Stressed from day-to-day work? Want to relax and try something new? Then, why not try cupping instead of the usual massage?
Cupping is an ancient alternative medicine in which a therapist puts special cups on your skin for a few minutes to create suction. It is the inverse of massage wherein rather than applying pressure to muscles, the suction uses pressure to pull skin, tissue and muscles upward.
This method was developed thousands of years ago and many variations have been developed through modernization. Versions of Cupping can be found in many cultures from Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Cupping increases blood circulation by pulling blood on where the cup was placed. It can relieve muscle tension, which can improve overall blood flow and promote cell repair. Cupping can also help form new connective tissues and create new blood vessels in the tissue. This can be helpful for fast relief from muscle spasms, back pain, sciatica and arthritic and rheumatic problems.
It promotes the release of toxins that have accumulated in this area, and encourages circulation of both blood and lymph vessels in stimulating the skin and underlying muscles. In addition, it stimulates the organ-related reflex zones in the skin to further improve the function of inner organs, including the liver, stomach, intestines and kidneys. Moreover, cupping is thought to increase immunity in an area, causing to release a histamine-like substance in the skin due to suction.
According to the British Cupping Society, studies use cupping therapy to treat blood disorders such as anemia and hemophilia, rheumatic diseases, fertility and gynecological disorders, high blood pressure and migraines. Besides this, cupping therapy seems to provoke a relaxation response in some people, which means it’s useful for lowering stress and its negative effects.
Cupping is safe but has a tendency to have mild side effects to the skin area where the cup was placed. Among these are mild discomfort, burns, bruises and skin infection. Talk with your doctor before you start cupping or any other type of alternative or complementary medicine.
It is important to get our bodies ample relaxation after long hours of work. Go ahead and indulge in cupping!
