Did you watch the Olympics last month? Our amazing olympic athletes did an amazing job winning the most medals for the USA. Michael Phelps, ending with the most medals won by an olympian in any Olympics, was a big standout. If you watched him during his swimming events, you would have noticed on his upper body, all over his shoulders and back, were unusual red marks. Those red marks were a result of cupping. Hollywood celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Simpson, David Arquette, and Gwyneth Paltrow to name a few, are also sporting the large suction red marks on their bodies. They have made cupping the new trend to follow.
What is cupping you might be asking yourself? Cupping pronounced, KepiNG, is a Chinese Alternative medicine therapy. A special cup is applied to the skin in which to create suction as a way of stimulating the flow of energy. This method is an ancient form of alternative medicine. Middle Eastern and Egyptians have been performing this method since 1,550BC. It has now become popular with the western world, and many olympians were using this form of alternative medicine. People use this method to help ease pain, inflammation, blood flow, relaxation and well-being. This is a type of deep tissue massage.
The cups used are made of glass, bamboo, earthenware and silicone. Also, the different methods are dry and wet. The cupping therapist will put a flammable substance like alcohol, herbs or paper in a cup and set it on fire. When the fire goes out, he or she will put the cup upside down on your skin. It is important that you go to an experienced therapist with years of experience in cupping therapy. When the air inside the cup cools, it creates a vacuum which causes the skin to rise and redden as the blood vessels expand. The cup is left on the skin for about 3 minutes.
A modern version can be used, using a rubber pump instead of fire to create the vacuum inside the cup. This method might be to most people’s liking. Although I have not experienced cupping therapy as yet, the method I would use would be with the modern version, instead of fire. The use of the silicone cup also gives the therapist better access where they can move it from place to place on the skin for a massage like feeling. Wet cupping creates a mild suction by leaving the cup in place for 3 minutes. After the therapist removes the cup, a small scalpel is used to make tiny cuts on your skin and then a second suction is done to draw out small amount of blood. You are given an antibiotic ointment and bandage to prevent infection. The skin will go back to normal within 10 days. Cupping therapists believe wet cupping removes harmful substances from the body and promotes healing.
Side effects from cupping include mild discomfort, burns, bruises and skin infection. It is important that if you are interested in cupping therapy, you go to a trained professional. You also need to talk to your doctor before you start cupping therapy. Although much scientific research has not been done on cupping, the British Cupping Society says the treatments are used to treat blood disorders such as anemia and hemophilia, high blood pressure, migraines, anxiety and depression, bronchial congestion caused by allergies and asthma, skin problems such as eczema and acne, and arthritis.
The cost for this type of procedure varies from different places. It can cost $50 for a half hour session upwards to $100. It can be combined with an acupuncture session to get a complete well-being healing. You can check out InTouchNYC.com to learn more and schedule an appointment.
Is it a fad or a new alternative medicine way of life you might want to try? This method of healing has been around for centuries and only becoming new to us in the western world. Alternative medicine provides us with many health benefits and advantages that pose no high-risk side effects like pharmacological drugs and surgery, therefore before you begin cupping therapy, do your research and find the right professional to perform it.
