Cupping therapy (Hijama) has been around for centuries as an alternative medicine technique that promotes blood circulation, alleviates pain, reduces inflammation and enhances relaxation.
One study compared cupping to over-the-counter acetaminophen for knee osteoarthritis sufferers in 20 individuals. Researchers observed that those receiving cupping reported significantly less symptoms compared to those taking acetaminophen.
It’s used to relieve pain
If you’re experiencing chronic pain, alternative medicine cupping therapy could provide relief. By applying cups to the skin to create suction and relieve tension through suctioning, cupping therapy relieves pain while simultaneously relaxing muscles, improving blood flow, and decreasing inflammation. Cupping therapy has been used for centuries – with ancient Chinese, Egyptian and Middle Eastern cultures using it to treat various ailments; modern athletes have also turned to it in order to speed recovery time after injuries have been sustained.
Cupping therapy works by applying heat to a glass or plastic cup and rapidly moving it over the area of your body you wish to treat, using a vacuum pump as suction. Initially, cups made from hollowed animal horns heated over fire were used; today they can be made out of glass bamboo rubber ceramic and silicone; it should be noted that cupping therapy should not replace medical advice from your healthcare provider.
There’s evidence of cupping therapy helping with pain relief, although more high-quality studies are needed. One 2021 study demonstrated how massage techniques could alleviate musculoskeletal pain by stimulating your muscles’ blood vessels and nerves – this stimulation could then relax tense muscles by stimulating their blood vessels and nerves, providing temporary relief.
Your physical therapist at our Bealeton, Bristow & Gainesville clinic will use small cups to apply suction. This lift and separate action creates space for blood to move into targeted areas, aiding neural tissues, fascia and skin structures and relieving trigger points as a result.
A cup is then used to massage muscles, joints and tendons to release adhesions between tissues and other structures and reduce any associated pain caused by adhesions between tissue structures and your tissues and other structures. This treatment may help relieve tension or stiffness in muscles; chronic and acute pain treatments alike may benefit from being combined with active movement treatments like cupping.
After receiving cupping treatment, you may notice round marks on your skin which should gradually fade over the next week or two. Drink lots of water and stay warm to speed the healing process.
It’s used to reduce inflammation
Most people want to find ways to reduce pain and reduce stress, whether through massage, taking a hot bath or practicing deep breathing and meditation. All these approaches may help, as may cupping therapy – a treatment which uses specially designed cups applied directly onto the body in order to create suction and increase blood circulation while leaving temporary “hickey-like marks”, known as cupping marks – temporarily helping relieve muscle tension, pain and inflammation.
Cupping is an ancient form of alternative medicine still practiced today, believed to work by correcting imbalances within an individual’s internal bio field and restoring “Qi (qi)” flow. Cupped skin creates a vacuum effect to pull muscles upward, relieving pain while relaxing them and aiding with natural healing processes of the body.
Many health professionals, such as allopathic and osteopathic physicians, physical therapists, massage therapists, European osteopaths and naturopaths utilize cupping therapy; however, only certified practitioners should perform it due to unsterile instruments and improper technique which can result in infection, scarring, blisters abscesses bleeding disorders chronic pain syndromes and more.
Reflex zones or points correspond with various organs and systems in the body, including back, legs, and arms. Applying pressure to these points increases blood flow to that area while stimulating its natural healing processes – helping reduce pain, relieve tension, and alleviate effects of stress.
Researchers believe that cupping can be an effective treatment for pain because it causes nerve endings to de-sensitize, decreasing discomfort. Others consider the suction created by cups an efficient means of stimulating lymphatic systems and clearing away metabolic waste which may reduce pain while aiding healing.
Though its exact benefits remain uncertain, cupping therapy has a long history of use and is generally considered safe for most people. Pregnant women or those suffering from bleeding disorders should avoid it due to prolonged bruising which could occur from too much cupping therapy sessions.
It’s used to improve circulation
Cupping has been shown to improve blood circulation and promote relaxation, but its exact mechanism for treating pain or illness remains unknown. There have been a variety of theories proposed; one being that suction created by cups draws blood flow toward areas of inflammation to enhance immunity and accelerate healing.
One theory states that cupping can activate nerve fibers in the spinal cord to block pain signals and initiate natural healing processes in your body. Another theory posits that cupping balances the body’s negative and positive energies by restoring equilibrium between them – fighting infection, increasing blood flow and creating new tissue are among its potential benefits.
Cupping therapy has long been used to address back and neck pain, fibromyalgia, headaches and migraines as well as respiratory conditions like bronchitis. Furthermore, cupping can promote circulation while relieving stress and relieving muscle tension; additional benefits can be gained when combined with massage therapy or acupuncture treatments for maximum effect.
There are two forms of cupping: dry and wet. When practicing dry cupping, your provider places small cups onto your skin that can remain stationary or be moved around as desired; these cups may be made of glass, plastic or silicone material.
Your provider will warm each cup by burning an alcohol-soaked cotton ball, creating an oxygen-depleting vacuum to pull your skin into its cup and create a vacuum seal that may cause some tugging sensation while in place, but should not cause pain or discomfort.
Wet cupping is similar to dry cupping, except your provider adds additional pressure by using a pump to expel air from the cups prior to applying them to your skin, creating stronger suction that draws blood directly towards its surface and increasing circulation.
Both types of cupping can cause temporary skin discoloration around the area where cups are applied and minor bruising may also occur, though usually not to an extreme degree. If any side effects concern you, speak with your healthcare professional first before beginning this treatment plan; pregnant women and those suffering from bleeding disorders or heart diseases should also avoid this treatment option.
It’s used to relieve stress
Cupping therapy may help alleviate stress by increasing blood flow and relieving muscle tension. It also eases pain relief while encouraging cell repair and growth, and is used to treat various ailments including chronic pain and fibromyalgia, as well as boost your immunity and reduce inflammation. While cupping therapy should be safe for most, pregnant women and those with specific health conditions should speak to their healthcare provider prior to beginning any new therapy regimes.
Cupping therapy comes in various forms, but generally speaking involves placing cups on the skin that create suction. Traditional cupping uses fire to heat the cup before quickly moving it over the skin, while modern practitioners might use pumps instead. Either way, when this suction creates suction it pulls skin and tissues into it which increases blood flow to that area, increasing circulation. After removal from skin the marks left behind should fade within several days or weeks.
Some therapists may utilize a special technique known as dry cupping, in which they place the cup directly over an acupuncture point or energy meridians. Others may apply the cup over the area of discomfort before gently pressing on it with their hand. Your therapist will ask about any symptoms you’re experiencing and may recommend other forms of treatment like massage or acupuncture depending on what’s appropriate for you.
While further study is necessary to fully comprehend the effects of cupping therapy, preliminary evidence indicates it can improve circulation and ease pain relief. Cupping may also help balance out yin and yang energies within your body – possibly strengthening immunity while eliminating disease-causing factors.
While cupping therapy has its drawbacks, it remains an effective therapy to address various health conditions. To ensure safe and successful results it’s vital that a certified therapist be chosen and to adhere to his or her instructions; in addition to that it would be wise to avoid cupping over open wounds or sensitive areas like boney structures.
