You may have heard of cupping therapy as a recovery technique many athletes are doing to recover from intense workouts and with soreness. However, cupping is actually an ancient therapy that has been in use for thousands of years. It has its roots in ancient Egyptian and Middle Eastern culture and was used in ancient Chinese culture too. During a cupping session, your therapist will strategically place cups on your skin to create suction, which helps improve blood flow and can work as a form of massage. They will prep the cups by placing a flammable substance inside and setting it on fire, then let it go out. This creates a vacuum effect that causes the suction. There are many different types of cupping therapy, and your practitioner can help you find the best option for your needs. Here are 5 incredible benefits of cupping therapy.
- Improved Blood Flow
One of the most common reasons that people seek cupping therapy is to improve their blood flow. Better blood flow helps your body heal faster from injuries, illnesses, and other problems, so it’s something anyone can benefit from. Because cupping can help with your blood flow, it is often used to treat blood conditions, like anemia, as well as high blood pressure, varicose veins, and other conditions of the cardiovascular system.
- Pain Management and Soreness Recovery
If you experience pain and tension in any part of your body, cupping could be an effective treatment for you. While there isn’t currently much scientific research about cupping for pain management, many athletes are relying on it to help them recover after an injury or difficult practice session. You can also use cupping to help relieve chronic pain and muscle tension caused by sitting or standing for too long.
- Improves Skin Conditions
There is some evidence that cupping could help with treating skin conditions. Some of the conditions that this treatment is specifically noted for include acne and herpes zoster, but there is potential for it to help with treating other conditions as well, such as eczema. This could be due to the increased blood flow that cupping encourages.
- Helps With Relaxation
If you are struggling with physical or emotional tension, cupping could be very helpful for inducing relaxation. Many people find they are less likely to experience muscle spasms after a cupping session, and that cupping can help them relax after a long, stressful day. Although the feeling is very intense and takes some getting used to, many people find that they experience a deep feeling of relaxation right after the treatment is over.
- Improves Digestion
Although there is still more research to be done on this topic, many proponents of traditional medicine use cupping to help with digestion. If you find yourself frequently constipated, or if your appetite is consistently poor, cupping can help stimulate your body’s digestive system to alleviate these problems. When combined with a healthy lifestyle, this could be a helpful supplement for maintaining a healthy weight.
Image Via Optima Health Solutions