used in many parts of the world today. It is a widely used complementary treatment for various health conditions, including pain relief, stress relief, and improving circulation. It is believed to have several beneficial effects on the human body, including reducing inflammation, improving blood flow, and decreasing pain, so you might want to call a local therapist to know more about it.
