What is Cuppimg?
Cupping is a traditional medicine practice that involves using cups to create suction on the skin. The cups are usually made of glass, ceramic, bamboo, or plastic, and can be heated or manually pumped to create suction. There are two types of cupping:
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Dry cupping
The cups are left on the skin for several minutes without piercing the skin. This type of cupping can be combined with massage, acupuncture, or other alternative therapies.
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Wet cupping
Also known as Hijama, this type of cupping involves making small cuts in the skin to allow blood to flow into the cup.
What does cupping do?
Suction from cupping draws fluid into the treated area. This suction force expands and breaks open tiny blood vessels (capillaries) under your skin. Your body replenishes the cupped areas with healthier blood flow and stimulates proper and normal healing at a cellular level. Because of this effect, some people think that cupping releases toxins.
What you can expect
Many people who’ve had cupping therapy report that it:
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Reduces pain and inflammation.
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Decreases muscle tightness.
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Improves blood flow.
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Increases range of motion.
The suction force from cupping breaks open tiny blood vessels called capillaries under your skin. You’ll have red, round cupping therapy marks that should fade in a week or two. Although these marks will look like bruises, they’re not true bruises that injure muscle fibers.
Cupping shouldn’t cause pain, though you may experience some skin tightness during the procedure. After cupping therapy, you may feel bruised and slightly sore, but you shouldn’t have severe discomfort.