[vc_row][vc_column][ultimate_heading main_heading=”What is cupping therapy?” alignment=”left”][/ultimate_heading][vc_column_text]When the world witnessed the giant purple bruises that covered Michael Phelps’ back and shoulders during the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, everyone wondered where they came from. From there, the world of cupping therapy—which is thought to help relieve pain, muscle soreness, and more—had a huge moment in the wellness spotlight. Olympic athletes aren’t the only ones recovering with the ancient healing practice, though. Celebs like Busy Phillips, Jennifer Aniston, and Kaley Cuoco have all tried it, and people on Instagram are documenting their personal experiences with #cuppingtherapy (with more than 100,000 to date). But can cupping therapy really make a difference when it comes to your health? We talked to a wide range of experts to figure out what the hype is all about, and whether or not you should consider trying it for yourself.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][ultimate_heading main_heading=”How does cupping therapy work?” alignment=”left”][/ultimate_heading][vc_column_text]Cupping isn’t a new health trend—it’s actually been around for thousands of years and is a technique used in traditional Chinese medicine. Proponents of cupping therapy believe it can help boost blood flow to speed up your body’s natural healing process. Here’s how it works: A practitioner will place a cup onto the surface of the skin to create a vacuum effect. “This sucks the skin and fat layer off the muscle, and sometimes even moves muscle layers off each other,” explains Houman Danesh, MD, director of integrative pain management at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. “Sometimes the cups are left in place and other times they are moved along muscle fibers to help relax tight muscles.” There are different cupping methods, too. “In traditional Chinese medicine, the cup is glass and is heated using a flame. The flame isn’t meant to heat the cup itself, but to suck out air, creating suction right on skin,” says Jamie Starkey, LAc, lead acupuncturist and manager of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Program at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute. “The cup can also be made of plastic, and an actual pistol-like vacuum can be used to remove the air. The patient feels a very tight, sucking feeling, and they are left on between two to five minutes.” Starkey suggests opting for the plastic cups for sanitary reasons, as they are usually made for only one use.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”2549″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][ultimate_heading main_heading=”What are the benefits of cupping therapy?” alignment=”left”][/ultimate_heading][vc_column_text]When the world witnessed the giant purple bruises that covered Michael Phelps’ back and shoulders during the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, everyone wondered where they came from. From there, the world of cupping therapy—which is thought to help relieve pain, muscle soreness, and more—had a huge moment in the wellness spotlight. Olympic athletes aren’t the only ones recovering with the ancient healing practice, though. Celebs like Busy Phillips, Jennifer Aniston, and Kaley Cuoco have all tried it, and people on Instagram are documenting their personal experiences with #cuppingtherapy (with more than 100,000 to date). But can cupping therapy really make a difference when it comes to your health? We talked to a wide range of experts to figure out what the hype is all about, and whether or not you should consider trying it for yourself.[/vc_column_text][ultimate_heading main_heading=”Are there any cupping therapy side effects?” alignment=”left”][/ultimate_heading][vc_column_text]You’re probably aware of the biggest side effect: massive, purple bruises. “The bruises are formed from bursting capillaries from the suction which causes pooling of the blood under the cup, creating the characteristic bruise,” says Dr. Danesh. They typically resolve in three to five days. What’s more, if the cups are left on the skin for too long, it can create blistering that can open the skin, says Starkey. (Fair warning, if you Google cupping injuries, the results aren’t pretty.) Other side effects may include soreness, discomfort, burns, and skin infections, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. What’s more, people with diabetes and other blood circulation disorders should be cautious, and if you’re on blood thinners or another anticoagulant, you should not do cupping. “We also evaluate the integrity of the patient’s skin. If the skin is too thin or has damage, the patient is not suitable for cupping treatments,” says Starkey. So, should you try cupping therapy? While the scientific validation isn’t quite there, there may be a placebo effect. “The science may not suggest that it is effective, but it’s hard to argue with people that are perceiving benefits,” says Johnson. Still, he doesn’t use traditional cupping therapy in his practice at Johns Hopkins. “Instead, we use a computer-controlled kind of cupping, the negative pressure FDA-approved device LymphaTouch. We turn the pressure on for about 2.5 seconds, and it creates a type of pulsing that has very similar benefits to cupping without damaging the tissue,” he says. But if you’re curious to try traditional cupping, it’s important to seek a trained (and certified) professional, such as a physical therapist, acupuncturist, or chiropractor. “You want to avoid going to someone doesn’t have proper training or certification. You can check your provider’s information on the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine’s website,” says Starkey. Emily Shiffer Emily Shiffer is a former digital web producer for Men’s Health and Prevention, and is currently a freelancer writer specializing in health, weight loss, and fitness.[/vc_column_text][ultimate_heading main_heading=”Cupping Therapy & Its Amazing Benefits You Must Know!” alignment=”left”][/ultimate_heading][vc_column_text]Cupping therapy has a number of benefits associated with it. Some of them are mentioned below: It helps you to get rid of fine lines and wrinkles, thus rejuvenating your skin from within. It treats a number of skin conditions such as eczema, acne, pimples, and urticaria. It helps to remove cellulite from your skin. It also helps to lighten scars on your body. It reduces puffiness. It boosts blood circulation and in turn stimulates the collagen production in your body.[/vc_column_text][ultimate_heading main_heading=”Types Of Cupping Therapy” alignment=”left” margin_design_tab_text=””][/ultimate_heading][vc_column_text]One thing you need to know about cupping therapy is that it has various diversions to it – the two most common ones being dry and wet cupping. Read on to know more about it. 1. Dry cupping Dry cupping therapy involves a vacuum created by burning a combustible material such as alcohol or paper in a cup. It is kept as it is until the fire is doused. Once the fire goes off, the cup is inverted immediately and placed on the area of the body which is to be treated. It is kept as it is until the cup is completely cooled from inside and vacuum is created. This causes your blood vessels to expand and thus works on your body. 2. Wet cupping This is slightly different from dry cupping. Wet cupping involves creating a suction as mentioned in dry cupping. The difference here is that once the suction is created by placing the cup on your skin, the therapist uses a tiny scalpel to create light cuts on your skin. Post that, the therapist conducts a second suction to draw out little blood from your body. They will then apply an antibiotic ointment to prevent any kind of infection on your cuts. Now, you may have a question as to what is the benefit of wet cupping and when will your skin get back to normal after the cuts? Well, it would take about 10 days for your skin to get back to normal. And to answer the very first question – it is believed that wet cupping removes harmful toxins from your body and promotes better healing. However, the argument is still not proven. 3. Other types of cupping While dry and wet cupping are the main types, there are some other minor variations to cupping therapy. Some of them are listed below: Magnetic cupping – It involves attaching magnets to the inside of the cup. When the skin rises due to the suction, it comes in contact with the magnets.Acupuncture cupping – It involves combining acupuncture with cupping therapy. Massage cupping – It is basically applying oil to the skin before beginning the cupping therapy.[/vc_column_text][ultimate_heading main_heading=”How To Do Cupping Therapy At Home?” alignment=”left” margin_design_tab_text=””][/ultimate_heading][vc_column_text]Cupping therapy – as difficult as it may sound – is quite easy to do at home. All you need to do is follow these simple and easy steps mentioned below. Disclaimer: It is suggested that this technique should only be practised at home under the supervision of a professional. You can do cupping therapy at home, however, you might need a person to assist you with it. It can also be done using professional help. The steps are mentioned below: 1. Buy a cupping therapy set2. Use the lighter cups to create a light suction. Ensure that you always go slow with any kind of new treatment since you are not a professional and do not want any kind of harm caused to your skin.3. You can go with one of the variations of cupping therapy – massage cupping as mentioned earlier in the article. For that, you need to apply oil (coconut oil preferably) on your skin. It will facilitate easy movement of cups on your skin. 4. Squeeze the cup a little and place it on the affected area. 5. Glide the cup all over the affected area slowly.6. Keep doing it for at least 15 minutes. You can repeat this cupping therapy 2-3 times a week.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]