Cupping Therapy – What is it?

We have all seen when a person shows up with circular hickey-like bruises on their body. I remember witnessing this for the first time and thinking “What the heck is that?! And why would anybody do that to themselves?!” Or even, “What happened to that person?!” Well guess what, you were witness to someone who just had cupping. Believe it or not, they are not crazy, nobody injured them, the treatment is actually incredibly relaxing, and the benefits are amazing! From relieving back/neck pains, loosening stiff muscles, and even decreasing anxiety, fatigue, migraines, and rheumatism, this treatment is something that everyone can benefit from.

Cupping is a body treatment that involves creating suction on the skin using glasses, or plastic cups. It is most definitely a very trendy thing these days; however, the reality is that it is not new at all. It dates back to ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cultures. During that time, they discovered that by placing a cup on the surface of the skin, then subsequently using a suction device to remove the oxygen, that they could create a negative pressure inside the cup. This is why cupping results in elevation of the skin into the signature dome-like appearance inside the cup. The benefits they uncovered, and that we are now just experiencing, are beyond what you would imagine. They include:

1. Creating a mild immune response and increasing anti-inflammatory chemicals in the body by mobilizing blood flow to the skin. Since the same reaction takes place during muscle recovery, cupping results in faster and more efficient healing.
2. Improving blood circulation to the tissues by drawing stagnant blood to the surface. This speeds up and helps with the recovery of the treated muscle.
3. Stretching tight muscles and the surrounding fascia, resulting in looser muscles, decreased pain, and improved mobility.

Whether you are suffering from pain, discomfort, or immobility, or you are a gym goer or an experienced athlete, cupping is a fantastic way to improve the quality of your movement and return to your daily activities significantly faster.

When it comes to negative side effects of cupping, there are a few things to keep in mind. The most apparent side effect are the odd circular bruises often left behind following the treatment. Although this is completely normal and will dissipate very quickly (often within a couple of days), you might not want to schedule a treatment then head to the beach right after! It is also normal to feel stiff and tender in the areas the cups were applied. Just as with the bruising, these symptoms do not last long either and are normally resolved within a day or two. Ultimately, the negative side effects are incredibly minor and most definitely do not outweigh the benefits.