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Maybe you’ve seen the large, red and purple circular marks on Gwyneth Paltrow’s back in her strapless Oscar’s gown; or the similarly perfect circles on Michael Phelps and other Olympic athletes during the 2016 Summer Olympic games.
Cupping is a helpful holistic tool, and it’s not just for athletes and elites but accessible to everyone, having been used in many cultures for millenia.
In more recent times, cupping has been used Traditional Chinese Medicine, by Acupuncturists, Chiropractors, Naturopaths, and Massage Therapists.
The Basics of Cups
Cups can be made of different materials -
GLASS
PLASTIC
SILICONE
BAMBOO
Cupping uses actual cups made of different materials placed on the skin’s surface, usually following the lines of Acupuncture meridians, creating an airtight environment.
Either before or after placement on the body, the air is physically removed out of the cups making a vacuum, or negative pressure, inside the cup.
The skin, local muscle, and connective tissue get sucked or forced into the cup with this vacuum pressure.
What Cupping Does for your Health
Cupping promotes the free flow of Qi (life energy), a fundamental concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to address what is referred to as stagnation.
Qi stagnation occurs when the body's energy doesn't move freely, which can manifest as pain, tension, or illness. The purpose of cupping is to stimulate the flow of Qi and bring balance back to the body.
One of the key symptoms of Qi stagnation is pain.
According to TCM, when Qi is blocked, pain and discomfort arise. Cupping helps to release this blockage by drawing Qi, blood, and other vital fluids to the area under the cup.
This action helps open the pores of the skin, encouraging toxins to exit the body. Simultaneously, it helps dispel stagnant Qi and blood, promoting healing and pain relief.
There is a Chinese saying, “Where there is pain, there is no free flow. Where there is free flow, there is no pain.”
Cupping’s ability to restore free flow makes it highly effective for addressing pain caused by muscle tension, injury, or chronic conditions like arthritis.
Additional Health Benefits of Cupping
Boosts Immune Function: Cupping reduces inflammation, which is key to preventing and treating many chronic diseases.
Enhances Respiratory Health: In TCM, cupping is often used to treat respiratory issues like coughs, colds, asthma, and bronchitis. By promoting better blood flow and clearing stagnation in the chest area, cupping helps open up the lungs, allowing for easier breathing and faster recovery from respiratory ailments.
Supports Digestion: Cupping can help relieve digestive problems like bloating, indigestion, and constipation by moving stagnant energy in the digestive organs. When Qi flows freely through the stomach and intestines, digestion improves, leading to better nutrient absorption and elimination of waste.
Reduces Stress and Anxiety: By promoting the smooth flow of Qi, cupping can help calm the nervous system, reducing feelings of stress, anxiety, and fatigue. The physical relief experienced from cupping also translates to mental relaxation, as blocked energy is released, and the body feels more balanced.
Promotes Skin Health: Cupping improves blood circulation to the skin, which can help with conditions like acne, eczema, and cellulite. Increased blood flow brings nutrients and oxygen to the skin while removing toxins, resulting in a healthier, clearer complexion.
Cup Types
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses either glass or pneumatic cups.
Glass cups use fire to remove the air under the cup so the cupping sticks better to the area being treated.
Pneumatic cups are either glass or plastic, placed on the problem area of the body, then a pump is inserted to the top of the cup and the air is sucked out of the cup to the desired level.
The equipment is very simple and easy-to-use offering the option of self-care cupping, or for a professional treatment.
How Does Cupping Feel?
Anyone can receive cupping therapy; it is even safe for children under 5 years old (with shorter duration and the cups are placed with a lighter suction).
Healthy adults and weaker elderly can receive cupping without harm and the treatments typically last only six to ten minutes.
The time spent with cups can feel good -- other than a slight pulling of the skin there isn’t any pain involved, it’s very relaxing.
I used cups in nearly every massage I did when I practiced massage therapy because they work in ways and depths my hands couldn't - manipulating the fascia, promoting even better lactic acid flushing and relieving tightness and tension.
Does Cupping Cause Bruising?
They’re not actually bruises because no blood vessels have been broken in the process of cupping, but instead, surface discolorations, which actually gives a good visual indication of how much stagnation is in the area.
They range from pink to dark purple and last longer depending on the degree of stagnation in the area.
Over time, as the body detoxifies, the marks from cupping sessions become lighter.
Some can be gone right after the treatment and some last up to a week, longer if someone is sick or sedentary, but they’re not painful.
The end result is a softening of the muscle tissue, decreased pain, and an overall feeling of well-being.
Cupping Used in Detoxification
Cupping is another detoxification tool to promote the removal of toxins.
The less toxins in the body's tissues and cells, the healthier one becomes.
Detoxification Benefits of Cupping:
Stimulates Blood Circulation: Cupping increases blood flow to the area where the cups are placed. This improved circulation helps carry toxins away from tissues, supporting the body’s natural detoxification processes.
Lymphatic Drainage: Cupping stimulates the lymphatic system, which is responsible for removing waste and toxins from the body. By promoting lymph flow, cupping helps remove built-up toxins and supports overall detoxification.
Relieves Stagnation: In traditional Chinese medicine, cupping is used to remove "stagnation" or blockages in the flow of energy (Qi). This stagnation is thought to lead to the buildup of toxins, so cupping helps release this blocked energy and allows for better detoxification.
Relaxes Tight Muscles and Tissue: Tight muscles can trap toxins in the tissues and fascia, and cupping helps to release this tension, allowing the body to naturally remove these trapped toxins.
Detoxification is the key to health and wellness, in my detoxification program, we work together to detoxify all the possible issues related to chronic health issues - mold, digestive issues, the chemical toxins within the implants, and heavy metals.
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