We have done several blogs about cupping, yet I am often asked “what are those marks” from people I meet when they see my cupping marks so let’s talk more about cupping and the benefits of cupping therapy.
Cupping involves placing cups on the skin to create suction. The suction may facilitate healing with blood flow. Cupping is believed to date back to 3000 BC. The Ebers Papyrus, written c. 1550 BC has references to the Egyptians using cupping therapy.
The reason the practice is called “cupping” is because cupping involves heating up small glass cups and then putting them onto the skin and pulling them away from the body to help loosen and relax muscles by promoting blood flow. Think of it as a reverse massage, the muscles and fibers are being pulled rather than pushed.
Most people who have had cupping therapy know how it can help with aches and pains and it provides pain relief, what most don’t know is it can help in other ways as well, such as for colds and allergies.
Cupping help boost our immune system to prevent a cold or flu, and it can also aide in the recovery of a cold, flu or allergies. Cupping can effect tissues up to 4 inches under the skin, so when cupping is done over the lungs, the tissue on and around the lungs is manipulated and stimulated, stirring up any fluid or substance that may be stuck there, the cupping will help dislodge and expel it.
Below I have links to two blogs that discuss cupping therapy benefits if you’d like to learn more.