Cupping Therapy

Cupping Therapy

Cupping therapy has been used in China for thousands of years, and is an aspect of Traditional Chinese Medicine that you may not have heard of before however the benefits are vast and range from decrease in pain, activation of the lymphatic system, promotion of blood circulation, relaxation and deep tissue repair. It’s commonly used to treat muscle aches and pains, tightness, sprains, injuries to soft tissues and respiratory conditions such as bronchitis and asthma. The therapy involves the heating of specialised glass cups in order to draw and hold skin and superficial muscles inside the cup. The cups are applied to certain acupuncture points usually on the back as well as to parts of the body that have been affected by pain. On one hand, cupping removes any stagnation in the body and opens the meridians so that qi can flow freely. On the other, it also helps to rejuvenate certain meridians and organs that are not functioning at their best. From a scientific standpoint, cupping is known to promote blood circulation by lifting the body’s connective tissue, loosening any adhesions and restoring blood flow to areas of the body that have been restricted. In this way it is good for deep tissue repair as the cups suction is often four inches into the tissues, causing the tissues to release toxins, activate the lymphatic system, clear colon blockages, activate and clear the veins and skin, clear stretch marks, and improve the appearance of varicose veins. Cups are generally left in place for ten to twenty minutes. The skin will redden due to the congestion of blood flow. The cups are then removed and what appear to be bruises are often left the more stagnation there is.