For many of us, the beginning of the school year results in drastic schedule changes. When your kids (or yourself) heads to school, why not try something new to improve your health, your body, your skin, your wellness. I’ve been saying this for months now, but seriously, cupping is a wonderful technique that can improve your health and provide numerous benefits (mind body and spirit).
Simply put, cupping is the inverse of massage.
Rather than applying pressure to muscles, the suction uses pressure to pull skin, tissue and muscles upward. I often combine cupping with massage into one treatment, but it could also be used alone. Cupping can be used for the usual tight muscles, but also for lymphatic drainage, cellulite treatments, pain, tendonitis, relaxation, fascial treatments, athletic improvement, range of motion treatments, and even for aesthetics when used on the face/neck.
Cupping was developed thousands of years ago and though the techniques have modernized, the original philosophy remains the same.
Cupping involves placing glass, bamboo, silicone, or plastic jars on the skin and creating a vacuum by suctioning out the air. Cupping can also be combined with magnetic therapy and acupuncture for additional energetic therapies. I use silicone cups to avoid fire dangers.
You usually will feel a tight sensation in the area of the cup. Often, this sensation is relaxing and soothing. Depending on your comfort and your practitioner’s assessment of the problem, cups may be moved around or left in place. They may remain on your body briefly or for longer amounts of time. Each treatment is unique to you on that particular day. One very common area to be cupped is the back, although cups work well on other areas, too — particularly on fleshy sections of the body or even the feet for reflexology.
Cupping causes the skin to temporarily turn red, blue or purple, especially if there is an injury or energetic blockage under the area that was cupped. The skin discoloration can last anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of weeks, but is rarely painful. These are not “bruises”, rather represent underlying healing in the tissues. Once the marks have cleared, the procedure can be repeated until the condition or ailment is resolved.
There are a number of methods of cupping — the two most common here in the U.S. are “fixed cupping” and “moving cupping.”
Fixed Cupping:
The cups are placed on a selected area of your body and then left in place without being moved. I sometimes use this method on your back while working on the legs, to increase the therapy in any given time (like having two massages in one session !)
Moving Cupping:
As the name implies, in this method your practitioner applies massage oil or cream on your skin in selected places, puts the cups over the areas to be treated and then slides them around that region of the body — most commonly the back or legs. The cups slide easily because the cream has lubricated your body. I often use this method when the muscles are just so sore, tight, tender, knotted up! One or two minutes of gliding cupping and it seems as if I just worked for an hour with deep tissue! Pain and tightness is gone like MAGIC. (I love cupping!!!)
You ought to consider exploring the benefits of cupping if you seek relief from stress, pain, allergies, fatigue, flu, colds, back pain, anxiety, muscle aches, red itchy skin conditions or fever.
Here are three reasons why cupping just might go mainstream this year:
1. Celebrity and Athlete cupping enthusiasts are growing in numbers.
It was about 12 years ago when cupping first appeared in the tabloids. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow showed up on the red carpet with obvious round cupping marks on her back. She received a lot of press and later explained to Oprah, “It feels amazing and it’s very relaxing.”
Well, these days she is not alone among Hollywood stars who are devoted to this ancient healing technique. Few years back, Jennifer Aniston arrived at the premiere of her movie, “Call Me Crazy” looking stunning in a strapless black dress which revealed cupping marks. She is known to be a long time fan of cupping and acupuncture.
Others stars who are outspoken proponents of cupping are Jessica Simpson, Lady Gaga and Victoria Beckham. They have spoken about using cupping for various physical complaints as well as for relaxation. Exes have picked up on the treatment too. Chris Martin (Paltrow’s “consciously uncoupled” partner) showed off his cupping circles while working out in London. Brad Pitt is also rumored to have tried cupping.
2. Athletes use cupping as a secret weapon.
We all saw the 2016 Olympic swimmers using cups to win win win.
But cupping is not just for movie stars and athletes … cupping is highly beneficial for everyone.
3. Cupping provides relief for many health conditions.
Cupping has numerous benefits — it can help remove toxins from the body and stimulate the flow of fresh blood, lymph, and Qi to the affected area and throughout the body. It often works wonders for patients with the flu, colds, coughs, back and muscle pain, poor circulation, anxiety, red itchy skin conditions (though cups are not applied to inflamed areas), allergies, fevers, aches and myriad other pains.
Cupping is not exclusive to Traditional Chinese Medicine. Variations of this treatment were used by ancient Egyptians, North American Indians, early Greeks, and in other Asian and European countries. Cupping therapy was recommended by Hippocrates, the man whom many consider to be the “Father of Modern Medicine,” in his guide to clinical treatment.
It should be noted that cupping is not be used on patients who bleed easily and/or cannot stop bleeding, have skin ulcers, or edema. It is unwise to cup over large blood vessels as well. Pregnant women should be cupped with extreme caution and never on their abdomen or lower back.
To be cautious I generally practice a less intense treatment the first time, and then see how the patient reacts before implementing longer amounts of time and more suction.
To enjoy this experience, why not schedule a massage with Dr. Celeste. She will be offering $20 for 20 minute cupping for those interested in trying this awesome therapy. You may also continue to schedule naturopathic medicine and massage sessions and ask about sample cupping during that time!
Wellness Rising 