What Are the Benefits of Cupping?

Cupping therapy is a method of pain relief that dates back to ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Chinese medicine. The therapy has evolved over the years, with innovations from many other cultures and practices. It's a non-invasive holistic treatment therapy that many professionals, such as chiropractors, use today for many reasons.

Initially, Greek medicine used the technique to help treat internal and structural problems in the body. The Romans used cupping for bloodletting, a popular medical concept at the time. No blood is involved in the procedure today, though acupuncture may be conducted either before or after a cupping session.

Now we have a body of evidence-based data showing cupping therapy helps various health conditions, including back pain, and managing many health concerns. Patients often notice a relief in tight muscles and more. It's a common practice among Olympic athletes who use it to promote healing at the cellular level, increase blood flow to vital areas, and recover quickly from aches and pains associated with their athletic activities.

Keep reading to learn more about what cupping therapy entails, how it works, when you should consider undergoing the method, how often the treatment should occur, and the many benefits associated with this ancient medical practice that medical professionals have evolved to use in current times.

What Is Cupping Therapy?

Cupping therapy utilizes a number of heated cups that create a suctioned seal on a targeted area of the body. Chiropractors and other medical providers may use these cups to address back pain and soft tissue problems in the arms, stomach, legs, and more. Additionally, you may see people use the therapy to treat edema (inflammation), acne, asthma, and skin conditions like eczema.

Chiropractors often use the suction created by cupping therapy to work on muscles and pain associated with muscle tension and strain, injury recovery, headaches, and back and neck pain, along with pain management for chronic health conditions.

The seal that these suction cups create a vacuum-like force on the area to which a professional places the instrument. In turn, the skin in the area below the cup pulls the area upward to increase blood flow. The increased blow food can help promote healing and ease pain in sore spots. Athletes often find this useful to recover quickly from sports injuries and to maintain the good condition of their muscles, tendons, and ligaments, which may aid in preventing damage during their routine.

How Does Cupping Therapy Work?

Cupping therapy works through the suction motion discussed above. While increasing blood flow, the process works by decompressing muscles and connective tissue. This improves blood circulation, which in turn eases soreness and aids healing in the affected area. Many people view it as a reverse deep tissue massage.

By creating this suction, your capillaries (tiny blood vessels) break up under the skin. In turn, your body recognizes this breakage as a minor injury. While this may not sound great, it's beneficial in aiding relief and healing. It cues your body to send more blood to the area, and some believe cupping therapy can help release toxins and even clear pores.

The cups are applied for just a few minutes each session, making it a quick and convenient procedure for many. They may be created using different materials, including ceramic, silicone, metal, or bamboo.

Sometimes, a chiropractor may use acupuncture in the area before or after the cupping therapy session to further increase blood flow to the area for optimum results. Discuss this option with your medical provider to decide if you're interested in it, as it's an augment to therapy and is not necessary to receive cupping.

However, depending on your condition, you may benefit from same-session acupuncture. Acupuncture is another minor procedure that signals to your body that you have an injury to promote healing. Additionally, chiropractors may move the cups slightly through the session without breaking the seal to serve as a massage sensation on the soft tissue.

What to Do Following a Cupping Therapy Session

There are ways to care for your body after cupping. Your chiropractor can provide specific instructions to follow. Here are several things that you can expect.

Avoid Hot Showers and Baths

After receiving cupping therapy, you should not take a hot shower or bath for 24 hours, as your skin will be particularly sensitive. This can lead to increased inflammation and skin infection, as your pores will be larger than usual.

Stay Hydrated and Keep the Area Covered

Additionally, you should drink a lot of water following a session. Keep the area where the cups were used covered to avoid infection, friction, and chafing, and do your best to keep the site warm.

Rest to Help Recovery

You'll also need to rest for a period after each session. While you can participate in daily activities such as food shopping, caring for your children or pets, and moving about the house, extensive activity isn't a good idea.

Be Aware of Potential Side Effects

After a cupping session, you may experience mild cold-like symptoms and headaches or body aches. You're also likely to notice light bruising in the area. This is all part of the process and is nothing to cause concern.

These side effects will subside shortly and are a normal reaction as your body sends more blood to the area to promote healing. It can help boost your immune system and eliminate the toxins that cupping aims to eradicate.

Different Types of Cupping Therapy

There are two types of conducting therapy: dry cupping and wet cupping. These are the most popular treatment methods, though there are alternatives.

Dry Cupping

With dry cupping therapy, your chiropractor will heat the inside of each cup they're about to place on your body. This is usually done with a method of sterilization, such as using cotton balls soaked in rubbing alcohol before having a flame set to them.

With dry cupping, the use of heat can help the instruments attain the optimum ability to create a vacuum seal on the body. If your chiropractor does not use the flame-induced cupping therapy, they will place the cups on your skin at normal temperature and use a suction device to help pull the skin up into the cups and create the seal.

Wet Cupping

The second way to conduct the procedure is by wet cupping. This is when the practice of acupuncture is involved. Your chiropractor will apply tiny needles to the treated area before applying the cups. The theory behind this method is that the tiny holes created by each needle will help release toxins. Your provider may also use acupuncture after the cups are removed to aid the process.

Additional Methods for Cupping Therapy

There are several other ways your provider may perform cupping therapy, though they are less common than either dry or wet cupping. Speak with your doctor before treatment to see which method they use and which may be best for you.

Other methods of cupping therapy may include massage cupping therapy or flash cupping. Massage cupping involves moving the cups around during the session without breaking the vacuum seal. This may help treat a larger bodily area using fewer cups.

Flash cupping targets specific pressure points. The cups are repeatedly heated up very quickly and then applied to trigger points in the body.

When Should You Get Cupping Therapy?

If you're considering cupping therapy, speak with your chiropractor about your concerns and pain relief goals. A professional will review your medical history and future plans to help determine if you may benefit from cupping therapy.

Athletes tend to get cupping therapy immediately following an intense workout or game. This can help prevent the next-day muscle soreness that they often experience. However, there are many scenarios when seeking this treatment may be right for you.

Common reasons patients receive cupping therapy:

• Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Pain in the back, neck, knee, and shoulder area

• Problems with COPD or asthma

• Carpal tunnel syndrome that creates pain in the arm, wrist, and hands

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and other issues with digestion

• Headaches and migraines

• High blood pressure (hypertension)

If you have any of these conditions and are looking for relief, speak with your primary care physician and your local chiropractor to see if cupping may be recommended as part of your treatment or management plan.

Those with chronic back, neck, and shoulder pain due to reasons such as participating in manual labor as a profession, car accident injuries, and athletics may choose to undergo cupping therapy regularly rather than as a short series of sessions.

Who Should Not Get Cupping Therapy?

There are also conditions under which cupping therapy may be detrimental to your health. It's crucial that you alert your provider if you have any of these health issues, either currently or in the past.

Cupping therapy is contraindicated if you have the following conditions:

• Certain bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia

• Any issues that include blood clotting disorders, including deep vein thrombosis or a history of stroke

• Certain skin conditions, such as psoriasis

• If you currently have any open wounds

• If you currently have an unhealed bone fracture or break

How Often Should You Get Cupping Therapy?

How often you get cupping therapy depends on what you're treating and your doctor's recommendation. Your treatment plan may change as your chiropractor evaluates your progress at each appointment, assessing pain, range of motion, and tension in the area. Report any changes you notice, whether positive or negative, throughout the course of treatment so your provider can adjust your treatment plan as needed.

Typically, at the beginning of treatment, patients will see their provider two-to-three times weekly to jumpstart the healing and pain relief process. This provides fast relief, which is precisely what most patients are seeking. For more serious, chronic conditions, you may receive the therapy every other day to start.

You may only require a total of four-to-six sessions to see full results with minor pain issues. Your provider may recommend ten-to-twelve sessions before evaluating your progress for chronic health conditions or more severe injuries. If your health condition is ongoing, you may receive cupping therapy on a regular basis as a form of pain management.

The Benefits of Cupping Therapy

Many patients report significant benefits of cupping. Some can be noticed and physically felt, while others work deep within the body to strengthen and repair the damage.

Benefits of cupping therapy may include:

• Back, neck, knee, and shoulder pain relief

• Relief from chronic headaches and migraines

• Improve the range of mobility in the treated areas

• Ease tension and stiffness in the muscles

• Improve blood and lymph circulation

• Treat scar tissue

• Help eliminate bodily toxins

• Promote healing following an injury, such as strains and sprains

• Manage symptoms of chronic conditions

One of the best things about cupping is that it's a non-invasive way to help treat pain without medication or surgery. Many like this holistic option compared to more extreme methods of recovery.

Speak to Your Provider Today

If you have more questions regarding cupping therapy or want to know if it's right for you, speak with your medical provider today. You may talk to the specialist currently treating your condition, your primary care physician, or your local chiropractor to review your medical history and current symptoms.

Cupping therapy has many potential benefits that can help improve your quality of life. Start finding the pain relief you need today.