The Health Benefits of Cupping
The practice of “cupping” is all the rage in the alternative medicine community, but this trendy technique is anything but new. Cupping is the ancient practice of placing cups, typically glass domes, on the skin to create a suction effect meant to facilitate healing by promoting blood flow. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners have used both wet and dry cupping techniques for thousands of years in order to help ease pain and inflammation, as well as to induce proper blood flow, relaxation, and well-being. And, the list of potential benefits doesn’t stop there! Read on for the top six therapeutic benefits cupping can offer those seeking relief.
1.) Detoxification:
Did you know your body’s lymphatic system is responsible for 70% of its toxin and waste elimination? Cupping boosts the release of those toxins by focusing blood flow through the lymphatic system. When the body is properly detoxing, every other measure of personal wellness is subsequently boosted.
2.) Increased Circulation
Through cupping, practitioners intentionally direct blood flow through the aforementioned lymphatic system and specifically to the area where the cups are placed. This focused increased circulation can help to relieve muscle tension and promote healthy cell repair in the affected areas.
3.) Improved Varicose and Spider Veins
For so many women, varicose or spider veins are a huge issue. Perhaps one of the most exciting benefits cupping offers is the reduced appearance of these uncomfortable and, for some of us, embarrassing symptoms. By bringing fresh blood flow and oxygen back to the affected areas, cupping can reduce the size and color of varicose and spider veins. You’ll notice immediate, but short-lived, results after the first session; however, it will take a few or several sessions in order to obtain lasting results.
4.) Improved Physical Appearance
Cellulite, stretch marks, and scars are the three areas of physical appearance which most benefit from the practice of cupping. All that additional blood flow and increased circulation also removes edema, or excess fluid, from areas even far removed from the cups’ initial application site. In effect, areas with cellulite, stretch marks, or scarring are smoothed out, reducing the appearance of these unsightly or unwanted symptoms.
5.) Improved Digestion & Cleared Colon Blockages
By engaging the parasympathetic nervous system, cupping aids in peristalsis, which is the contraction process that moves food through your digestive tract. By gently cupping over the abdomen, your practitioner will encourage blood and body fluid movement throughout your body which results in the clearing of blockages in the colon and the relief of indigestion.
6.) Reduced Anxiety and Blood Pressure
The parasympathetic nervous system is also responsible for slowing your heart rate, which has many benefits, not the least of which is a reduction in both anxiety depression. The engagement of this system is also crucial to maintaining healthy digestion and intestinal and gland activities. Studies show that these processes can also directly impact your mental state and level of cortisol, aka your level of peace and serenity.
The above health benefits are not, by any means, an exhaustive list of everything a cupping treatment can offer to its recipient. Cupping can also clear congestion, help treat asthma, reduce migraines, and mitigate the appearance of skin problems, like eczema and acne. As the western world is historically slow to adopt therapies that TCM has been utilizing for centuries, there isn’t a vast amount of research available. But, highly-trained practitioners assert that cupping can also be used to boost fertility and address other gynecological disorders. Cupping holds the potential to provide relief from some of your most chronic ailments.
