{"id":2818,"date":"2019-01-17T06:06:34","date_gmt":"2019-01-17T06:06:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=2818"},"modified":"2021-03-22T18:44:31","modified_gmt":"2021-03-22T18:44:31","slug":"10-things-to-keep-in-mind-before-you-try-cupping-therapy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/10-things-to-keep-in-mind-before-you-try-cupping-therapy\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Things to Keep in Mind Before You Try Cupping Therapy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Cupping is fast becoming a rising health trend. Actors and sports professionals all swear by this ancient restorative therapy, so \u2013 could it work for you as well? The practice of cupping originates from traditional Chinese medicine, where it\u2019s used as a rejuvenating therapy for thousands of years \u2013 long before celebrities were Instagramming their cupping bruises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advocates for cupping therapy claim that the practice reduces stress, speeds up recovery from strenuous exercise, and reduces inflammation. The therapy involves using cups made from silicone, glass, plastic, or bamboo to draw out toxins from beneath the skin’s surface. Individuals undergoing the treatment lie face down on a massage table while the practitioner places the cups on their back and draws the air out of the cup, pulling the skin inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve been on the fence about trying out cupping therapy, here are eight things to keep in mind before you book your first appointment.
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1.    Different Methods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are two types of cupping therapy available; \u201cfixed\u201d and \u201cmoving.\u201d In fixed cupping, the practitioner places the cups along the length of your back, typically four on each side of the body. The practitioner leaves the cups in place for a few minutes until the skin inside the cup begins to show signs of blood nearing the surface. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In moving cupping therapy, the practitioner lubricates the skin with massage oil before placing the cup on the back. They then move the instrument around the immediate area to remove the toxins from your blood <\/a>and skin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therapists draw air into the cups by heating the surface of the cup after it’s attached to your back. Silicone cups work by squeezing the walls of the instrument together, allowing the negative pressure to suck up the skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no official medical science to show that cupping works. However, individuals suffering from allergies, back pain, muscle soreness, stress, fatigue, and anxiety may find tremendous relief from a cupping therapy session.
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2.    Choosing the Right Practitioner<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cupping is not rocket science, but that doesn\u2019t mean you should do it yourself or use an inexperienced practitioner for your therapy. Homeopathic treatment<\/a> centers and schools of Chinese medicine teach classes on cupping therapy, educating the students on the benefits of cupping and how it affects the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A licensed cupping therapist has thousands of hours of experience in helping patients recover from disease, injury, and stress using the ancient method. While it may seem like they\u2019re doing nothing but placing cups on your back and removing them a few minutes later, it takes a skilled eye to know where to set the instruments and how long to leave them on the skin before removing them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Search online for licensed practitioners and use reviews to assess your best option available to you in the area in which you live. Try to pick a therapist that has a practice as close to your home as possible. You may feel slightly light-headed after the treatment.
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3.    Internal Massage Therapy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The best way to think about cupping therapy is as an internal massage<\/a>. In a regular sports massage, the therapist places pressure on your muscles to remove knots and tension in the muscle groups. Cupping does the complete opposite of this technique. The process involves lifting your skin and fascia tissue into the cup where it releases the toxins and tension from the muscles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The process lifts your connective tissues away from the bones, releasing any muscle stress from your system. The principle behind cupping therapy is that it assists the body in creating health fascia tissue while eliminating any harmful toxins from the bloodstream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Healthy fascia and clean blood leads to improved levels of flexibility and enhanced muscle recovery. Chinese practitioners believe that cupping improves the flow of energy in the body, known as \u201cQi,\u201d the life-force that travels through our meridian points. Cupping enhances Qi and the body\u2019s efficiency at producing and consuming energy.
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4.    Strange Sensation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One look at the back of someone who\u2019s just undergone a cupping session is enough to put anyone off of the therapy. Cupping <\/a>leaves round marks on your back that are unsightly and look painful. However, the actual treatment doesn\u2019t create much discomfort. The best way to describe the feeling of cupping is as a pulling sensation at the surface of the skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The therapy doesn\u2019t feel painful at all, and most patients report a pleasant, if not strange, sensation as the practitioner draws air out of the cup and pulls the skin inside. Moving cupping feels a lot like a typical sports massage as the practitioner moves the cups around you back. Some patients do report feelings of discomfort similar to what they would expect from attaching a vacuum cleaner to their skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your results depend significantly on the skill of the practitioner. Experienced therapists know exactly how much air to pull out of the cup to produce optimal results without creating a pain response.
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5.    Cupping is Quick Therapy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you decide to visit a sports massage therapist, the experience can take up to an hour. Cupping is much faster for the same results and patients can expect the entire experience to last for around 15-minutes from start to finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some therapists may charge more for a session, but they may include other services along with the cupping. Some practitioners incorporate acupuncture into the treatment, another traditional therapy that involves using long, thin needles to stimulate pressure <\/a>points on the body that release tension and toxins from muscles and joints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before you commit to a session, ask the therapist what other services they include with cupping. The practitioner will ask you about your symptoms to get a clear idea of your current health status. Avoid any therapist that tacks on additional charges for acupuncture and other related treatments, in an attempt to get more money out of you on your visit.
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6.    Cupping Other Areas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most cupping sessions focus on the back for treatment<\/a>. However, the therapy can benefit other areas of the body as well. Some patients report cupping relieves symptoms of neck pain, as well as knee joint issues. The thighs and arms are also other points of interest that can benefit from the practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speak to your therapist about cupping other areas of your body. An experienced professional will be able to identify different parts of the body that can benefit from the therapy. “Moving cupping” is particularly popular as a treatment for runners struggling with sore quadriceps and hamstrings. The procedure removes toxins and free radicals from muscle tissue and the bloodstream, enhancing recovery from long-distance marathons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martial artists and UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship,) fighters swear by the results of cupping for relieving muscular stress before and after a competition. Watch any live UFC event, and you\u2019re bound to see some of the fighters with cupping marks on their back.
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7.    Bruises Last a While<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As we mentioned, cupping leaves unsightly bruises all over your back. These bruises <\/a>come from the blood rushing to the surface of the skin, where toxins pass through the layers of the epidermis and into the cup. While some people may be frightened of a cupping session after looking at some patient’s backs, others see it as a badge of honor that they proudly display on their Instagram page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, experienced practitioners will tell you that the extent of the bruises is not an indication of the success of the therapy. Most professional therapists try to avoid bruising as much as possible and see extensive marking as a sign of a poorly experienced practitioner. If your skin bruises easily, then speak to your therapist before you start the cupping process and ask them to go easy on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bruises typically dissipate over time, and you can expect them to disappear entirely in less than a week.
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8.    Cupping and Health<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The health <\/a>benefits of cupping are numerous. Athletes use it to reduce exercise inflammation, and average people use it to remove stress and toxins from the body. The therapy also improves circulation, a vital component of exercise recovery and well-being. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally the therapy had a use for enhancing life-force energy, known as \u201cQi.\u201d Chinese therapists were unaware of how it affects the lymph nodes, improving their efficiency at filtering lymph fluid of toxins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cupping sometimes offers a miracle cure for people suffering from migraines and circulatory issues, such as anemia. While cupping has a special place in Chinese medicine, they weren\u2019t the only culture to benefit from the use of the therapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and other European countries adopted the practice of cupping as well. It was the ancient Greek philosopher, Hippocrates, also known as “Father of Modern Medicine,” who first recommended cupping in his guide to clinical treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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