9 REASONS YOU SHOULD TRY CUPPING THERAPY

Cupping therapy is something that not many people are familiar with, despite the fact that it dates as far back as 3000 B.C.

For those who are wondering what the fuss is all about, cupping is all about circulation! What it does is bringing the blood back to the areas which are difficult to reach by sucking the skin into a cup, releasing the tissue under the skin which wraps around the muscles.

The process involves heating small glass cups, placing them on the skin, and pulling them away from the body to promote blood flow and relax the muscles. As strange as it seems, athletes like Michael Phelps and celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow swear by it.  Here are 9 reasons why you should try it out as well!

1. It relieves pain
It has been scientifically shown that cupping relieves pain, including cancer pain. By stimulating the soft tissue with pressure applied to the painful points, cupping improves blood flow and supplies the tissues with nutrients and oxygen.  By utilizing heat and pressure near the injury, practitioners allow the energy to pass through it.


2. It relieves cough, cold and allergy symptoms
Cupping stimulates the lungs and other organs to remove phlegm and accelerate the process of relieving a cough, cold, and allergy symptoms.  It also boosts immunity by pushing both blood and lymphatic fluid throughout the entire body.

3. It promotes relaxation
Given that chronic stress is associated with various mental issues, making time for relaxation is of utmost importance these days.  According to The Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, cupping is one of the best ways to provide relaxation, as the cups offer a relieve sensation which resembles receiving a deep tissue massage.

4. It can treat carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition which disables a key nerve, causing numbness or loss of hand function.  According to a recent German study, cupping is an effective way to temporarily relieve the pain of this condition! It was shown that only one session was capable of relieving the symptoms of a week.

5. It provides an anti-aging effect
As we age, all of the body processes begin to slow down, including circulation. This leads to loss of muscle tone and development of fine lines and wrinkles.  Cupping helps increase circulation, which in turn ensures all muscles and tissues are supplied with oxygen and nutrients to promote collagen production.


6. It relieves digestive disorders
Cupping lowers patient`s stress, which is associated with healthy digestive functioning.  So, it`s no wonder that this therapy helps treat stomach pain, acute gastritis, loss of appetite, water retention,  gastrointestinal diseases, IBS, and other digestive disorders.

7. It improves skin-related conditions
It has been scientifically shown that cupping helps treat eczema and acne, reduce cellulite, lessen herpes breakouts, and reduce skin inflammation.  According to a study published in the PLOS One, cupping is even superior to antibiotics in terms of treating acne.

8. It heals injuries faster by inducing inflammation
While chronic inflammation is detrimental to the overall body, a little of it is a good thing.  Being an important part of body`s defense system, it works to accelerate the healing process of an injury or a disease.  Cupping therapy aids healing by drawing blood to the affected area.

9. It detoxifies the body
Poor circulation is associated with toxic build up, which then leads to various health problems. Cupping improves stagnation and carries away all the toxins and dead cells, expelling them in an all-natural way.