In recent years, circular red marks on professional athletes and celebrities have sparked curiosity in individual’s mind. Are cupping therapy the next big thing in pain relief? Used for centuries in ancient Chinese medicine, this age-old practice involves placing cups on the skin to create suction. But does cupping therapy treatment hold weight in today’s modern world? In this article, we’ll delve into the science behind this age-old practice for pain relief and explore their potential benefits.
How Cupping Therapy is performed?
Hijama or Cupping Therapy involves applying round shaped glass, plastic or silicon suction cups to sore areas of the body. The cups may usually be kept still or gently moved across the skin. The placement of cups creates a partial vacuum that draws the layers of the muscle and skin into it, stimulating muscles and blood circulation while reducing pain. The suction effect of cupping therapy also helps to breakup the muscle knots and tightness. Besides, it aims to open pores and blood flow, thus helping to clear off toxins and lactic acid.
There are different types of Cupping Treatment, including:
Wet or Hijama Cupping Therapy: This therapy works by creating small cuts on the skin tissues.
Fire Cupping: The name ‘fire’ seems scary but it works by using fire to simply heat up the cup and create a vacuum before placing those suction cup on the skin.
Dry Cupping Therapy Treatment: This treatment is the safest and very efective option for muscular problems. The therapist place high-quality plastic or special glass cups on the skin to create suction. People undergo this cupping therapy for various reasons, including relieving pain, inflammation, well-being, blood circulation, deep-tissue massage, and relaxation.
What are its major benefits?
Some studies suggest that cupping therapy treatment may seem to be beneficial for pain management programmes. This is especially true for health disorders like headaches, menstrual cramps, neck pain, back pain and many. In clinical studies, patients with shoulder and neck pain have experienced more than 70% decrease in pain after receiving cupping therapy. Also, this traditional practice seem very beneficial for those suffering from herpes zoster and acne.
Cupping therapy is a great alternative for those who are allergic to anti-inflammatory drugs. Relief provided by this ancient practice is very quick, making individuals feel more energitic and leaving them feel free from pain. Cupping therapy treatment helps to treat conditions like migraine, bronchial congestion caused due to allegies and asthma, blood disorders such as high blood pressure, haemophilia, and anaemia, arthritis and fibromyalgia, psychological issues like depression, and anxiety, fertility and menstrual problems like PCOS and many.
Are suction cups dangerous and painful?
Cupping therapy are normally safe for everyone, except for those who have thin, delicate skin, patients who take corticosteroids or blood thinners tablets, and people who have bleeding disorder. People with above conditions should choose altenative treatment, as hijama therapy may put them at risk with any sort of skin damage. The common side effect of this treatment are usually very mild, especially in the area where cups were placed for few minutes. A session of cupping therapy treatment may cause a little discomfort when those cups starts its suction effect. Cupping marks and bruises are common but no worries, it usually fades away after few days.
Things to do after a Cupping Sessions
Patients are adviced to follow these aftercare things to avoid contractions and get the best result out of cupping therapy.
- Cover the cupping marks for about 24 hours, as the pores remain open after the session so more chances for patient’s to get infection.
- Drink plenty of water as it helps to flush toxins away, thus improving the purifying effect of cupping therapy treatment.
- Avoid alcohol consumption for about a day to not overload the body system and also to help the liver to deal with proper toxin circulation that were brought to the surface.
Book an appointment with us today and make any health disorder a dim and distant memory with our cupping therapy.